Mardi Gras's a great tradition but no fasting please!
The Czech Republic may be one of the most secular countries in Europe but when it comes to enjoying the Xmas or Easter holidays Czechs don't miss any of the fun. The Mardi Gras celebrations are another example of this. The festivities are supposed to precede a 40 day fast starting on Ash Wednesday - and although very few Czechs actually observe this religious tradition - they thoroughly enjoy the parades and dances that precede it. The Mardi Gras celebrations culminated at the beginning of this week and - tired of the gray winter months accompanied by weeks of political bickering and the possibility of a war with Iraq - people dressed up in bright costumes, donned masks, wigs and took to the streets to enjoy some fun.
Several processions passed through the streets of Prague - the one I joined was preceded by a brass band and a horse drawn carriage bearing a very corpulent looking Bacchus -the Greek god of wine. What followed was a very mis-matched company. Czech historical figures, Space Wars and Lord of the Rings creations, teletubbies, witches, ETs, animals, jesters. A few people wore the rubber masks of politicians sold on Czech streets. Face paint and hair sprays had been liberally applied. A few kids even hobbled along on stilts. The afternoon was filled with music, laughter, grilled sausages, spun sugar, hot wine and beer and ended with a huge fireworks display on one of Prague's squares.
In some of the smaller towns and villages the Mardi Gras celebrations actually go on for several days. They usually start on the preceding Friday or Saturday with the slaughter of a pig -or several pigs - in preparation of a three day pork feast. People take a few days off work, kids often fail to turn up at school. Three days of eating, drinking and dancing - including a fancy dress ball - are followed by a Mardi Gras procession on Tuesday in which many of the locals wear traditional costume. On Tuesday evening everyone's at the local dance hall - filled to bursting point, tired and happy. So are they ready to observe a small fast after that three day pig-out? Not likely. Life is simply too good.
