Each December a flame lit in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem travels across Europe from hand to hand. Czech scouts have brought it home from Austria since 1990, and they hand it out to anyone who wants to light a candle for Christmas Eve. In 2026 the light is taken round the country by train on Saturday 19 December. In Prague you can collect it from 19 to 24 December.
What to Expect
The flame is passed on at a ceremony in Vienna (12 December 2026). Scouts from Brno then bring it to the Czech Republic (13 December), and on 19 December scouts ride trains to towns across the country carrying lanterns. In Prague the light is handed out at selected churches, public buildings, scout clubrooms, squares, chapels and libraries, and a historic tram also carries it round the city. Some collection points add carols or a short programme, and local events can run on any day up to Christmas Eve.
Many Czech families keep the flame burning on the table through the Christmas Eve dinner. Our piece on how Prague families spend Christmas Eve covers the rest of the evening.
Where to Go
The scouts publish a map of every collection point, with times, at betlemskesvetlo.cz (look for the “Rozvoz a místní akce” section). The Prague list for 2026 usually appears in early December. Parish churches are the most reliable places to find it; check the map for the one nearest your hotel.
Practical Notes
- Bring a lantern: A candle in a jar or a small lantern with a closed top keeps the flame alight on the way home.
- Bring a spare candle: You light your own candle from the scouts’ flame, so a spare tealight helps.
- It is free: No ticket is needed. Some points collect donations for charity.
- Hotels: Many hotels do not allow open flames in rooms, so ask before you bring the light back.
- Timing: Christmas Eve is the main day of Czech Christmas, and many shops and restaurants close in the afternoon. See Prague in December.
