GALLERY: A retro Czechoslovak Christmas from festive food to winter fashion

Time is running out for those wanting to step back into the polyester past of 1970s and 80s Czechoslovakia at the Retro Museum, currently housed on the fourth floor of the Kotva department store.

The museum, located within one of Prague's most famed Brutalist structures, is set to close its doors on Jan. 14, 2023, in preparation for moving to a new location.

An immersive time capsule featuring 12,000 items showcasing the daily life, furnishings, and fashions of the bygone era, the retro museum's holiday display offers a glimpse into Christmas traditions gone by.

Seasonal decorations, trees adorned with traditional glass ornaments, and other treasures from Tuzex hard currency stores, capture the festivities of a different era. Skis and bicycles were among the most requested gifts under the tree (the exhibit features winter sports gear and the iconic Skivo ski waxes) as well as Merkur kits and dolls.

According to spokesperson Michaela Sikorová, the museum has been a torchbearer of Czech nostalgia from the 1940s to the 1980s, hosting 40 exhibitions nationwide since its inception in 2014. She says construction is underway for the new destination, which promises broader themes beyond design and daily life and a larger space.