Enter a traditional Catholic home back in the day, like my Mum and Dad’s, and you’d see a holy water fountain, a Sacred Heart of Jesus with his bloody palms open, and the Child of Prague on the mantelpiece.
The ubiquitous image of an infant Jesus, holding what looks like an orb, and considered a blessing on the house.
Now despite a childhood of Jesuit indoctrination at school and church, the Child or Prague never came up.
Other than for us to place it with the other capital cities of Europe on a blind map for geography tests.
Prague, of course, was in Eastern Europe, cut off through the Cold War by history, politics and a lack of communications from the West.
Only as we were to find out when the Iron Curtain fell we realised that Prague was actually in Central Europe.
And with a longer history of Western influence than Russian.
Prague is our focus once again with the release of much-anticipated movie, One Life.
Starring Anthony Hopkins as Sir Nicholas Winton, a diplomat who saved hundreds of children on the cusp of World War II.
And, of course, Czechiaphiles as we are we will be first in the queue when it is released in our cinemas on January 1.
Now while the Czech capital has become a favourite of stag and hen parties.
And it prides itself on having more beer drinkers per head of population than anywhere on the planet, it is also a history buff’s haven.
Not that everybody appreciates that although the proud Prague natives are quick to pull up anybody who fail to respect their institutions.
As we found out the first time up the Astronomical Clock when our guide pulled up an American teen who sniffily put down the capital’s No.1 attraction.
Clock this
Of course, the Astronomical Clock has plenty of competition in that area.
And the non-Jesuit teachers who fostered my love of history and World War history would be proud of me here.
As I tootled around Praha discovering how the citizens stood up to the Nazis and the Communists.
Czech out (sorry, it had to be done) the Cillian Murphy film Anthropoid.
And as you can see as well as being a city replete with stories it is also a favourite for film sets.
Now after our Prague pals had seen off Romans, French and Austrians they turned their attentions to the Nazis.
Butchered
And the Butcher of Prague, a title not bequeathed often, Reinhard Heyrdrich.
You can see how the crack force that took out Heyrdrich had their last stance.
In the crypt beneath St Cyril and Methodius cathedral.
While, of course, Prague bustles above you, its underworld reveals a part of the city
And its inhabitants’ story few see outside of the tours.
Nuked
And so, you’d never know about the nuclear bunkers in your midst unless you’ve got an expert with you.
Or the lengths the citizens went too to prepare for the nuclear war.
All of which their Communist oppressors convinced them that the West was preparing for them.
While you guide will furnish you with how life was for kids back in the Cold War days.
And how gas mark preps were a part of daily school life.
Now while religion was frowned on by the atheist Communists Habsburg churches abound.
The Holy Child
With our favourite little holy statue the Child of Prague is housed in the the Carmelite church of Our Lady of Victory in Prague.
And the history of which you will find there.
But if you want to be prepared check out the Carmelite site and find out.
About how the Child himself lost his arms but beseeched a believer to get them back.
