Bohemian Carnevale takes over Prague

Thursday 15 was Fat Thursday, the last Thursday before the fasting period of Lent, as celebrated in Italy, German and Poland, for example. According to tradition, one is supposed to eat large quantities of food, which is forbidden during Lent. Even though not traditionally celebrated in the Czech Republic, the day marked the beginning of "Bohemian Carnevale", a festival which is trying to revive Renaissance carnival traditions in the heart of Central Europe.

Photo: CTK

A colourful procession marches through rainy Prague on Thursday afternoon to mark the beginning of Bohemian Carnevale. Outside The Old Town Hall city councillor Milan Richter symbolically stood down and handed over the running of the city to the revellers and wished them better weather.

"I must say I've enjoyed the ceremony. It was my first time and it was a strange feeling. Such a festival belongs here. Every large city should have its own carnival and so should the Czech capital Prague."

Photo: CTK

Wearing a black face mask, organiser Zlatuse Muller invites everybody to join the celebrations in the six coming days.

"For six days these masks will rule the city, there will be eating and merrymaking. People should come to Prague like they come to Venice for the carnival because the scenery and the palaces here are so beautiful. The festival belongs both to the palaces and the streets. Between Fat Thursday and Fat Tuesday, everyone should be eating lots to be healthy in the coming year. We'd like everybody to put on a mask and enjoy this carnival period. Not just to watch but to be a participant and creator."

Photo: CTK

To celebrate Bohemian Carnevale as a festival of eating or even gluttony, a number of restaurants around Prague are offering a special carnival menu, be it international or Czech cuisine - you can tell the restaurants by a carnival flag outside. An exhibition of masks and costumes is open at the Clam-Gallas Palace in the Old Town and throughout the six days you can run into various processions in the city, including one made up of children and baby carriages. As organiser Zlatuse Muller told me, the carnival is for everybody, so Viva Bohemian Carnevale!