Christmas on Rails: Prague's Festive Tram Tradition Lights Up the City

The magic of Christmas extends beyond markets and lights—onto the streets of Prague. Festively decorated trams are bringing joy and tradition to locals and tourists alike.

The tradition of festively decorated public transport during the Christmas season is a cherished part of Czech holiday culture. This year, we hit the streets of Prague to experience these dazzling trams firsthand and to hear what locals think about them.

Musím pochválit @DPPOficialni ta vánoční tramvaj je úžasná 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/rceaHxnUjc

— Petr Há 🇨🇿 (@PHaPraha) December 17, 2024

Christmas Transport: A Festive Czech Tradition

Christmas traditions go beyond the usual customs like cutting apples or pouring lead. Each sector adds its own festive touch to create a magical holiday atmosphere. In the realm of public transport, this means decorating trams, buses, and trolleys to bring cheer to dark winter streets. Across Europe—and especially in the Czech Republic—this tradition has become an integral part of the pre-Christmas season.

A Hunt for Christmas Trams

The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) has introduced a fleet of seven festively decorated trams this year, along with two buses. These include the historic Ringhoffer tram and the charming Mazačka. Armed with a camera, we set out to capture the magic.

By day, we spotted a sleek Škoda 15T tram, its lilac design adorned with depictions of Prague landmarks like the Dancing House. It runs on line 12, connecting Lehovec and Sídliště Barrandov.

By evening, we stumbled upon the historic Ringhoffer tram 2272, its exterior glowing with Christmas lights. Windows adorned with stars and Merry Christmas messages, and garlands with red and gold ornaments, complemented its vintage red design. This tram operates on line 42 on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Václav Havel Alley Sparks Debate

While the trams themselves are a hit, the decorated tram in Václav Havel Alley stirred controversy online. Instead of praising the tram, some commenters debated the naming of the alley after the former Czech president.

"Look where that comedian and drunkard brought us," read one comment. Others defended the choice, calling the criticisms "a reflection of the writers' pettiness."

Voices from the Streets

The trams donned their festive lights on November 30 during a ceremony at the Královka loop. As part of our report, we asked people what they thought about this year’s festive fleet.

"I love the Christmas trams and look forward to them every year," said Kristýna, a university student. "It’s a special touch that brightens the holiday season."

Martin, a retail assistant, shared: "I think it’s a great way to bring some holiday spirit to the city. I’m not super into Christmas, but these trams are impressive."

Lenka, a mother on maternity leave, added: "My kids absolutely adore them. Whenever they spot one, they get so excited. It’s a wonderful addition to the city’s holiday scene."

Source: dpp.cz