Christmas in Prague

Christmas is a festive time of year in Prague. The season is kicked off with the Czech version of Santa Claus (dressed in a white bishop's costume) giving out treats to children - sweets to well-behaved children and coal and potatoes to 'bad' ones. You will also find large barrels of live carp on sale throughtout the city as it constitutes the traditional Christmas meal. Beware: the carp are clubbed to death and gutted on demand.

Christmas decorations, wooden toys, candles, jewellery, sweets, traditional food, baked chestnuts, ginger bread, grilled sausages, hot wine and other Czech products are sold from wooden hut market stalls. A huge Christmas tree lights up Prague's Old Town Square, while school children and Czech celebrities perform traditional Czech Christmas carols and dances. Join in the festivities - 'tis the season.