Christmas Tree Chosen for Prague’s Old Town Square

A 31-meter Norway Spruce has been selected to adorn the Czech capital’s famed Christmas market

Dave Park

Written by Dave Park Published on 20.10.2016 11:58:06 (updated on 20.10.2016) Reading time: 2 minutes

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A few weeks ago, there was some controversy about Prague’s Christmas markets in Old Town and Wenceslas Squares, which had yet to find an official organizer. 

Taiko, the company that had run the Christmas markets since 2004, had yet to renew their contract, which was up for a tender amidst allegations of insider dealings. 

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Last week, however, Prague announced that Taiko had won the tender – and will pay the city more than a million CZK more than last year. The company will operate the Christmas markets beginning on November 26. 

And they’ve already been busy with preparations: yesterday, Taiko announced in a press release that it had chosen the Christmas Tree that will adorn Prague’s Old Town Square.

It’s a 31-meter tall Norway spruce that comes from the town of Pecka in the Hradec Králové region:

 

Photo: Taiko
Photo: Taiko

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“This tree was the favorite last year,” said Taiko’s Chief Operating Officer, Petr Hozák. “But then we used another tree, because the owners had plans to chop it down early.”

“Because the tree has been grown in the open air near the forest, it is ideally feathered.”

The tree has been donated to Prague from the Wolf family, who owns the land, as a memorial to the late František Wolf.

“My husband wished that the tree would delight all those who arrive at Old Town Square for the Christmas markets,” widow Alena Wolfová said.

“This way his wish can be fulfilled.”

The tree will be cut down on November 20th, and the following day it will be transported to Prague’s Old Town Square.

It will be first lit on the eve of the 2016’s Advent Sunday to ring in the Christmas market on Saturday, November 26. Last year, Prague officials cancelled the traditional lighting ceremony following the 2015 terror attacks in France.

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Last year, Prague was voted the best Christmas destination in the world by readers of USA Today, while Town & Country ranked the Old Town Square Christmas Tree among the globe’s “most magnificent.”

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