Are you in Prague on Christmas time? Or do you only know how we celebrate this event? Read more about our biggest holiday and wonderfull time of the year 2009. For most Pragues, December of 24th (Stedry den) is the most notable and enjoyable day of the holiday season. When we could translated, it´s name means "generous day" which reflects the longstanding tradition of an abundance of food being served for Christmas dinner. Back in the old days, even poor families would take care to have their plates full on this particular day of the year. The Adam´s and Eva´s of the republic celebrate their name days and, according to an old Czech custom, people are supposed to fast all day in order to see the "zlate prasatko" (golden piglet) after the sun's gone down.
Piglet or no piglet, dinner is served after sunset mainly. You won't find any stuffed turkey here, by the way. Christmas dinner consists of carp (known Czech fish) and potato salad, oftentimes preceded by fish soup. Interestingly enough, it is said that carp can be prepared a hundred different ways and also almost every family has got onw "Christmas carp recipe". How many bottom feeders can say that?! Topping off the fishy fare is dessert that usually comes in the form of apple strudel. Vanocka, a traditional sweet Czech Christmas bread may also accompany the meal. After dinner in many houses, all those present at the dinner table cut an apple in half (crosswise, from the stem down). Both halves are revealed to everyone around the table. If the core is star-shaped, everyone will enjoy happiness and health. Should the core be in the shape of a four-pointed cross, however, look out, as it is a bad omen signifying the illness or death of somebody at the table within a year - but it is much more traditional way. Normally, after dinner is time to expand gifts.
We wish you happy Christmas time - no mather where you stay for it !
About
For 2nd time Prague City Hall introduce A Week of Sport for Free. Are you in Prague between Friday 25th December and Thursday 31st January? Come and enjoy selected sport facilities free of charge!
Visitors can enjoy any of the following swimming pools: Slavie, Hloubetin, Podoli, Strahov, Tyrsuv dum, Incheba, Radlice and Ymca. Additionally, they can choose to relax in the aqua centres Lagoon Letnany or AquaDream Barrandov, which offer not only swimming but also toboggans, a wild river with artificial counter-current, a whirlpool (water and air bubble massage), massage jets, water spouts and other attractions.
Regarding winter stadiums, Praguers can visit Ice Arena Letnany, as well as stadiums Hvezda, Kobra, Nikolajka and USK Has, where they can enjoy ice-skating on the 60 x 30 m big ice rink, free of charge. Children up to 12 years of age can skate on the rink that belongs to DDM HMP in Karlin, and is located right in the court of Karlin’s Spektrum building.
This exhibition presents Czechoslovak, Czech and Slovak coins and medal work.
For the fist time in the history of modern Czech statehood, Municipal House visitors will find such an extensive and comprehensive set of Czech coins and medals of precious metals, comprising works by artists from the independent Czechoslovak state, as well as from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, in one place.
The exhibition will present the beginnings of the Czech medal-making school, represented by works of Otakar Spaniel and Josef Sejnosta, along with works by prominent contemporary sculptors, such as Vladimír Oppl, Zbyněk Fojtu, Jiri Harcuba, Karel Zeman and the remarkably innovative works of Otakar Dusek.
The exhibition will provide information about mining and processing gold, measuring its purity and weight, and making gold ingots and coins, it also presents investment gold in the form of gold ingots in a range of sizes and bullion coins.
Visitors to the Czech Gold exhibition, however, do not have to admire the craftsmanship of Czech sculptors and engravers only through the showcase glass covers: selected exhibits will be presented in such a way that anybody can touch them.
The exhibition is presented by the Municipal House, the Czech Mint and Gold Coins – Numismatics
CZECH GOLD details
Adress: The Czech Club of the Municipal House, Prague 1 Transport Namesti republiky - tram and underground Times December 7, 2009 – July 1, 2010, daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. offical website
For all four Advent Sundays was prepared a specially designed National Theater concerts. This year it will be in the repertoire of the National Theater miss popular Christmas concert. In addition to the traditional Ryba's Czech Christmas music sounds baroque masters Johann Sebastian Bach and Corelli Acangela the performers and orchestra Collegium 1704, which is gaining increasing popularity in the interpretation of Baroque and Classical music. Attested by the successful staging of Handel's opera Rinaldo in the Estates Theater.
The first was yesterday - 1st advent Sunday, others will follow on Sunday 6, 13 and 20 December. The beginning is always at 14:00 pm
Prague Advent concerts details
Adress: National Theatre, Ostrovni 1, Prague 1 Transport Narodni divadlo tram station Times 6-20 of December 2009 offical website
For the public was opened United Press Photo 2009, contains 600 photographs, at Knight Hall Old Town Hall till 31 January 2010. PHOTOGRAPH OF THE YEAR CZECH PRESS PHOTO 2009 – Crystal Eye
The Photograph of the Year is the main prize of the competition. It is awarded to a photograph, which the International Jury considers to be the best from the journalistic (topicality, information value, expressiveness, promptness) point of view, which has a high aesthetic quality and symbolizes an important issue of the year. The winner receives 120 000 Kc, the Crystal Eye glass sculpture and all expenses paid trip to Prague to receive the prize.
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
1st prize – Golden Eye JOE KLAMAR, AFP: President Barrack Obama in Prague, 5 April 2009 (series)
2nd prize ROMAN VONDROUS, CTK: Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Miloslav Vlk visited the church of Panna Maria Vitezna in Prague, 26 September 2009 (series)
3rd prize TOMAS KRIST, Lidove noviny: The Obamas in Prague, Hradcanske namesti, 5 April 2009
Honorary Mention
MICHAL CIZEK, AFP: A year in the life of the Czech President Vaclav Klaus, 2009 (series)
International Jury Statement:
“This photograph captured us by its surprising and unusual composition of an event of national and international importance. It symbolizes an encounter of the hopes of the past – President Masaryk – and the precipitous changes of the present – the election of the first black American President. It expresses a new hope for our world.”
The Trade Fair Palace in Prague on 26 - 28 Nov 2009 will held for the fifth edition of the show's exclusive automobile, motorcycle and lifestyle brands MMOTION09. Last year at the fair for the first time introduced a brand-KTM X-BOW, YES, Lorinser C-Klasse and Lorinser SL-Klasse, Wiesmann Roadster, Wiesmann GT, Artega, and not least the unique jewel in the form of a Spyker C8 Spyder. It was also possible to see the latest models of brands, which the mmotion presented in the past. For example, Porsche Cayman shown in limited edition S Sport, Maserati introduced even two of its exclusive products - sports coupe GranTurismo S and Quattroporte saloon. Traditionally Ferrari has attracted most attention, this time with the F430 Spider. There was also the Mercedes CLK 55 AMG DTM Cabriolet, the Audi RS6 and Q7, Corvette ZR1 and the new Lexus IS. The vision and testing were other traditional brands: Alpina, Jaguar, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Volvo and many others.
MMOTION 2009 details
Adress: Trade Fair Palace - Dukelskych hrdinu 47, Prague 7 Transport Vystaviste, tram station at the front of Trade Fair Palace, for example , Times 26-28 of November 2009 offical website
Are you going to Prague to enjoy Christmas atmosphere? Christmas already came to Prague and we all waitting for wonderfull Christmas Tree lighting at Old Town Square in Prague. This year it will be on Saturday, 28th of November . If you will be in Prague do not miss it, time is 6pm, place Old Town Square.
Prague view from walks, from boat cruise or baloon. Actually all af these attraction can be quite boring.. So why not try a Dinner in the Sky? This is a unique event meant for anyone who wishes to transform an ordinary meal or meeting into a magical moment that will leave a lasting impression on their guests! Dinner in the Sky is hosted at a table suspended at a height of 50 metres, by a team of professionals. Benji Fun, our partner in this event, is the worldwide leader for this type of activity.
And in Prague headchef of this event is favourite Zdenek Polhreich from Restaurant & Cafe Imperial, known as Czech Gordon Ramsey with own cooking reality show based on Hells kitchen.
Check out official website for more. Note: there is introductory prices too! 3 launch menu for 3990 CZK per person only.
In Prague was started Film Festivals season. So, if you will visit Prague try unusual experience - one of wonderfull performance of Prague Film Festivals. Also, almost all of films are in original or with English subtitles. See what´s on:
Dance Film Festival
The very first edition of dance films will bring a complex overview of this genre, dancing between a film and a dance. Festival will feature tens of films, many of them screened for the first time in our territory. Do not miss the famous Enter Achilles by British group DV8 or Blush by Belgian group Ultima Vez. The festival will be opened by a unique screening of Pina Bausch as a tribute paid to the legendary German choreographer who has passed away recently. One block of films will be dedicated to German dance films selected in cooperation with the prestigious Deutsches Tanzarchiv Köln.
Nov 13-15, 2009, Cinema Svetozor, Vodickova 41, Prague 1 Official website of festival
The Festival of French Film
12nd annual French Film Festival will be held from 19 to 25 November 2009 in Prague and other cities. The films are listed in the preview, in cooperation with Czech distributor includes four films of high quality award winning international criticism.
Nov 19-25, 2009, Cinema Svetozor, Vodickova 41 and Cinema Lucerna, Vodickova 36, Prague 1 Official website of festival
Filmasia 2009
Filmasia 2009 offers a comprehensive view of past and present Taiwanese cinema and to the extent the Czech Republic. The glory of the festival is the Czech prime minister has the last frame Hou Hsiao-Hsien Three Times, which was honored at last year's Cannes festival. Now the author will be dedicated Friday program cinema Svetozor. In the night from Saturday to Sunday will take place in the cinema Aero Korean horror night.
Dec 3-6, 2009, Cinema Svetozor, Vodickova 41, Prague 1 and Cinema Aero, Biskupcova 31, Prague 3 Official website of festival
Dear Traveliana Clients, Visitors and Fans, we would like to inform you about hot news from Prague for November 2009.
Christmas atmosphere already sneaked to Prague. Shopping malls in Prague started to offer wonderfull Christmas products and Old Town Square is getting ready for traditional and favourite Christmas Markets - this year from 28 November. If you hate Christmas madness, just try to buy gifts in advance and stay calm for the rest of a year :)
Also in November, Prague will host most shinning music stars such is Massive Attack, Eros Ramazzotti and Prodigy to name the most shinning ones. Check your favourite aplication Prague Events Calendar for daily view. And if you prefer movies, we have just published 5 interesting articles about Filming in Prague in our blog section. Now, you can touch the places where international movies was shooting and where movie stars walked.
You should also know that we share all news from Prague on Facebook fan page - Prague by Traveliana and drop the latest bits onto our Twitter - now it is much easier stay in touch with us. Let´s enjoy this usefull service with us and get the best tips for your trip to Prague. Again, for free and straightly from locals. On Facebook we recently add new photo albums with our charming hostess and own photo´s from Prague´s Zoo.
Finally, don´t forget that November in Prague is Low Season with extremelz low prices, so we recommend you get the best from our November Special Offers. Why don´t you enjoy romantic weekend for example in 4**** city centre hotels for last minute 65 EUR/night? Get Free Quote now
We wish you a wonderfull November time,
Your Traveliana Team
Prague Accomodation & Free Time Specialists
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Are you going to Prague to enjoy Christmas atmosphere? Christmas already came to Prague and we all waitting for wonderfull Christmas Tree lighting at Old Town Square in Prague. This year it will be on Saturday, 28th of November . If you will be in Prague do not miss it, time is 6pm, place Old Town Square.
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