The Story of the Christmas Tree

We were certain about the theme of this year's exhibition immediately thanks to the Presidency of the Czech Republic of the Council of the EU,” says Vratislav Zákoutský, the castle manager. “All I can say is that visitors can expect to see a Christmas tree in the Art Nouveau, alpine, Victorian, and Bond-like styles.

Where does the Christmas tree tradition come from? What were the first European Christmas trees like? What did they look like one-hundred years ago, and what do they look like today? How does the British Royal Family decorate their trees at home, and how are Christmas trees decorated in a cabin in the Alps? How is Christmas celebrated in other countries and who is supposed to be the purveyor of gifts? All these answers will be available to you on Loučeň Castle’s festive season castle tours. Children will also have the chance to write a letter to Santa Claus.

Every Sunday leading up to Christmas, one-and-a-half-meter-long candles will be lit on the biggest Advent Wreath in the Czech Republic.

The Christmas tours will take place from November 17th, 2022 until January 15th, 2023. The castle will be open to the public every day, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (December 24th-26th), as well as on New Year’s Day (January 1st). Especially popular amongst visitors are the evening tours, which will take place every Saturday, including Boxing Day on December 26th, 2022.

More information including a detailed program can be found online. Be sure to book your tickets at zamekloucen.cz.

A New Tradition in the European Parliament

A Christmas tree, which is decorated with ornaments from the traditional, hand-made ornament collection by the Czech Koulier glass factory located in Oflenda of the Vysočina Region, is set to be lit in Brussels on November 29th, 2022. Kateřina Šrámková, the owner of both Loučeň Castle and the production of Koulier glass decorations, together with politician Tomáš Zdechovský, a member of the European Parliament, came up with this new concept in which the EU country currently holding the EU presidency will be responsible for setting up and decorating its own traditional Christmas tree in the entrance hall of the European Parliament in Brussels.

In order to decorate the Christmas tree in a traditional Czech style, an Art Nouveau collection was chosen. Art Nouveau with its abundant colors and shapes was a style that influenced all of Europe. The tree itself also originates from the Czech Republic and was brought in from Žďár nad Sázavou. There, the fir tree was grown at the local Baroque farmyard Lyra, which was designed by famed Czech architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel (1677-1723). Decorators from the Koulier glass factory first had to visit the tree in person to see how it was growing and figure out the placement of branches before they were able to choose the right ornaments to decorate it with.

The Story of the Christmas Tree at Czech Centers

The Story of the Christmas Tree will be presented at the Czech Centre Bratislava on December 1st, 2022. The previously mentioned Art Nouveau collection will also be on display alongside the various Christmas decorations. The decorated Christmas tree will be on display there until the end of the year.

Next year, The Story of the Christmas tree will continue at the Czech Centre Vienna.