PICTURE: The Christmas markets in Prague are not over, they just have a different name
“We all have veils, we are vaccinated. Checks come at us, but we do everything, otherwise we wouldn’t be here. Unless the government comes up with something new for us again. It is very sad to take people happy before Christmas and take away their Christmas markets. We are on the air. Nobody solves shopping centers and events, “a dummy saleswoman told Pražský deník, which she added at a stand with handicrafts from a sheltered workshop. “All goods were sewn by women with breast cancer. We are a non-profit organization and we are happy to sell here. I’m not afraid of the ban. I sewed these gloves myself, “she boasted.
“We will not allow small business owners to get into existing problems due to unfortunate and ambiguous regulations. I consider the ban on Christmas markets to be a huge nonsense, as farmers’ markets, for example, can continue to operate and we now have a lot of people in shopping centers who have the opportunity to shop here, “explained Mayor of Prague 1 Petr Hejma (We, What We Live Here / STAN) “maximum number of people in the area, keeping a safe distance”.
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During our visit to Wenceslas Square, the sales points were tidy and looked quite tasteful. But some Praguers perceive it differently. “The program is only an hour a day, but the stalls are open all day. The covidpas control at the stands is zero. Decor terrible and prices disastrous. If this is the business card of Prague 1, congratulations, “Kateřina Budlovská complained on Facebook.
People don’t even agree on Hejm’s interpretation of the rules. “So it’s really great that the mayor and Prague 1 are persuading citizens to disobey and circumvent the rules and boycott of measures proposed by experts,” wrote David Mara, who also used strong words such as sabotage, arrogance or anarchy. “So, following your example, should I also call my business and events differently so that I somehow get out of the regulation and continue to work merrily? I am speaking on behalf of thousands of decent entrepreneurs who adhere to all measures, so we get into financial and personal crises, “added the user of the social network.
Criticism and praise
The town hall management argues that the markets on Wenceslas Square were registered as events a few months ago, long before the government restrictions were announced. And also that the sale of food or drink on the street is not prohibited, be it does not apply to outdoor alcohol consumption. To the address Hejmy a spol. words of praise are tolerated at the same time as criticism. “Communal policy is much more important to us citizens than it seems at first glance. I am glad that the majority of intelligent citizens in our part of the city are able to evaluate the situation with common sense. Personally, I would rather go for a walk through illuminated Christmas Prague, I recommend visiting the markets with a respirator, rather than a shopping center crowded to bursting or for a concert or sports match, “remarked Markéta Padevět.
After a three-day “hesitant” break, they also maintained stall sales at Anděl, where the “Farmers’, Craft Markets” took the place of the Christmas markets. After tightening anti-epidemic measures, we also call on citizens to take action. “It simply came to our notice then. Farm or something. It’s terrible. New Smíchov crowded on Black Friday. Queues in front of shops without spacing. And a few people are not allowed to stand outside, “wrote the Facebook user” Mája Markéta “at the end of November.
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Opposition to keeping markets alive is voiced as “mocking all other traders.” And the last “viral hit” from the Boys of Prague has been spreading through the Youtube server for the last few days. Mayor Hejma and his coalition are in their sights again. The video occupies open stalls with “overpriced ham” next to the “sprinkled” Christmas markets on the Old Town Square. The sale of ham was sponsored by the town hall under the banner of the Prague Children Foundation. “As you can see, the cultural program is very rich here and it doesn’t matter at all that the stalls are turned their backs on the program,” the reporter comments sarcastically on the footage of the space, which is dominated by a not very attractive street sale of delicacies.
The “Great City Hall” headed by the mayor did not take a clear position on how to solve the problem, to consider the ban on Christmas markets nonsensical and illogical, referring to the fact that people in the squares gather and consume together anyway. “In Prague, it’s about how individual operators react to government measures. Taiko, which organizes markets on the Old Town Square, has decided to cancel and someone else has not decided, “said Hřib, who pointed to the fragmentation of the capital’s administration, which has 57 city districts, and the non-existent power to suspend the mayor in emergency mode. . the validity of the market rules. Among other things, it determines what can be sold where.
