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Whipping away infertility at Easter with a pomlázka
A traditional practice involves braided willow branches called a pomlázka and plum brandy. Easter in Europe has always been tied up with spring rituals related to fertility and birth. Bunnies are among…
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The pirate ghost Red Goat seeks his lost love and treasure
A seafaring buccaneer tried to hide on land but could not escape his fate. The current mayor of Prague, since November 15, 2018, has been a member of the Czech Pirate Party.…
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Krampus, Santa’s evil friend stows bad kids in a sack
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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Tales and meanings of the Prague Astronomical Clock
The Astronomical Clock, a popular tourist attraction, has been restored to its pre-war condition The Astronomical Clock at Prague’s Old Town Square has been rebuilt, returning its inner clockwork to the weights…
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Chlupáč, Prague’s evil hairy ghost with a hatred of hookers
A half-man/half–beast who appeared as a hairy ghost terrorized brothels on former church property. Not all ghosts are see-through, or covered in shrouds. One of Prague’s most dangerous spectres was a hairy…
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A French major’s ghost haunts the tunnels of Vyšehrad
The War of Succession left behind a French ghost at Vyšehrad who refuses to accept defeat. Not all soldiers leave after a war. Some are left in faraway graves, while others refuse…
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The tragedy of the House at Death
A May – December romance went horribly wrong in the House at Death in Prague’s Old Town. Prague’s street Dlouhá třída, now lined with touristy bars and expensive shops, was once where…
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Two headless horsemen haunt the route to Prague Castle
A Swedish soldier and a gambling monk both ride at night but are mostly harmless. Some parts of Prague are just overrun with ghosts. The streets leading up to Prague Castle have…
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Houska Castle guards a pit leading down into Hell
A chapel at Houska Castle was built on a chasm filled with half-human monsters to keep them in. Several places on Earth are thought to be entry portals to hell. A foul-smelling…
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Two ghosts who nailed it: a pair of grim Prague legends
Malá Strana has two ghosts who suffered painful deaths that involved iron nails. A pair of otherwise unrelated ghosts a few streets apart in Prague’s historical Malá Strana area have something in…
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The horoscopes of Albrecht von Wallenstein
General Albrecht von Wallenstein took astrology very seriously, even delaying a battle due to the stars. One of the most significant generals of the Thirty Years’ War, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein had…
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The wild unicorn of Prague
A conjuring trick gone horribly wrong unleashed a wild unicorn on a side street in Prague. Prague legends include many mystical animals, including a unicorn. While the story is a bit vague,…
