The Czech Scouts are getting ready to distribute the Peace Light of Bethlehem, one of the symbols of the Christmas season, around Prague after transporting the light from Vienna last weekend.
The Czech Scouts, part of the international scouting organization that includes the U.S. Boy Scouts, have already delivered the Bethlehem light to Brno in the Czech Republic.
On Saturday morning, they will deliver this Christmas symbol to Prague via express train. On the same afternoon, the Scouts will distribute the light to several places in the capital, using a historic tram for the purpose.
On Sunday, the Scouts will transport the Bethlehem light, which originates from the birthplace of Jesus Christ, to St. Vitus Cathedral at the Prague Castle. Visitors are invited to come to the cathedral and light their own candles with the Peace Light of Bethlehem.
This year, the Scouts will distribute the light around the country using 62 trains. People can come to 774 train stations and hundreds of regional events to get their piece of the light.
The Scouts have been bringing the Bethlehem light to the Czech Republic for 30 years. For their first time, they brought the light under the statue of St. Wenceslas in Prague during the Velvet revolution in December 1989.
After the fall of the communist regime, the arrival of the Bethlehem light was one of the first major events that allowed Scouts to meet freely.
In 1986, the Bethlehem light made its first journey to Linz, Austria, becoming part of the Christmas charity event organized by Austrian radio and television to help disabled children. The idea then spread from Austria to dozens of countries around the world.
