Winter in the forests of Central Europe has always been a harsh and dark time of year, one traditionally believed to be filled with the influence of evil forces and supernatural beings. Witches played a major role in these legends and were feared for generations.
So when winter began to loosen its grip toward the end of April, it was time to symbolically banish those dark forces and the most iconic among them, of course, were the witches. Huge bonfires were lit across the land, and people gathered to celebrate, chat, dance, jump over the flames, and naturally drink beer, the beloved beverage of Bohemia.
Even today, if you pass through a Bohemian village on April 30th, you’ll see bonfires burning brightly and locals celebrating with full enthusiasm, sometimes to the point of complete, joyful madness. When you see people jumping over fire in Bohemia, now you know what’s going on: it’s the farewell to winter, the burning of witches, and a full embrace of spring with beer flowing freely.
Beer remains an essential part of the celebration, with people dancing, eating sausages, laughing, and enjoying the atmosphere. And it’s not just about tradition – beer, especially malt-based beer, symbolizes barley, the grain of summer, making it a perfect fit for this seasonal ritual.
A good dark lager is always a must for the festivities, representing the end of winter and the retreat of darkness. Pale beers symbolize the coming of spring. Historically, top-fermented wheat beer (Weizen) was traditionally served, as it was the dominant style in Bohemia until the 1850s. But after that, Pilseners invented in the Bohemian town of Pilsen took over and are now the most popular choice during Witch-burning events. For those looking for something in between, Czech amber or Vienna lagers represent the transition from winter to summer perfectly.
The great news?
Our friends from King of Prussia will be serving all these fantastic beers, perfectly paired with traditional Bohemian beer snacks. There’ll be music, witches, fire, and of course plenty of beer!
Don’t miss out on this one-of-a-kind event in the UK and book your spot now by emailing theking@craftlocals.com.
