The special tractor with a trailer that carried the tree to Brno last year will replaced by a more old-fashioned vehicle – a horse-drawn carriage. On Friday, November 23, the tree will be lit up and the Christmas season in Brno will officially start!
Brno, Oct 22 (BD) – The tradition of bringing a tree from Bílovice nad Svitavou is associated with the Czech writer, poet, journalist and translator Rudolf Těsnohlídek, who came from the town. Shortly before Christmas in December 1919, Těsnohlídek was hiking with his friends in the woods near Bílovice nad Svitavou. In the cold evening, they discovered an abandoned 17-month old baby girl. They rescued the baby girl and took her to the police station in Bílovice. The girl was later adopted by a family from Brno and died in 1997 in Prague.
Inspired by this event, Těsnohlídek established a tradition of transporting Christmas trees from Bílovice to Brno and fundraising for children in need. The proceeds from the first fundraiser organized by Těsnohlídek were used to build Dagmar Children’s Home (Dětský domov Dagmar) in Brno.
Almost 100 years later, Brno’s Christmas events continue to support local charities. Until the end of the Christmas markets on December 28, a collection for the Czech Red Cross will be held under the tree. The contributions will pay for healing trips for children from orphanages and the elderly, and help the socially disadvantaged, according to a report by online news site Eurozpravy.cz on Thursday, October 18 (“Vánoční strom pro Brno? Letos ho přiveze nezvyklý dopravní prostředek”).
Rudolf Těsnohlídek is best-known for his novel Liška Bystrouška (Vixen Sharp Ears), first published in 1921. The text inspired Leoš Janáček’s opera Příhody Lišky Bystroušky (The Cunning Little Vixen), introduced in 1923. The opera will launch this year’s Janáček Brno festival on November 17.
The tourist center is already preparing a cultural and entertainment program at náměstí Svobody. On average, the Christmas markets in Brno were visited by around 28,000 people a day last year. “For those who want to get to know the city better or enjoy it during holidays, we have prepared special advent-themed walks and city trips,” said Jana Janulíková, head of the center, as quoted in Eurozpravy.cz.
Last year, 12,500 people attended the ceremony in náměstí Svobody when the lights were turned on, with a light show and musical performance, according to Brno’s tourism website gotobrno.cz.
Watch our video of the illumination of the Christmas trees in all four main squares in Brno!
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