The top 10 things to do in Prague this week: December 23–29

Ugly SweaterParty
Illegal Beer Pivotéka
December 23
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Christmas simply wouldn’t be Christmas without people congregating to drink in hideous apparel. Thankfully Illegal Beer Pivotéka is keeping the tacky tradition alive here in the Czech Republic with this night devoted to good brews and bad apparel.

Carp Soup on Old Town Square
December 23-24
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An annual Prague tradition, try this fish soup made according to a traditional recipe of carp, cognac, caramel, carrots, celery and parsley, butter from from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entertainment program will continue at 9 p.m. when the Czech Christmas Mass will be performed on the stage. See more details here.

Czech Christmas mass
Hlavní Nádraží
December 23
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The 19th year of this informal performance of the Czech Christmas Mass at Prague’s main railway station, is attended by hundreds of students and dozens of musicians and singers. Anyone who has a musical instrument or wants to sing can get involved.

Christmas Gala Concert
Municipal House
December 24
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The Dvořák Symphony Orchestra Prague performs “Adeste Fideles,” “O Holy Night,” “Silent Night” as well as music from Swan Lake, Rusalka, and other cherished Mozart, Strauss, and Dvořák pieces. Duration is 65 minutes with no break.

Trivia Night: Festive Edition
A Maze In Tchaiovna
December 24
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A night to challenge yourself, stretch your brain, and impress those around you with useless facts. Get a team together or come on your own, you’re guaranteed to leave a little wiser and with some fun prizes.

Christmas Day Escargot
Special Restaurant
December 24
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Eating snails on Christmas is a little known Czech tradition that dates to the First Republic when the Czech lands were a major exporter of snails. Try this old-fashioned Christmas dish in this Old Town gastropub.

Jakub Jan Ryba: Czech Christmas Mass
Rudolfinum
December 25
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The Christmas concert of the Czech Christmas Mass by Jakub Jan Ryba, the most traditional Czech piece of music, Hej, mistře, takes places in the Dvořák Hall of Rudolifnum on December 25th at 16:00.

Alfred Nikodem Memorial Swim
December 26
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The 73rd edition of the oldest Czech winter swimming contest, named for a famous “spartan” swimmer, will be held near the National Theatre, between Slavonic Island and Střelecký Island. The event will start at 11 a.m. on Boxing Day.

Film: Sun Valley Serenade
Ponrepo
December 27
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Sun Valley Serenade is a 1941 musical that revolves around a Norwegian war orphan who is adopted by a pianist as a publicity stunt and turns out to be a beautiful young woman. Featuring the Glenn Miller Orchestra as a struggling band named the Dartmouth Troubadours. 

Forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) Winter Walk
Divoka Sarka
December 29
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The Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, which can be translated as “forest bathing,” consists of gentle “wellbeing walks,” designed to help participants to bask in the environment and energy of the forest — and detox after the holidays.