There are many reasons to visit Prague. It is the largest city of Czechoslovakia. It is the capital and hub of the country's economic, political and cultural activities. From its well preserved architectures, friendly people, theaters and museums Prague is regarded as one of the most must see cities in Europe. A particularly good time to visit Prague is during Easter.



The Easter Market is one of the most festive celebrations of the City. During the Communist era, the people were not allowed to celebrate religious festivities in general. After the fall of the communist period, the Easter Market celebration was revived and is now being celebrated in full pomp and pageantry they way it used to be.

The whole city takes part in the celebration and everyone is invited. The celebration runs for about 3 weeks. Decorations and other preparations start appearing 2 weeks prior to Easter Sunday. The Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square become peppered with colorful streamers and stalls that sell almost everything from crafts to crystals.

Schools are out by Ugly Wednesday, allowing families to devote their time for the celebrations. Green Thursday is all about the boys banding together with their rattles. Parading through town, they brandish their rattles and shake them with gusto and bravado. They do the same thing through Good Friday and White Saturday. Things tend to escalate during White Saturday. Much like Halloween, on White Saturday the boys go from house to house shaking their rattles until they are given a treat ? usually in the form of money. If the goofy masks are meant to scare evil spirits away during Halloween, the rattles are meant to scare Judas.

The women and girls stay home and prepare the Easter eggs. Eggs are painted, embellished and proudly displayed in the homes. The men are in charge of preparing the Easter Whips. Come Easter Monday, the boys go from house to house and whip the homeowners. The girls of the homes they visit reward them with the eggs. Once the boys have had their fill, they go home with their loot of decorated eggs.

The celebration is made more joyful by locals donning traditional clothes and by the numerous contests organized within the city. Prague is truly transformed to a feast for all five senses. The festivities last a week more after Easter but the goodwill it fosters will last more than a lifetime.