?TK |
27 December 2011
Prague, Dec 24 (CTK) - Praguers and tourists were waiting in a long queue for hot fish soup, a typical Czech Christmas Eve dish, that Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (Civic Democrats, ODS) traditionally served on Old-Town Square in the city centre Saturday.
"This custom basically played a certain charity role so that even the poor and beggars could receive a gift at Christmas," Svoboda, in the cook's apron and cap, told reporters Saturday.
"Fish soup belongs to our countries historically," said Svoboda, who was elected Prague Mayor by the city assembly on November 30, 2011, and has served the Christmas soup for the second time.
Cooks prepared some 3000 portions of fish soup according to an old Czech recipe. Svoboda distributed 2000 portions and another 1000 were served on Wenceslas square and Kampa island by Prague 1 Mayor Oldrich Lomecky.
Fish soup is usually a part of the Christmas Eve's dinner in Czech households, along with fried carp and potato salad.
Svoboda guessed that about a half of the people who came for the soup were Praguers, while the other half were foreigners. The homeless still use this possibility, too, he added.
On this occasion, Svoboda also recalled his former coalition partners from the City Hall, the Social Democrats (CSSD). Last year, he was serving fish soup with his then deputyKarel Brezina (CSSD).
The ODS and the CSSD, which came second and third in the 2011 elections to the Prague Assembly, eventually agreed to form a grand coalition at the Prague City Hall, while the winning TOP 09 was not represented in the City Council.
The grand coalition has angered many Praguers who wished a change at the City Hall that has been often connected with suspected corruption cases.
However, the rule of the ODS and the CSSD collapsed in November and the ODS-TOP 09 coalition was agreed three days later, while Svoboda succeeded in keeping the mayor's post.
The Nadeje (Hope) Czech charity organisation prepared a biblical message with Christmas lunch and gifts for the homeless in its centres in Prague Saturday. Moreover, it has been serving hot tea and distributed food packages for people in need since the morning.
The capital of Prague is also preparing the traditional New Year's fireworks, which will not be as loud and glamorous as in the past, Svoboda said, adding it would cost up to 1.5 million crowns.
($1=19.772 crowns)
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