Masopust Carnival
Winter carnival is held annually each February and many Czech traditions and customs revolve are celebrated during the event. The Masopust (Shrovetid) is a very festive period that takes place at the end of the carnival, with plentiful feasts of meat from the produce of ‘zabíjačka’ (pig slaughter) and sweet comforts like home made doughnuts and sweet rolls.
The carnival is held over a three-week period from Epiphany until Ash Wednesday and is followed by a forty-day fast until Easter. The most jovial time of the festival is during the last three days of the carnivaL, which have become a celebration of food. The idea is to eat until one is completely full, in preparation of the long fast to come.
This singular celebration takes place in many Czech villages, but the most well known are the ones that are held each year in the villages of the region of Hlinecko. Since 2010 this festival has been placed on the UNESCO list of world heritage sights and traditions, in order to help the local communities preserve their significant cultural roots and folklore. The Carnival Parades in the villages of Hlinecko, Studnice, Hamry and Blatno have maintained the tradition of Masopust from 200-250 years ago without any major changes to the appearance of masks and rituals.
Masopust’s three day celebrations have similar structures everywhere with the main event starting with a very rich lunchtime meal on the Sunday. Traditionally the table must not be without ‘jitrnice’ (liver sausage/white pudding), ‘klobásy’ (Czech sausages), bacon, doughnuts, sweet pastries – called God’s grace and of course it mustn’t be without ‘kořalka’, a type of Czech spirit, most commonly made from plums.
The merriment continues on Monday with the commencement of folk dancing and on Tuesday the masquerade parade begins. At midnight however the carnival celebrations stop. Lent begins and the table is now spread with the more humble dishes of lentils, bread, eggs and potatoes.