NEWSLETTER March

Czech Easter Folk Customs and Traditions The most important Christian holidays are approaching!

Easter belongs to the ancient holidays of the first spring full moon, which is associated with the celebration of the arrival of spring, the resurrection of Christ, and the launch of a new agricultural year. In addition to the painted Easter eggs, the osier stick , a switch plaited from fresh willow branches and adorned with ribbons, is a Czech Easter symbol. On Easter Monday boys and men go caroling and symbolically whip girls and women with the plaited osier sticks. According to folk traditions, the whipping is supposed to bring women beauty and freshness throughout the year. In some regions, they also still keep the rattles custom. From Thursday to Saturday boys walk around the village houses making noise with their wooden rattles , thereby summoning believers to church instead of bells, which fell silent during the Easter holidays and symbolically flew off to Rome. After the period of fasting comes a period of true abundance. Some typical Easter dishes are lamb or rabbit meat with nettle stuffing, cross buns from slowly leavened dough or sponge cake lambs with icing. Judases (baked goods) drizzled in honey and divine grace (fried dough coated in sugar) are also great delicacies. And Easter Monday could never go without a meal prepared from eggs ! Eggs are an ancient symbol of new life and rebirth. During the Easter holidays, most restaurants serve spiced specialities along with the Easter menu.

Date : 04. – 06. 04. 2015 Type : Easter More information : http://www.czechtourism.com/n/czech-easter/

World Ice Hockey Championship The most important sports event of international caliber, which will be organized by the in 2015, is the World Ice Hockey Championships. Matches will be held in and Ostrava. See where you can accomodate or book a

tour at official incoming partner - Sivek Hotels!

Date: 01. – 17.05.2015 Type : World Ice Hockey Championship More information: http://www.czechtourism.com/ice-hockey-2015/

Food Festival Karlovy Vary A festival of food and drink in Karlovy Vary – Restaurants compete and you judge!

The Czech Food Cup competition is a great gastronomic contest among restaurants certified as Czech Specials. They compete with two dishes: a predetermined national specialty and regional specialty, which the restaurant itself chooses. From February to April, a total of five regional rounds will be held, with the national finals as part of the May Food Festival in Karlovy Vary . The dishes are judged by a panel of experts and celebrities, but spectators who take part in the testing portions of the national and regional specialties can also vote. Each competition comes with a splendid cultural

program.

Date: 02. 05. 2015 Type: Food festival More information: http://www.czechtourism.com/e/karlovy-vary-food-festival/

Czech Beer Festival Prague Try unique Czech beer in the biggest beer event in the Czech Republic!

The popular Prague Beer Festival offers thousands of liters of the golden beverage bottled in liter glasses – beer jugs in the manner of ’s . During the festival you can try more than 70 brands of Czech beer of top quality and the best delicacies of Czech chefs, butchers and bakers that go with them. The atmosphere of the largest restaurant in Bohemia with 10,000 seats wouldn’t be complete without stylish service in Czech costumes. You will also be pleased by the music performances, weekend afterparty and a tent called Beer Diversity, offering tastes of foreign little known in the Czech Republic.

Date: 07. - 23.05. 2015 Type: Beer festival More information: http://www.czechtourism.com/e/czech-beer-festival-prague/

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