Photo: Ondřej Tomšů, Radio Prague International
The night of April 30th, halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice, is associated with warding off evil spirits. In the Czech Republic, the occasion is traditionally observed by lighting a bonfire on a hill and burning an effigy of a witch, to represent the driving away of evil. This celebration dates back to Celtic times and is still popular in Czechia today.