In the Czech Republic the 1st of May is celebrated as a holiday of people in love and the whole May is regarded as a month of love. May is associated with several traditional feasts: Mayales, erection of maypoles, the 1st of May, or burning of witches (Walpurgis Night). Do not miss the beginning of May in Prague. There are a lot of traditional events waiting for you!
BURNING OF WITCHES (WALPURGIS NIGHT)
Witches are burnt on the last day of April. This traditional pagan feast is intended to drive out the last signs or winter and welcome spring. This tradition is still very popular. Several bonfires will be lit in Prague in the evening and witches made of rags will be burnt symbolically. Witches in Kampa belong to the most interesting events. It will be accompanies by live music and some refreshment.
MAYALES
Mayales is a student feast of welcoming spring in the Czech Republic, which has been celebrated in the Czech lands since the 15th century. Originally, on the free day just before the Saint Walpurgis Night, students and their teachers went to the countryside to celebrate the arrival of spring with their songs. Nowadays, it is a mass musical event celebrated in all big towns and cities, where the King and Queen of Mayales are elected. The Mayales in Prague will take place on the 27th April in Letňany. Popular Czech music bands and singers will perform during the festival.
1st May
In the Czech Republic the 1st of May is celebrated as a holiday of people in love. On that day, people from all over Prague go to the Petřín park to kiss under a cherry tree in bloom. They leave love letters under the statue of Karel Hynek Mácha and students read out his poem called “May”, which celebrates this day of love. If the weather is nice on the 1st May this year, a lot of people will have a picnic in the entire park until later hours.
