Oct. 31st-Nov.7th

Living in Prague has given us the chance to experience several different cultural celebrations this week. The first is well known to us Americans. While Halloween hasn't exactly caught on in the Czech Republic yet, there were some Halloween festivities for the kids. Katrina went to a party at the home of an American friend. Prague also has a small neighborhood that is overwhelmingly populated by Americans and they put on a fun trick or treating evening for the city. Max, wearing his coon skin hat, went as Davy Crockett, along with some friends from his school.

The next day was All Souls Day. Much like our Memorial Day in the US, it is a day when many Czechs go to the cemeteries to place flowers and candles at the graves of family members.

We were sad to say goodbye to Grandma Peggy on Tuesday. She arrived home safely and says she is looking for some hills to climb after a month of walking everywhere in Prague.

Finally, the week ended with a bang - literally. November 7th is Guy Fawkes' Day, an important event in the British calendar, and since Max is attending a British school, we were treated to an evening of fun and fireworks on Saturday night. This day commemorates an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliment in the early 1600s. In England there are typically bonfires on this night, and Fawkes is burned in effigy. However, the school celebration opts for fireworks and a puppet show which is a Czech addition to the festivities.