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Morana, the Czech goddess of winter and death
Each of the seasons in Slavic folklore is overseen by a god or goddess, though the names and attributes vary greatly from region to region. In Bohemia and Moravia, the female force…
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Two monastery ghosts haunt the grounds of Emauzy
Long-dead monks wander the grounds of Emauzy, one a hero and the other a villainThe monastery at Emauzy looks pleasant enough from a distance, with its modern concrete wings added in the…
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Krampus, the evil friend of Santa
A demonic figure with pagan roots called Krampus puts bad kids in a sack Christmas traditions vary across regions in Europe. Not entirely surprisingly, the residents of Central Europe tend to go…
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Prague was founded by Libuše, a pagan princess
A visionary woman named Libušesaw the future of the Czech capital Like many old cities, the origins of Prague are a bit mysterious. A popular legend says the city was founded by…
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The Devil’s Column is due to a diabolical bet
Some see a broken stone pillar as evidence that a demon named Zardan visited Prague The history of Vyšehrad goes back to the very foundation of Prague, and the walled fortress-like area…
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Interactive map shows the ghosts of Prague
More than 100 spirits inhabit the historical parts of the Czech capital, and an interactive map helps to find them Prague is filled with ghosts, at least according to popular legends. But…
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Witches’ Night is fun for the family
One of the first nice days of spring is an excuse to roast sausages and burn a witch Witches’ Night sounds a bit ominous, but in Bohemia and much of Central Europe, it…
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The Snow Witch of Týn forever repents her evil ways
A woman who became a snow witch repents her self-serving ways every winter If you look at old paintings and 19th century photos, you can see that Prague used to get pretty…
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The Witches’ Hammer trials in Moravia and Silesia
A small area at the edge of the Czech Republic saw hundreds executed for witchcraft; the incident inspired the film Witches Hammer The witch-hunting craze hit the Moravia-Silesia region, in the eastern…
