Prague reveals design plans for the Vltava Philharmonic Hall
The Danish studio Bjarke Ingels Group won the international architectural competition
Halloween, or more precisely All Souls Day, falls on 2 November
Everybody around the world has heard of Halloween at least once or of its Spanish equivalent “El Dia de los Muertos”. The remembrance of the dead is a typical ritual in many countries around the globe. In Czechia, it is known as “All Souls Day” (Dušičky), and it is unique in its own way.
The roots of today’s celebration go back to the Celts. Saihman was a Celtic holiday which celebrated the end of the year.
The celebration took place on the night of the 31 October and the morning of 1 November. On this night, the Celts believed that the barrier between the dead and the living disappeared. Thus, the souls of those who have passed away may venture onto the earth, and the living may venture into the realm of the underworld.
The Celts used this time to reminisce about their loved ones who have died by lighting fires and candles. They believed that the fire acted as protection against the souls of the wicked and would guide the souls of the pure.
As the Celts did inhabit central Europe, it can be argued that the celebrations of Saihman took place even on the territory of what today is the Czech Republic. This holy day was later replaced by the All Saints' Day (which is celebrated on the 1 November) by the Catholic church and All Souls' Day marked on 2 November.
Driven by the belief, that life’s final chapter does not end with the coffin, people would usually visit a family grave or a crypt, an light a candle and decorate it with flowers.
On All Souls' Day, it is also possible for the families of those, who were wicked during their life, to pray for their redemption in the afterlife. It is believed, that on the day of 2 November, the souls are given a chance to redeem themselves of their past sins.
Some sources also state that families of a deceased sinner used to burn butter in oil lamps. The unforgiven souls then may bathe in the burned butter and cleanse themselves.
Halloween is not an official holiday in the Czech Republic, and thus it is not a non-working day. More often than not, it is still viewed as a foreign celebration and the majority of Czechs (young and old) do not have any real connection to it.
The only time we can see any real celebration of Halloween in the Czech Republic is in schools or children's and young people's parties.
One Halloween custom that is prevalent and is getting more and more popular in the Czech republic is pumpkin carving. As the 31 October approaches, we can see houses decorated with works of art all over the country.
As mentioned above, the traditional customs tied with All Souls' Day are more of a time for meditation and honouring the memory of your loved ones. When it comes to Halloween, however, even though it is not an established holiday, there are some activities you can indulge in.
On a normal year, most of the bars and pubs in the city centre of Prague are decorated in the spirit of Halloween. Events invite the little ones to dress up as witches, werewolves, ghosts or any other mystical creature. Some communities even organize events such as “haunted forests” for the kids.
But to fully understand the Czech culture and customs, you should probably go the traditional way of things and celebrate All Souls' Day. So, if you happen to be there on 2 November, light a few candles, and maybe even visit the nearest graveyard as sightseeing alternative.
And whilst doing so, remanence upon your loved ones. Who knows? Maybe time spent in such a meditative way, will somehow enrich your inner world or make you feel connected to a history that is rooted in the times of the old Celts.
The local community welcomed Ukrainians fleeing war with outstanding support
Belgium will now join a small club of countries empowering youth political participation – Austria, Greece and Malta
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
The Smart City Alliance has been quietly building functional tools for both citizens and authorities since 2016
Part of an ongoing trend among these institutions to increase convenience for users
Student teams will have 24 hours to come up with solutions for that issue
The Smart City Alliance has been quietly building functional tools for both citizens and authorities since 2016
The cities met last week in Katowice to draft a plan on how to facilitate cycling between their territories
The REPowerEU 200 billion-euro plan calls for a gradual reduction of Russian fuel imports
It is renewing and introducing direct flight connections to attract visitors from the US, Middle East and Europe
The Catalonian capital’s society and the trajectory of its attitudes have been studied since 1998
The Finnish capital will hold ‘Entrepreneur Day for Women’ next month
These will be spread across 11 EU countries and will serve to support the EU Missions
The European Commission has accepted to develop the idea
An interview about AYR, one of the 2021 New European Bauhaus Prize winners
An interview with Nigel Jollands and Sue Goeransson from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
An interview with the President of the City of Athens Reception & Solidarity Centre
A talk with the Mayor of Malmö on the occasion of the city’s UN Resilience Hub status