Masopust is not a uniquely Czech tradition. It is known all over Europe and it culminates in feasting, drinking and cheerful carnival processions. Today, these celebrations have become a tourist attraction, too.
What to do in the CR in the Masopust season?
The biggest carnival called the
Bohemian Carnevale will traditionally take place in Prague, this year from 10 to 21 February 2012. The programme includes spectacular celebrations on the streets with lanterns, parties, art exhibitions, theatre performances as well as carnival feasts in chosen Prague restaurants. Festivities will take place practically everywhere: at public places, in palaces, museums, restaurants and hotels.
The greatest Masopust carnivals, the Shrovetide processions in Hlinecko
(mapa) were added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The carnivals will also take place in other UNESCO cities. Every year, there are processions of masks going through
Český Krumlov (mapa) (18–21 February 2012) and Telč
(mapa) (18 February 2012).
Folk festivities with mask parades accompanied by folk musicians are also organised in Chodsko
(mapa) in western Bohemia. The best-known and biggest celebrations take place in the four last days of the Masopust in Postřekov
(mapa) but in a smaller scale practically in any other local village.
The
Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (mapa), the largest and oldest open air museum in central Europe, also organises Shrovetide celebrations on 11 February 2012. Apart from the traditional masks procession and a colourful folklore carnival, the 14th year of the competition of the best Wallachian sausage will take place and the 4th year of the competition for the best Wallachian “tlačenka” (pork pudding) will take place on Saturday 11 February.
The east-Moravian village Strání
(mapa) in the White Carpathians also has an original way of celebrating the Masopust (17–21 Feb. 2012), which the locals call “fašank”. Folklore groups from all over the Czech Republic as well as foreign countries meet there on the occasion of the “fašank”. The Shrovetide dance with swords was originally danced by local bandits in the old times. The procession will take place in Strání on the “fašank” (Shrovetide) Tuesday on 21st January 2012.