The Medieval Alchemists of Prague

The late Middle Ages and the Renaissance saw a flurry of intellectual and scientific endeavors in the medieval city of Prague. A vibrant group of individuals who were dedicated to studying and unlocking nature’s mysteries lived in the city and were known as the Prague alchemists. The goal of the scientific and metaphysical discipline of...

History, PLACES, Prague

January 31, 2023

The Mysterious Journey of the Czechoslovak Legions

The Czechoslovak Legions occupy a revered place in Czech history as the armed forces that fought for independence during and after World War I on the side of the Allies. The largest and most famous group was the Russian force, caught up in the civil war, took three years to complete their journey, and traveled...

History, PEOPLE

December 21, 2022

Two Little Frosts or Dva mrazíci

In the enchanting short film “Two Little Frosts” (Dva mrazíci), the chilly embrace of winter takes on a mischievous and comedic form through the antics of two frost spirits. Renowned comedian Vlasta Burian lends his voice to one of these spirited characters, while the other comes to life through the vocal talents of Jan Werich—a...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

December 12, 2022

Czech Hockey – The World’s Best Players

For more than a century, ice hockey has been played in the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia). The nation’s first ice hockey match was played in Prague in 1903. The sport has since gained popularity and increased in significance to Czech culture as well as national identity. Ever since the founding of the Czechoslovakian national team...

LIFESTYLE

December 7, 2022

How Pepík and Mikeš Celebrated Christmas

Today we have a Czech Christmas tale for you. Jak Pepík a Mikeš slavili Vánoce (How Pepík and Mikeš Celebrated Christmas). It is from the 1966 Josef Lada book entitled Mikeš. We hope you enjoy it. (Click here is you cannot see the above video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymESBjcXegE) English Translation of this story… Dear children, how Pepík always...

Childrens Books, Holidays

November 11, 2022

The Works of Jan Svankmajer

Czech surrealist filmmaker Jan Svankmajer has been producing work since the 1960s. He is best known for his imaginative and frequently macabre films. With his distinct style, he merges live-action video with animation, stop-motion, and other visual storytelling techniques. Jan Svankmajer was born in 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and grew up in a family with...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 28, 2022

5 Incredible Castles to Visit Near Prague

Any traveler would do well to pay a visit to the Czech Republic, a nation rich in history and culture with magnificent castles and exquisite architecture. Here are five of the most amazing castles you should visit close to Prague: Karlstejn Castle: One of the most well-known and well-preserved castles in the Czech Republic is...

Architecture, Czech Republic

October 21, 2022

The Czech Who Invented Stylized Special Effects

What do Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, and the Brothers Quay all have in common? The answer is stylized special effects. Stylized special effects tell their story through the use of exaggerated or simplified shapes, motions, and colors. The story is represented in a non-naturalistic conventional form as opposed to a realistic...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 20, 2022

The Life and Work of Ludvík Kuba

Ludvík Kuba was a Czech landscape painter, musician, writer, and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts. He was known for collecting folk traditions. He was also known as the artist of two centuries. In his painting, he was strongly influenced by both Impressionism and Art Nouveau. Ludvík Kuba studied to play the organ and...

Art and Design, Bohemians, CULTURE

October 17, 2022

Czech Contributions to American Sciences

Today’s post is from my friend Mila Rechcígl, Jr. It is actually entitled “Czech Contributions to American Scientific and Technological Thought” and it appears as a chapter in his book, Czechs and Slovaks in America. I never cease to be amazed at the vast amount of Czech contribution to the world. I always get a...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

October 16, 2022

The Legend of the Golem of Prague

Today we are revisiting the Golem of Prague. We’ve written about this before in our post The Legend of The Golem but our friend Barbara S. Weitz shared the following information which we’ve decided to share here with you because it’s so interesting. We hope you enjoy it. Who is the Golem? The Golem is...

Books, History, Movies

October 14, 2022

Broth with Egg Drop Dumplings

This is a very simple recipe for broth with egg drop dumplings. Traditionally, it’s made using beef broth, but you can use chicken or vegetable broth as well, and you can make your own or use the boxed kind. In Czech, it’s called “Hovězí vývar s krupicí a vejcem” which literally translates to “Beef broth...

Food, Recipes

October 11, 2022

Czech Settlement at Slavia, Florida

Today we are looking at the Slovak and Czech settlement at Slavia, Florida. It was mostly Slovak, but a few Czechs were there, too. In the early 1900s, the American Slovak slogan was Spat ku gazdovstvu, or “Back to the farm.” A number of immigrants from Slovakia felt uncomfortable in their occupations as workers in...

History, NOSTALGIA

October 6, 2022

The Czech New Wave

There are many so-called “new waves” in film history, from the French nouvelle vague (1959 through the middle 1960s) to the present day. While such monikers serve many purposes, including facilitating international marketing , they do identify those regions where, for any number of reasons, particularly fertile and original bodies of creative work have emerged....

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

October 5, 2022

Early Czech California Pioneers

Like many others, early Czech California pioneers went West in search of gold and opportunities. During the mid-1800’s California was a land still steeped in romantic reminders of the first Spanish population and the prospect of sudden wealth. A life of adventure beckoned there, at least from an American point of view. What adventures would...

Bohemians, History

October 4, 2022

Czech Fairytale – The Bird of Happiness

Today we are looking at an old Czech fairytale – The Bird of Happiness, or in Czech, Pták štěstí. It is an old Chod tale. I will first present actual scans of the book, then the text of the story, and finally, at the very end, a link to a pdf file which you may...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT