Discover the Best Carnival Spots for Unforgettable Fun! Dive into Traditional Celebrations

About Ash Wednesday and carnival masquerades

The carnival season runs from Epiphany until Ash Wednesday, which occurs on the fortieth day before Easter (Easter Sunday falls on 5 April this year). The day before Ash Wednesday is Shrove Tuesday, which this year is on 18 February. This day signals the start of the pre-Easter fasting period. Since Easter can shift dates, Shrove Sunday may happen over a time span of more than a month.

After that, the lengthy grey period of fasting and abstinence begins. The bass (a traditional symbol of festivities) was buried, meaning that after Shrove Sunday, certain foods like black pudding, white pudding, boiled pork, brandy, doughnuts, and cakes were replaced by more traditional fare like potatoes, peas, and lentils.

Yet, before Shrovetide comes to an end, everyone aimed to feast well to endure the fasting period strengthily and also to joyfully celebrate the peak of Shrovetide. This was traditionally done through a masquerade party occurring on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Even today, ceremonial masked parades can be found in towns and villages; some feature music, while others do not; in certain areas, masked participants visit important local figures, or simply go door to door.

In various parts of southern Moravia, before each stop, men perform a traditional dance known as “Pod šable,” which is common during Shrovetide. Similarly, performers known as “bobkovníci” dance at every house in the Uherský Brod area, while in the Hlinecko region, four dancers called “Turci” dance in a circle. All of this builds up to an evening Shrovetide party, concluding at midnight with the ceremonial burial of the bass. The bass had been the source of music all year long, so all sins are symbolically placed upon it; with its burial, the festivities come to a close, ensuring that the period of fasting remains undisturbed.

The last three days of Shrovetide, before returning to everyday life, had various local names. Depending on the region, these days were called ostatky, voračky, fašank, končiny, or bláznivé dny, and they were often tied to certain superstitions, like the belief that getting married during this time would drive both partners mad.

When are the main Shrovetide days?

• • Fat Thursday 12 February 2026

• • Shrove Sunday 15 February 2026

• • Shrove Tuesday 17 February 2026

• • Ash Wednesday 18 February 2026

Traditional and non-traditional Shrovetide celebrations

If you want to experience Shrovetide in a truly stylish environment of log cabins, visit one of the many open-air museums in Czechia and Moravia. For instance, the traditional Shrovetide activities at the Kouřim open-air museum will occur this year on Sunday, 15 February. Besides expert insights from local guides, there will be a pig slaughter, along with refreshments featuring draught beer or fried foods, and you can even taste “božích milostí” (a type of doughnut).

Another Shrovetide festivity in the traditional Old Bohemian style will take place on 15 February at the open-air museum in Piletice, located near Hradec Králové. At Šrámek’s farm, you will be able to sample authentic homemade Piletice bread, doughnuts, black pudding, white pudding, and other delightful dishes. You can also witness a traditional rural pig slaughter, including commentary from skilled butchers. And, of course, there will be a parade of Shrovetide masqueraders as well as dancing by local folk groups, where visitors are encouraged to join in wearing masks themselves.

A unique experience awaits from 13 to 17 February at the traditional Shrovetide festival in Strání. Shrovetide here starts on Friday and wraps up on Tuesday at midnight, when the bass is buried to allow Lent to commence properly on Ash Wednesday before Easter.

The most famous carnival parade will occur on 14 February, featuring a traditional procession of masks from the village of Vortová, located in the UNESCO immovable monument area of Chrudim-Hlinecko. If you visit this region, don’t miss the exhibition of carnival masks and parades from Hlinecko found at the Betlém historical reserve in Hlinsko, specifically in house number 362.

You can also experience the carnival in the way it deserves to be experienced – such as in Prague, where the carnival in Žižkov on 7 February and in Malá Strana on 14 February are definitely highlights not to be missed.

Additionally, the revived tradition of folk carnival celebrations, featuring a vibrant colorful parade of masks, can be enjoyed on 17 February in Český Krumlov. On Saturday, 14 February, a joyful parade of masks will also take place in Cheb located in western Bohemia and in Valtice, where the masks reflect wine-making traditions. Attendees can look forward to demonstrations of folk customs, a carnival mask parade, traditional songs, and a significant amount of tasty food.