Nativity scenes in Hodonín. (source: Courtesy of KKS Žilina)
An international festival of advent and Christmas traditions, carols and crafts called Souznění 2010 will take place in several locales in northern Moravia in the Czech Republic, culminating in the city of Ostrava on December 19 and in the Beskydy Mountains and the municipalities of Kozlovice and Václavovice.
From Thursday, December 16 to Sunday, December 19, the festival presents a rich programme of concerts in churches, music halls and under the open sky as well as exhibitions, demonstrations of traditional crafts, movie screenings and a holy mass. A popular Christmas market is also part of the festival and this year will offer regional culinary delicacies in Kozlovice. A new stage will also be part of activities at the St Wenceslaus Church in Václavovice.
The festival culminates on December 19 with a sale of folk craft products, sampling of Christmas beverages and a final gala concert in the House of Culture in Ostrava. Neighbouring countries will participate in the festival and the Visegrad Fund is the main patron of the festival, according to its website, www.souzneni-festival.cz.
Other Christmas related events in the Czech Republic have included a display of Slovak Bethlehems (nativity scenes) from Orava from the end of November until December 5 at the 9th International Exhibition of Bethlehems held at the House of Culture in Hodonín as part of an exchange with the Orava Culture Centre in Dolný Kubín.
