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Falling trees, stuttering, and parties

Prague TV
By Scott MacMillan
Tue 9th Dec, 2003 [updated Thu 11th Dec, 2003]		 Add to favorites email print this article Share on FaceBoook

It’s been a traumatic few days in terms of holiday cheer. It’s not bad enough that it’s cold as the Dickens and every third person in Prague seems to be coming down with a nasty bug. You have to throw St. Nicholas Day in there as well, with its legions of devils roaming the streets scarring toddlers for life. And then there’s the pre-Christmas calamity on Old Town Square, in which the huge Christmas tree broke at the base in a gust of wind Saturday morning.

Radio Prague runs with this hilariously understated headline: “Collapse of 30-metre tree on Old Town Square raises questions over safety.” Um, no shit.

A Brit on holiday is taking home some precious Christmas memories. “Though three ultimately escaped with only minor injuries, a fourth, a 54-year-old visitor from Britain, suffered fractures to both femurs and the spine. He underwent a six-hour-operation to stabilize his condition and will remain in hospital for the next two weeks. " Five crowns says it hurt like hell, too.

Here’s the Prague TV take.

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If you’re one of the many foreigners completely flummoxed by this cruelty called St. Nicholas Day, Doug Arellanes has the complete lowdown Call it “Mikuláš for Dummies.” Czechs always reminisce about how terrified they were of the devil when they were children. Well, duh…. Call me a bleeding heart but he is the Prince of Darkness, you know. (Although given the way he’s usually played by Czech teenagers – sniff sniff, grrr – he’s more like the Rodent of Darkness.) Anyway, the next sentence out of these nostalgic Czechs’ mouths is usually what a lovely tradition it is.

Arellanes links to an article from Czech daily Lidové Noviny (Czech only) that’s says a full half (yes, that’s right, half) of Czech children who stutter do so following a traumatic experience on St. Nicholas Day.

Seeing Czech people celebrate the major festivals in public (with that big stage with those hokey dance-and-lip-synch acts, usually sponsored by a mobile phone operator) is a bit like intruding on an intimate family gathering. So be careful. You might see something you’re not supposed to. Just look what they did to that British guy.

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Speaking of intimate gatherings, the line-up is falling into place for the (first annual) Amnesty International Christmas Party, held at Tulip Café with entertainment galore. PTV is co-sponsoring, and several acts have already given 99-100% confirmation, including a funky jazz-rock five-piece named Blow Joe. If you liked Chamber Worcester, the headliner for the PTV Halloween bash at Divadlo Ponec, don’t miss these guys. Even if you don’t like funky jazz-rock – even if you don’t like music, or people for that matter – you should come to the party. It’s for a good cause, you know.

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Hey, did I really miss Marcel Marceau? Say it’s not so. Nobody said a word!
Article added on Tue 9th Dec, 2003 [last updated Thu 11th Dec, 2003]

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