Masopust

At the end of winter every year, villages and towns across the Czech Republic are filled with the lively parades, feasts, and laughter of Masopust. Especially notable are the traditional masked processions and door-to-door visits in the Hlinecko region of Eastern Bohemia, which were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010 and have become a symbol of Czech carnival culture. During the few days before Lent, residents don various costumes, parade through the streets, and enjoy music, dance, and hearty meat dishes in a festival that heralds the arrival of spring. For folklore enthusiasts, photographers, and travelers seeking the authentic local spirit, Masopust offers a special time to experience the simple joys and vitality of Czech life.

The sound of cowbells, the savory aroma of roasted pork and fried doughnuts, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the colorful sight of devils, bears, brides, and butchers dancing hand in hand... For several days, the ordinary is turned upside down as the entire village becomes a stage for laughter, music, and age-old rituals.

UNESCO-Registered Masked Processions in the Hlinecko Region

Traditional Music and Dance

Costumes and Decorations

Masopust dates back to the 13th century and combines the last feast before the Christian Lent (meat abstinence) with ancient pagan fertility rites and rituals to drive away winter. The name means "meat abstinence," and the festival served as a social release valve where villagers mocked authority, reversed roles, and strengthened bonds through laughter and food. The masked processions and door-to-door visits in the Hlinecko region were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2010, symbolizing Czech Masopust culture.

In these traditional processions, village men and boys wear red or black masks and parade through the village with a brass band. At each house, four men perform ritual dances to pray for a bountiful harvest and family prosperity. The festival culminates in the symbolic "Killing of the Mare" ritual, featuring humorous testament readings and a resurrection dance, bringing the celebration to its peak.

This tradition was banned at times during the 18th and 19th centuries by the Catholic Church and in the 20th century under the socialist regime, but it played an important role in maintaining community cohesion and continues to be passed down from parents to children. Today, unique songs, dances, and masked parades are held across the country, preserving this "living Czech landscape" across generations.

"I have loved dancing in the snow dressed as a bear since I was a child. Singing and laughing with the whole village is the essence of happiness!"

"I’m from Prague, but I participate in Masopust every year in a small village. The homemade food, music, and costumes make me feel like I’ve stepped into another world."

"Last year, I joined the parade as a devil. An old lady explained the meaning of the masks to me, and I felt the depth of tradition and warmth of the community."

• Masopust is sometimes called the "Czech Mardi Gras" and is held on the weekend just before Ash Wednesday.
• The bear character is believed to bring fertility and good luck to the households it visits.

• 2026: 2026/02/14 - 2026/02/17
• 2025: 2025/03/01 - 2025/03/04
• 2024: 2024/02/10 - 2024/02/13
• 2023: 2023/02/18 - 2023/02/21
• 2022: 2022/02/26 - 2022/03/01
• 2021: 2021/02/13 - 2021/02/16
• 2020: 2020/02/22 - 2020/02/25
• 2019: 2019/03/02 - 2019/03/05

Masopust is celebrated every February or March in villages and towns across the Czech Republic. For the most unforgettable experience, visit a rural community, don a mask, and join the parade—you’ll discover the heart of Czech tradition in every laugh, dance, and bite.