Advent in an Open-air Museum

Advent in an Open-air Museum  16/11/2011 Advent should be a time of relaxation and contemplation. A time to step back from the everyday hustle and bustle and catch your breath. Adherence to the traditions of this pre-Christmas period dates right back to the 7th century. Nowadays however, this holy time is considerably subject to commercial pressures. It tends rather to be regarded and enjoyed as days and weeks of peace and calm only by those living in a Christian environment.

  If you too are part of the restless and fast-beating pre-Christmas horde, try to make an exception this year. Maybe you will come to like it. Try to stop and tune in to the arrival of the Saviour as our ancestors knew how to do … Most open-air museums in the Czech Republic will help you to turn this idea into reality.
The Wallachian Open Air Museum (http://www.vmp.cz/) offers several events. You can reminisce about times long past here, times when people did not rush anywhere. Housewives devoted their time over the long winter evenings to completely different activities than are usual today. Take inspiration here! And above all, don’t miss the live nativity scene here on 17 December, which is based on the tradition of Christmas pastoral plays.

The second Sunday of advent is known as Bronze Sunday. This year, it falls on 11 December. There is also something on offer for everyone in the varied programme over the whole weekend, including the above-mentioned Bronze Sunday, at Zubrnice Open-air Museum (http://www.zubrnice.cz/). Christmas in the village – this is the name of what awaits you here. If you are from the city, don’t hesitate and try to become a “villager” for a while. It really is worth it!

What was life like for our ancestors in their cottages and cabins? It must have been a fairy tale in the pre-Christmas atmosphere. You can get a taste of this for yourself in person this year on Golden Sunday (18 December) in the Kouřim Museum of Folk Architecture (http://www.skanzenkourim.cz/). And Christmas markets and exhibitions will already be held a day before this at the Haná Open-air Museum (http://www.hanackeskanzen.cz/).
As is now the tradition, the most comprehensive and best example of what life was like during advent in the past has again this year been prepared in Vysočina in the Veselý kopec Open-air Museum (http://www.vesely-kopec.eu/). Cultural events held in the pre-Christmas spirit will be taking place here from as early as 3 December. You can for example enjoy the atmosphere of a Christmas fair here and also view an exhibition of folk nativity scenes, including the unique mechanical nativity scene by R. Frinta.

So – come for a visit...

CzechTourism is a state-funded agency of the Ministry for Regional Development. Its main activity is to promote the Czech Republic as an attractive tourist destination. More information is available at http://scandinavia.czechtourism.com.