- Title: Smooching Czech couples celebrate annual Love Day under the blossoms
- Date: 1st May 2018
- Summary: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (MAY 1, 2018) (REUTERS) COUPLES WALKING IN PETRIN PARK COUPLE SITTING AND KISSING UNDER BLOSSOM TREES ON MEADOW COUPLE KISSING UNDER BLOSSOM TREE COUPLE HAVING PICTURE TAKEN AS THEY KISS UNDER BLOSSOM TREE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE STANDING NEAR STATUE OF KAREL HYNEK MACHA, CZECH 'POET OF LOVE'. MACHA'S STATUE FACE LIA AND PETER TISCHLER KISSING IN FRONT OF
- Embargoed: 15th May 2018 16:33
- Keywords: Czech Love Day Czech tradition blossom trees people kissing Czech Valentine's Day
- Location: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- City: PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
- Country: Czech Republic
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0018E1G6YH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Czech couples in Prague celebrated May 1 on Tuesday not as Labour Day, but as Love Day, and poured into Petrin Park to have a kiss under blossoming trees.
The tradition dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, when Czech Romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha wrote a poem "Maj" (May) about tragic love between a young boy and a girl. The poem is popular and everyone knows at least few lines from it.
Thousands of couples climb the Petrin hill, opposite of Prague castle where Macha's statue is located, on May 1 to kiss as it is believed that the girl kissed on that day will blossom like a cherry tree and will not dry up.
Cherry tree, as a tree of the Virgin Mary, is a traditional choice, but any other flowering tree can serve the purpose just as well. Especially this year, when the flowering of many fruit trees is already over due to the hot weather in April. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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