Prague, the city of one hundred spires. Sometimes referred to as the city of five hundred or even a thousand spires. Personally, I have not counted them, but there is a big bunch! The reason? Churches. Churches everywhere. You can’t throw a bible without hitting a church. Wonderful, old, preserved churches. Over 300 of them.
Now, here is a fun fact: the Czech Republic is one of the most atheist countries in the world. These churches are fairly empty every Sunday. This fact gets more interesting when you consider that the two biggest holidays in the country, and the only two where they open markets themed to the holiday, are Christmas and Easter. With Easter approaching, let’s look into the traditions of Easter in the Czech Republic. I will also dive into some of the items you might find at these wonderful markets and explain their meaning.
Updated for 2026: This guide has been refreshed with confirmed Prague Easter Markets dates.
Czech Easter Traditions: A Week of Unique Customs
As with most Easter traditions, Palm Sunday starts the Easter week period. As you may guess, palm trees are a bit rare here, so pussy willow is used in place of palm leaves. You would see these decorating churches. Also, it is said that the weather that day will portend the coming season. As you can see, there is a mix of both Christian and pagan beliefs wrapped into this holiday week.
You may have noticed I said week. When I was a kid, Easter was pretty much just Easter. That was it. Maybe some egg coloring party on Saturday, but Sunday was Easter. Chocolate and colored eggs, all in a bed of very fake grass in a basket. Basically, a “brush your teeth, it is time for church and grandmother is coming for lunch” type of day. Not here in the Czech Republic. Here, they take some time to build up to Easter.
After Palm Sunday, We Get Blue Monday
Blue is the color of Mary’s robes. Blue pigment, or ultramarine as it was called in the Middle Ages, was more expensive than gold. Made from lapis lazuli and imported, it would have been used on only the most important subjects in a painting. In the Middle Ages, moving into the Renaissance, no one was more important than Mary. Thus, blue reminds us of Jesus’s mother. Also, Blue Monday signals the start of spring cleaning. Tradition states that this day would be taken off work so that you can clean. Some state that the whole week should be taken off, though I don’t know anyone who actually gets the day off from work, much less the week. Cleaning is certainly one of the themes for the week. This is not my favorite week of the year. I hate cleaning.
Grey Tuesday
Many of us would know it as Fig Tuesday, but with Grey, we are back to cleaning. Grey is the color of dust that you are sweeping out of the house. Cobwebs, dirt, and dust are cleared away and walls are whitewashed. The home and garden must be repaired and organized.
Ugly Wednesday
What a name, right? It is said to be the day Judas betrayed Jesus. I think that explains the name perfectly. Pastries in some areas of the Czech Republic are made in the shape of the letter “J”. These are known in Czech as jidáše. The bread is braided like a coil of rope, reminding us of how Judas died. Other foods might be made to seem visually ugly. Not unappetizing, just ugly. Bread served torn into various pieces; potato pancakes ripped up. You get the idea.
We also need to remember that clean theme for the week. The chimneys were cleaned on that day too. I often wonder if we shouldn’t switch when to clean the chimney and whitewash the walls, but traditions are already in place, who am I to question?
Also, don’t frown on Ugly Wednesday! If you do, you will do so every Wednesday for the rest of the year.
Green Thursday
Back to colors. Probably due to the fact that, at one time, only vegetables were to be eaten on this day. At least, according to some sources. I truthfully find very little historically about it but, they dye their beer green on this day, so I’m just going to let it slide.
A popular one is to rise before dawn and wash yourself in the morning dew to protect you from illness. Sweepings from the house would be taken and left at a crossroads to ensure fleas would not return to the home. During the final ringing of the church bells, you should shake your coins to guarantee good fortune in the following year. This is the last church bell ringing until Saturday.
Good Friday (Called “Big Friday” in Czech)
So many traditions for this day, and not enough space to list them all. Here are just a few.
In the church, all decorations are covered, leaving only the image of a dead Jesus visible. Nothing is to be borrowed on that day. Borrowed objects can become enchanted and that is never a good thing. Since there are no church bells, children with noise makers parading through the streets will be the replacement. The noises call time to service. They are also used to scare away Judas, and I imagine many of the neighborhood dogs.
White Saturday
The church bells, that were silent since Thursday, will ring again that evening. For the Czechs, this is a day in the kitchen. Eggs need to be hollowed and colored, lamb cake and other foods prepared, and if you are not cooking then you’re cleaning.
Easter Monday
First, it is a national holiday. Easter weekend is 4 days off!! And a good thing too, because this is when we step into one of the more unusual traditions. For me, a day off means sleeping late but not on Easter Monday. Men are up early making any last-minute touches to a whip, usually, braided pussy willow branches with ribbons on the end called pomlázka.
You may wonder why a whip, I certainly did when I first moved here. When I asked, I was informed it is to lightly whip the women. At first, I thought I heard them wrong. I did not. So, let’s break it down.
First, I want to make something very clear. This is a family event and not as creepy as it sounds. The women will prepare for the day setting aside eggs as gifts as young men will come by their homes to whip the women. The women are lightly taped on their rear and afterward, they present the young man with an egg. This is all an old fertility ritual. The spanking is to prevent women from becoming barren. You will have to ask your doctor how this works, I have no idea. Obviously, the egg is also a symbol of fertility.
Food will be shared and there will also be drinking. You are in the Czech Republic; drinking is part of just about anything. If a man whips a woman after noon time he can be doused with cold water. I have no idea who thought of all of this but there you are. The final day of Easter for the Czech Republic.
Prague Easter Markets
The best-known Prague Easter market is usually in Old Town Square, where the historic setting, colorful decorations, painted eggs, wooden stalls, and seasonal treats create the most classic Easter atmosphere in the city. This is the market most visitors picture first, and it is usually the easiest one to include while sightseeing in the Old Town.
Wenceslas Square often has another central Easter market, with food stalls, crafts, decorations, and an easy location between the National Museum and the lower part of the city center. It is less picturesque than Old Town Square, but very convenient if you are walking through New Town or staying nearby.
For a more local neighborhood feel, check Náměstí Míru in Vinohrady. The market sits in front of the Church of St. Ludmila and usually feels calmer than the busiest central squares. It is a good option if you want Easter decorations, painted eggs, spring flowers, and festive snacks without staying only in the tourist center.
Exact Easter market dates and opening hours change every year, so always check the current schedule before planning your day around one specific market. If you would rather experience the markets with a local guide, join our Prague Easter Market Tour with Czech Easter Eggs & Treats or book the Private Prague Easter Markets Tour for a more flexible pace.
Czech Easter Eggs
So, I mentioned the markets and hinted at the goodies and treats you can find there. Let’s take a wander through the market. Let’s get this one out of the way – you will see many of the whips I mentioned earlier. Long ones, short ones, buckets full of them. But also tons of foods, drinks, and one of my favorites, the eggs.
The eggs are amazing!! When we colored eggs when I was a child, we used food dyes and made eggs colors that simply are not found in nature. This dye would soak through the shell and stain the egg inside so I could literally eat green eggs. Czech Easter eggs are hollowed out. Before they are colored, designs are drawn with soft wax onto the shell. The eggs are then dyed. Onion skin is commonly used to color the eggs; however, other natural items are used to color them as well. After they are colored the wax is removed leaving wonderful details. Some eggs are even carved into them. I have seen eggs with little hearts or other designs carved into the shell. Follow our guide, Johanka to learn how to decorate traditional Czech Easter eggs at home.
No visit to the market is complete without grabbing a bite of food. The smells of the market lure you into a wonderland of tasty treats. We can find the “J” shaped bread I mentioned earlier, usually served with honey. You will see the lamb-shaped sweet sponge cakes. The lamb is to remind us of purity, innocence, and obedience. The lamb also symbolizes Christ.
Another wonder treat is called Mazanec. Usually, it is round to represent the sun and there will be a cross, cut in the middle and covered in almond slivers. This sweet bread will contain raisins. It has a crispy crust, but the bread is soft and delicious. Apart from the markets, you can get mazanec and other traditional pastries at most local bakeries around the city.
If you’re looking for a special Easter menu, we recommend visiting Masaryčka or Hajnovka, both known for their excellent seasonal offerings. As for beverages, wines, mead and lots of the popular Czech beers will be available all over the place. Green beer is annually made by Brewery Starobrno and can be found at a number of Prague bars, though specific locations will be announced closer to the date. You’ll also enjoy some fruity drinks and maybe the most delectable hot chocolate I have ever drank.
Tips for Visiting Prague at Easter:
- Easter markets will be open every day from April 5th to the 27th. If you are interested, you can join one of our Easter market tours and sample the wonders of the market with our local tour guides.
- Expected Weather: April in Prague can be unpredictable, with temperatures ranging from 5-20°C (41-68°F). There’s even a term for that – “April weather,” meaning you simply never know what to expect. I’d suggest bringing layers and a waterproof jacket.
- Bring Cash: Many market stands only accept Czech cash (koruna), so it’s best to stop at an ATM on your way.
- Getting Around: Prague’s public transport is excellent, and you can easily hop from one Easter market to another using trams and the metro.
- If you are visiting around the end of April, you may also come across Czech spring traditions beyond Easter itself, including the witch-burning festival known as Čarodějnice. Read our guide to the Czech Witch Burning Festival if your trip overlaps with April 30.
