
Updated at 2024-04-19
On February 2nd every year, lit candle holders can be seen on the windowsills of churches in the Czech Republic for two allegorical reasons: Firstly, in Czech mythology, this day marks the awakening of the thunder goddess, Perun, who ushers in springtime with thunderstorms. People believed that lighting candles protected their homes from lightning strikes. Secondly, in the Catholic faith, this day is known as Candlemas, and candles are lit to commemorate the Virgin Mary and to offer the "Light of the World" to God.
Alliance Date: March 27, 2023
Language: Czech
Area: 230 square kilometers
Population: Approx. 403,000 people
Main Industries/Features: Brno is the second-largest city in the country and the capital of South Moravia. It serves as the judicial center of the Czech Republic, housing various courts and national authorities. Brno is also a key industrial city in the country, with its mechanical manufacturing industry being a leader in Central Europe. Thirty percent of the world's electron microscopes are produced in Brno.