The tradition of formal balls lives on in the 21st-century Czech Republic. And in contrast to many other EU countries, the balls held here are not restricted to the highest social levels, but in fact attract a broad spectrum of the public. Ladies in sweeping gowns and gentlemen in their best suits dancing till dawn can be your companions in the romantic ball of your dreams.

Easter is a very important Christian holiday, and in Prague it is celebrated very much in that spirit. It is also a holiday time when families travel and get together. While walking Prague’s paved streets you will notice market stalls and flower decorations, Easter eggs smiling from shop windows.

When you walking on the December 5 evening in Prague's streets you surely will run into a group of strange characters: St. Nicholas, the Angel who represents Good, and the Devil, who represents Evil. All wear costumes. Nicholas looks a bit like Santa Claus, whose origin was supposedly inspired by St. Nicholas.

On May 1, couples gather around the statue of Karel Hynek Mácha, the Czech Romantic "poet of love", in Prague's Petřín Park where they lay flowers and spend a few moments.

On the evening of April 30th many Czechs gather to build a bonfire and prepare an effigy of the witch that kept winter around so long. Czechs used to believe that the power of witches would weaken as the weather got warmer.

The Czech St. Joseph's Day is a more subdued version of the Irish St. Patrick's Day and is celebrated around the same time in March every year.

The day of Hromnice is a significant day for Czech weather-related folklore. It falls on February 2nd, the same day the popular Groundhog Day is celebrated in the United States. And no wonder - both are based on the same ancient Celtic tradition.

The Christian feast of Christmas replaced the pre-Christian feast of the winter solstice. The celebration of Christmas was always associated with many non-religious customs of a magical nature: anyone who fasted on Christmas Eve saw a golden piglet.

The name of this period comes from the Latin word adventus, which means "arrival." It concerns the period of the arrival or birth of Jesus Christ, who is perceived as the Saviour or Messiah.

During mass on Easter Sunday, the priest blesses food that has been brought (lamb, rabbit, Easter cake, eggs, bread, and wine). This consecrated food is taken home again by housewives and ceremonially eaten by the family during a festive lunch.