Czech Puppets Make a Worldwide Debut

Today’s post comes to us from an article originally written by Jacqueline Ruyak. The article appeared in the August 1996 issue of Doll World magazine. Unfortunately, I tried to search the company but to no avail. Does anyone have an update on Rezek Marionettes? Dating to medieval times, modern puppeteers keep Czech tradition alive with...

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

November 23, 2017

Things I am Most Thankful For This Thanksgiving

The things I am most thankful for this Thanksgiving are so numerous, it’s difficult to know where to begin. The obvious blessings immediately come to mind such as health, love, good friends, freedom, opportunities, sunshine, fresh air, food, water, moon and stars, music, medicine, natural places, art, safety, laughter, kindness, books, supermarkets, transportation… Most of...

Holidays

November 22, 2017

#BlankCzech for Social Good in the Czech Republic!

Guest Post by Petra Drahoňovská Throughout Central and Eastern Europe, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and venture philanthropy are increasingly embraced as innovative approaches to solving social challenges. #BlankCzech (www.blankczech.com), a new English-language campaign, aims to raise awareness, increase support, and grow opportunity for Czech social enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and charities beyond the borders of...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

November 21, 2017

Czech Prayer to the Virgin Mary Mariazell

On this day, the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary we are looking at an old Czech prayer to the Virgin Mary Mariazell from 1860. But before we do, a little bit of history… Each of the countries of Central Europe had its “Sacrosanctum” in the Baroque era – a pilgrimage site that embodied its history and...

CULTURE, Holidays

November 20, 2017

Czech Falconers and Their Timeless Tradition

Today we are looking at Czech falconers and their timeless tradition of falconry. Falconry is the hunting of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained bird of prey. There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer (German...

Bohemians, Men, PEOPLE

November 18, 2017

Foltyn’s Drum: A Czech Story by Svatopluk Čech

Today I am sharing a reprint from an old book, published in 1920. It’s a translation from a Czech story, Foltyn’s Drum written by Svatopluk Čech. The rare images throughout the bulk of the story are of Svatopluk Čech from a book published in 1908 entitled, O Svatopluku Čechovi. Svatopluk Čech Čech was born on February 21,...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

November 16, 2017

Watch This: Bathory: Countess of Blood

The film Bathory: Countess of Blood is based on the legends surrounding the life and deeds of Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed (Hungarian: Báthory Erzsébet, Slovak: Alžbeta Bátoriová) who lived from August 7, August 1560 to August 21, 1614. Bathory known as the greatest murderess in the history of mankind. Contrary to popular belief, Elizabeth Bathory...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

November 14, 2017

Staročeské lívance aka Old Bohemian Pancakes Fit for a King

We are calling this post Staročeské lívance aka Old Bohemian Pancakes Fit for a King because of the appearance they made in a classic Czech film, Byl Jednou Jeden Král (There Was Once a King). The 1955 Czech film is based on a fairy tale by Božena Němcová, Salt Above Gold. In the Czech Republic, it belongs to...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, Recipes

November 12, 2017

Fairytale Foggy Forests of the Czech Republic

Today we are looking at the fairytale foggy forests of the Czech Republic. These images show the magical side that all Czechs know and remember. Going into the forest, whether looking for mushrooms or berries, or just walking through is a pastime enjoyed by most Czech people. Being in nature is very important to Czechs, and...

Czech Republic, PLACES

November 11, 2017

Celebration of Martinmas and the Czech Goose Dinner

Today is the 11th of November – also known as St. Martin’s Day, Martinmas or the Feast of Saint Martin. It is a day in which people not only remember and honor St. Martin of Tours, but is also a day traditionally associated with the fall harvest. In the Czech Republic, it is time for...

CULTURE, Food, History, Holidays

November 10, 2017

The Indomitable Pioneer Spirit of the Creative Czechoslovaks

My Antonia, written by Willa Cather “in memory of affections old and true”, is the story of a Czech woman who embodied the pioneer spirit. Antonia represented hard work, pride, love of land, and a desire to do what was best and right – in essence, the character of the Czech pioneers who came to...

History, NOSTALGIA

November 8, 2017

Czech Bronze Plaques from the First Half of the 20th Century

Today we are looking at Czech bronze plaques from the first half of the 20th Century featuring Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak (now known as Czech) people. They are all quite rare, coming from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Searching far and wide, I could not locate any others, making them one-of-a-kind treasures, many created...

Art and Design, LIFESTYLE, Shopping

November 6, 2017

Rare & Beautiful Gemstones from the Czech Republic

Amidst the mountains and caves of the Czech Republic lay treasures beyond your imagination. Most folks who have visited the country will agree that the sights and scenery are magical, and we won’t argue! We believe that our little country is the most beautiful place on earth, offering something for everyone. Today, we are sharing...

LIFESTYLE, Shopping

November 5, 2017

The Last Trick by Czech Filmmaker, Jan Švankmajer

The Last Trick (Czech: Poslední trik pana Schwarcewalldea a pana Edgara) is a 1964 Czechoslovak animated short film by Jan Švankmajer. It was Švankmajer’s first film. Jan Svankmajer’s debut film extends the madcap spirit of his Prague-based Theatre of Masks. The play depicts two mime-like magicians (with heads made out of papier-mâché and clockwork machinery,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

November 1, 2017

The Shooting of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermák

One of the most mysterious political assassinations ever taken place occurred on February 15, 1933, when the Czech-born mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermák, was mortally wounded. Anton, or Tony Cermak as he was known in the United States, was the 34th Mayor of Chicago, in office from April 7, 1931 to March 6, 1933. The traditional...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

October 31, 2017

An Abandoned Haunted Mansion of Nazi Torture

In the spirit of Halloween, we wanted to post something scary and sinister like an abandoned haunted mansion. Little did we know what a horrible and hideous hidden history we’d uncover when we came across the Pfaffenhof Mansion. Known as Fafák, or Veveří, the Pfaffenhof Mansion has an interesting history linking it to the SS Nazis,...

History, NOSTALGIA