Masopust Carnival
The Masopust Winter Carnival is held every year in February and celebrates traditional Czech customs marking the period before Lent. This festive season ends with Shrovetide, a time of joyful gatherings, colorful masks, music, and generous meals. Traditional foods include pork specialties from the annual pig slaughter, along with homemade doughnuts, sweet rolls, and pastries.
The carnival season lasts for several weeks, from Epiphany until Ash Wednesday, and is followed by a forty-day fast leading up to Easter. The most lively part of Masopust takes place during the final three days, when communities celebrate with abundant food and festivities in preparation for the fasting period.
While Masopust is celebrated in many villages across Czechia, the most famous events take place in the Hlinecko region, particularly in the villages of Hlinsko, Studnice, Hamry, and Blatno. These celebrations have preserved their traditional masks, rituals, and parade customs for more than 200 years. In recognition of this living tradition, Masopust in the Hlinecko region was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010.
The celebrations follow a similar rhythm each year. On Sunday, families and visitors gather for a rich midday feast featuring Czech sausages, bacon, pastries, and fruit spirits. On Monday, folk music and dancing fill the villages. On Tuesday, masked processions move through the streets until midnight, when the carnival officially ends and Lent begins.
Masopust offers visitors a rare chance to experience authentic Czech folklore, community traditions, and seasonal rituals that have been passed down through generations.