Czech Scouts to carry Light of Bethlehem to Prague and around the Czech Republic

Prague, Dec 18 (CTK) — The Bethlehem Light, one of the symbols of the Christmas season, was brought to Brno, south Moravia, from Vienna during the weekend and will arrive to Prague on Saturday to be distributed by the Scouts around the city, Junak (Czech Scout) spokeswoman Barbora Trojak told CTK today.

On Sunday, the light from Bethlehem will be brought to Saint Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle during mass and people will be able to take it home until Christmas Eve.

A tram with carols and tea will be going through Prague on Saturday between 13:00 and 19:00. The Scouts will then give the light to Prague Mayor Zdenek Hrib (Pirates).

The scouts will bring the light to 774 train stations and hundreds of local events around the Czech Republic.

They have been bringing the light of Bethlehem to the country for 30 years. The first light arrived in former Czechoslovakia thanks to Scouts living abroad, who brought it to the centre of the events of the Velvet Revolution (the toppling of the Communist regime), Wenceslas Square in Prague, in December 1989.

The transport of the light of Bethlehem was one of the first large events at which Czech Scouts could assemble freely.

The Peace Light of Bethlehem program started in Austria, where the light was transported from Bethlehem in 1986. It has been spread to dozens of countries since then.