~ Christmas Markets ~ and other Prague, Czech Republic Local Custom Tips

Christmas is a very important and special time of year in Prague. Christmas markets (Vanocni trh) are a must in the Czech festive magic. Every year many tourists aswell as locals visit these fantastic markets to share the holiday spirit in a true winter wonderland setting.
Prague Christmas markets run daily from 9am to 7pm throughout the festive period. The main markets are at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with smaller ones at Namesti Republiky & Havelske Trziste.
The Prague Christmas markets consist of rows of brightly decorated wooden huts, selling Czech handicrafts, hot delicious food (corn on the cob, sausages and local specialties) and warm drinks. Outdoor christmas shopping is much easier with a cup of hot wine (svarene vino) in your hand! Stocking fillers include Czech glass, scented candles, ornaments, jewellery and puppets.
In Prague's Old Town Square there is also a mini zoo. Children can enjoy pony rides and stroke sheep, goats and even a lama. Next to this is a Bethlehem manger scene - a large wooden stable with a straw floor shows Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the three kings.

But what would Christmas be without carols? Local and International choirs, along with musical ensembles, take to the stage in the Old Town Square, entertaining visitors as they browse the market stalls. There is also an impressive Christmas tree too.

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In the bars & clubs of Prague, the drink is prepared by burning a small amount of absinth soaked sugar on a spoon, which you then stir into your glass of absinth and douse with water (1-2 parts water to absinth).
It is worth trying some Absinth when in Prague but its not very tasty... although you might like it. You can also buy it in small bottles and give to friends as gifts.

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Most Czech beers are lagers, naturally brewed from hand-picked hops. Czechs like their beer cellar temperature with a creamy, tall head. When ordering draught beer ask for “male pivo” (0,3l) or “pivo” (0,5l).

The best known Czech beer is the original Pilsner beer, Pilsner Urquell, brewed in the town of Plzen and exported worldwide. Many Czechs also like another Plzen brew, Gambrinus, but recently Bernard from Eastern Bohemia, was voted best beer of the year.
The most widely exported Czech Beer is Budvar (Budweiser in German), the name of which is also used by an unrelated American brew. A newish beer with a fine and very smooth taste is Velvet, in light form, or Kelt, as a dark beer from Prague breweries. Other Prague home brands are Smichovsky Staropramen and Branik.

The Czechs have been drinking beer since time immemorial. The secret of Czech beer is that the agricultural conditions are ideal for growing hops, and chronicles establish their cultivation in Bohemia as early as 859 A.D., while the first evidence of their export dates back to 903.

Czech beer is delicious and extremely cheap, its one of the reasons why so many people come here for Stag and hen parties aswell as Birthdays.

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