Love, Poetry and Cherry Blossom

If you’re going to be in Prague with somebody special over the next few days, you’re in luck.  May 1^st is a known internationally as “Labour Day” and it is a national holiday in the Czech Republic, which is a of course great news for those of us who are currently enjoying a long weekend. For many Czech people however, May 1^st is also a day to celebrate love and romance. It could be said that it is something like the Czech version of Valentine’s Day.

The story behind this takes us back to the early 19^thcentury and to a young Czech poet called Karel Hynek Macha. Macha lead a tragic and troubled life and after his death at the tender age of 26, he was thrown unceremoniously into a pauper’s grave. Shortly before his death, he wrote a poem called “Maj” (May). This poem went on to be one of the most significant works of Czech literature but unfortunately for Macha, it was not given the appreciation that it deserved until years after the poet’s death.  These days, Maj is compulsory reading in Czech schools and most Czech people are able to recite at least its opening lines:

“It was late evening, on the first of May,
The eve of May was the time of love.
The turtle-dove´s voice called to love,
Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay.”

This is of course an English translation from the original version, which was written in Czech.

In the district of Malostrana, you will find the gorgeous Petrin Hill. Petrin Hill is well worth a visit at any time of year, but right now it is especially beautiful because its orchard of cherry trees is alive with deep pink blossom.  Custom dictates that on May 1^st, a girl should be kissed beneath the cherry blossom to ensure that she will remain beautiful for the next 12 months. A slightly more morbid custom claims that any girl who is not kissed beneath the cherry blossom on May 1^st will die within 12 months.  However, my favourite and certainly the most romantic of the customs relates to the statue of Karel Hynek Macha, which is to be found half way up Petrin Hill. The statue perfectly captures a jaunty and youthful sense of playfulness and depicts the poet with a notebook in one hand and a bunch of lilacs in the other.  It is said that any couple who shares a kiss in the presence this statue will enjoy a life time of love which is as strong and resilient as the statue itself. So why not embrace your inner romantic celebrate love Czech style on Monday?

Petrin Hill can be found right next Ujezd Tram Stop, which you can get to by trams 22, 12, 9, 20, 23 and 15.