At various locations in Prague
April 5th marks the start of the Easter markets in Prague (Velikonoční trhy) which will be open every day, including the Easter weekend. You will find beautifully decorated stands with the colors of the spring, selling Easter eggs, ceramics, embroidered lace, flowers and many traditional handcrafts, as well as food and drinks. You will also find the special Czech Easter symbol, the Easter pomlázka (from pomladit or “make younger”), a braided whip made from willow twigs and decorated with colorful ribbons symbolizing the spring energy. It has been used for centuries by boys who go caroling on Easter Monday and symbolically whip girls for luck and fertility. In the past, the pomlázka was also used by the farmers to whip the livestock.
The largest Easter market in Prague, is the one in Old Town square with folk music and art workshops for children (from mid-afternoon each day, musicians and folk groups dressed in traditional costumes perform short routines on a stage) but other Easter markets are held in various locations across the city, see below:
Old Town Square
Náměstí Míru
Náměstí Republiky
Na Kampě, next to Charles Bridge
