All cultures share celebrations related to the coming and passing of seasons: May Day is one such example, with England choosing its May Queens and Ireland lighting bonfires. What about the Czech Republic? How do Czechs celebrate May Day and where should you go to join them? Let’s take a look at how the coming of spring is celebrated in Czechia.
May Day in the Czech Republic
The Day of Love
Czechs celebrate spring for a couple of days: Czechs would traditionally put up a ‘májka’ (a maypole), a bare tree trunk decorated for the coming of spring. Villages would then organise dances around the maypole – while some still do, it’s a tradition which is sadly passing into obscurity.
May Day, on the other hand, is a day dedicated to love – traditionally, May Day is a time when couples get together to celebrate their bond and kiss under a tree (often a cherry, though other trees can work too). As much as it seems like a traditional village custom, it’s possible that it actually originated in the last two hundred years instead, and not even in a village environment to begin with. Either way, it’s a day when you’ll see lots of couples hit up the local parks and look for an appropriate tree for the deed.
And if you’re staying in the countryside, you may also see some villages hit up the maypole! Otherwise, you may find flamboyant Czechs marching through the streets and celebrating.
What weather can you expect to find on a May Day?
May weather in the Czech Republic
Historically, the average temperatures on May 1st sit around 17°C, so it’s a mildly pleasant day. May is quite a rainy month in Czechia, with about 11 rainy days on average, so it’s possible you’ll also find some rain. Nights tend to be quite chilly, at about 7-10°C during May, so do pack some extra layers.
Where should you celebrate May Day?
May Day in the Czech Republic
We have three favourites when it comes to this time of year. Of course, we have to list the capital: apart from just being one of the most beautiful cities of Europe, Prague also offers many alternatives if the weather decides to not cooperate. Apart from that, we also love Mikulov, a small town in the southern part of the Czech Republic. It’s a much more quiet part of the country with lots of beautiful rural sites around too. Alternatively, you can also visit Brno, which is not too far from Mikulov.
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