Prague's Christmas Tradition: Lighting Charles Bridge Lamps

The Lamplighter's Adventure

Every evening during Advent, a lone lamplighter walks along Charles Bridge. 46 gas lamps, a flicker for each. This isn’t a scene from a fairytale — it’s a living Christmas tradition in Prague. For centuries, this tradition of manually illuminating the bridge has been a beacon of warmth and nostalgia for locals and visitors alike.

Café in the Corner

This nightly ritual is more than a moment on social media or a simple carol, though. It illuminates a wider and deeper trend in Prague and, perhaps, in Europe. The rise in interest of literary pub crawls (like the murder mystery themed hands up at the Merchant Tavern), tours, and other curated events shows an increasing desire for experiences that are personal, unique, and encapsulating in their presence, all while rooted in local heritage. The lamps, though, were part of a larger tradition going back to the Middle Ages. Although one visitor commented that Charles Bridge is "a little like a sidewalk", it has been one of the most famous pieces of the world, and a premiere location for Prague's daily walkers, as well as. At night, though, it becomes a magical thoroughfare. The chilly evening air is filled with laughter and anticipation as tourists and locals alike gather to watch a scene that has become quintessential to Prague’s Christmas season.

The Lamplighter's Tools

The lamplighter’s tools are simple yet essential. His lantern serves as a beacon to those who follow him, while a ladder, about 8 feet high, helps him reach the tall lamps. He walks along Charles Bridge, marking a 525 meter journey from the Old Town Square to the Lesser Town Square. At 18:00, in accordance with the tradition of "Leg Kypl", the holiday begins — along with the lamp-lighting. These gas lamps are the most well-known decorative set of lights in the city and, for many years, were the only non-electrically-powered lights in the city. The Lamplighter's time with each lamp, and his ritual gesture honoring each lamp, is marked by a quick, soft sound of the tools. Every lamp creates its own unique ripple on the water, a satisfyingly romantic and singular event.

Since When?

The tradition of lighting gas lamps along Charles Bridge dates back to 1850s, when the bridge was first illuminated. Hundreds of tourists and locals alike flock to the bridge in the Advent season to watch the lamplighter perform his nightly duty. This magical event is a yearly event, but now it has been reanimated in the same manner as the holidays that accompany it. Initially introduced by a certain Mr. Brewster, the lamplighter's role became as well-loved as the bridge itself. The tradition, however, wasn’t always as popular. During the Communist era, the ritual was seen as a bourgeois relic and was allowed to fade into obscurity.

When does the magic happen?

The real magic isn’t just in the lamps, though. It’s in the experience of being there at the precise moment. The bridge lights up in a sequence that moves as a wave, and each remaining lamp sees the first one on the opposite side brighten. There is one particular feature that makes the lamplighters available to you — the quiet. The quiet of being in the city during the Advent season, and the quiet of being on the bridge at night. It’s this experience that makes this ritual one of the most cherished in all of Prague.

Your Lamplighter Adventure

What would you do with the idea of a lantern lighting ceremony? Create a special file for yourself outlining how the lantern lighting becomes a part of a customary event in your own life. Once you arrive in Prague and start your search for the lamplighter. Here are some steps to help.

• Go Early: Arrive at least an hour before sunset, when Charles Bridge first begins to close, to find a good spot for “getting lit”.
• Stand still: Find yourself a safe, dry place to stand, and stay there until the lights are lit.
• Think of your family: It's been a tradition to leave wishes with the Lamplighter's.