Shouthbohemian Masopust (Mardi Gras) is back after two year Covid gap by David Sladek

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Shouthbohemian Masopust (Mardi Gras) is back after two year Covid gap

Copyright David Sladek 2024

Date of Work Feb 2022 - Feb 2022

Updated Apr 2022

Location prachatice district

Topics Black and White, Celebrations, Documentary, Mardi Gras, Photography, Religion, Traditions

Summary

Masopus (Czech version of Mardi Gras) has returned to South Bohemian villages after 2 years of Covid gap

Masopust or Fašank (Czech/Slovak) local version Mardi Gras of is a traditional event taking place before the Easter fast when people would consume much of food and drinks that were left from the winter and, depending on the region, crowds would take to the streets in various masks and costumes to celebrate the coming start of spring. In the Czech Republic many villages still hold this tradition, some keep to the old spirits, some have modernised it and some have developed the custom into a mass tourist attraction. Small villages in the South Bohemian region often lack the historical masks and connotations in theur marches, but people join in good spirit dressed in modern masks, often inspired by film industry, and walk around houses to ask for refreshments. Live music with traditional accordion and violins and rarely also bagpipes accompany the march and spark random street dance. Alcohol plays major role in the celebration and some participants struggle the long walk which can last for up to 12 hours, in some villages for several days in a row. This yeas, I have photographed Masopust in several of the smallest villages in the hilly district of Prachatice where people hadn't marched for two consecutive years due to Covid restrictions. Fears of low attendance vanished as dozens of old and new participants met and cheered again.

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David Sladek

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