If you’re spending Christmas in Prague, the first thing to know is that the “big” day for Christmas in the Czech Republic is December 24th, not December 25th. Many people gather with their families to celebrate on Christmas Eve, and most restaurants and shops are closed.
The city’s famous Christmas Markets are the highlight of spending the holiday in Prague. Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square are full of market stalls, Christmas trees, and other seasonal decorations, and there is a great atmosphere.
A Czech Christmas tradition is to eat carp for dinner. You can walk through Prague on Christmas and see bathtubs filled with live carp. If you want to partake in the tradition, a fishmonger will kill the carp of your choice right in front of you.
Many churches in Prague hold a special midnight mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Composed in the 1900’s by Jan Jakub Ryba, it is a unique Czech experience. The mass lasts approximately 40 minutes.