Three Kings charity drive and parade return to Prague streets

The Three Kings charity drive will return to streets throughout the Czech Republic from tomorrow, with young carolers dressed as biblical kings collecting money for those in need through January 15. The annual Three King's parade will also make its way through Prague next weekend for the first time in three years following pandemic cancellations.

The 2023 Three Kings charity drive will represent 23 years of collecting money for the those in need throughout the Czech Republic. In 2022, the drive raised a total of 141 million crowns, organizers Caritas Czech Republic revealed through a press release on New Year's Eve.

During the Three Kings drive, young carolers dressed as the three biblical kings collect money in sealed boxes displaying the Caritas Czech Republic logo. Money can also be donated through collection boxes at various shops, offices, and churches throughout the country, by SMS or online through the drive's official website.

The annual Three Kings collection is considered to be the largest charity drive in the Czech Republic.

"More than 60,000 volunteers are involved in its organization and the course of caroling every year, during which collect tens of millions of crowns is collected in coffers," Gabriela Víšová, the main coordinator of the event, explains.

Two-thirds of the proceeds from the Three Kings collection will be divided between Czech regions to help those in need. Ten percent will go towards international aid, five percent will cover the organization of the drive, and the remaining funds will go towards nationwide projects. A list of projects supported by the drive can be found on its website.

"For both carolers and donors, it represents a unique opportunity to start the new year with a good deed," says Caritas Czech Republic director Lukáš Curylo.

Accompanying Three Kings events will support the charity drive throughout the first two weeks of January. These include Three Kings concerts in Ostrava on January 3 and in Brno on January 8.

The largest event is the annual Three Kings parade in Prague, which will see a biblical procession led by the kings riding camels march through the city center from Malostranské náměstí across Charles Bridge and to Old Town Square.

The Three Kings parade was cancelled in both 2021 and earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions. Friday, January 6, will mark the first Three Kings parade in three years as the procession heads out from 3:30 p.m.