The Mašín Gang: Defiance and Valor in the Face of Oppression

The significant event of October 3, 1953, witnessed the daring border crossing of five determined young men known as the Mašín Gang, equipped with four pistols, as they ventured from Czechoslovakia into East Germany. Driven by a crucial mission, their purpose was to securely convey a classified message from a Czechoslovak general to the U.S....

Bohemians, History

August 27, 2021

Timeless Czech Villages in the Banat Region of Romania

In the southern part of Romania and along the River Danube, you will find six timeless Czech villages with an estimated 2,000 Czech inhabitants. These ‘Banat Czechs’ as they are called have been in the area for approximately 200 years, since between 1823-1828. They live in very ethnic and timeless Czech villages in the Banat...

History, PEOPLE

August 26, 2021

Czech Letters from 1899

Today, let’s immerse ourselves in the exquisite details of a hand-painted letter from 1899. Take a moment to appreciate the meticulous paintings and the graceful penmanship of its creator. The nostalgia sets in as I yearn for the days of letters, postcards, and the unhurried charm of cursive handwriting. There’s an undeniable beauty in the...

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

August 13, 2021

Travel Back in Time to Prague

Imagine if we could travel back in time to Prague. Would you like to go back 100 years with me? The following is a chapter from a book published in 1912, entitled Around the Clock in Europe: A Travel-Sequence by Charles Fish Howell with illustrations by Harold Field Kellogg. Published in Boston by Houghton Mifflin...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT, Time Warp

August 13, 2021

World Famous Recipes of Czechoslovak Specialties

Are you interested in world famous recipes of Czechoslovak specialties? If so, then you will enjoy today’s post. I have had a little booklet for ages which I have wanted to share with you. It was put out by the Foreign Trade Commission and KOOSPOL. Based on the graphics and the amount of time I...

Recipes, Time Warp

June 21, 2021

The 100-Year-Old Czech Fish Knife

While American children may nostalgically remember how handy their Swiss Army knife may have come in, certainly almost all Czech children remember their Czech fish knife. It was inexpensive, had a very nice shape, and it was easy to open, close and cut. Fancier multi-blade knives with additional equipment came much later. The so-called “Rybička”...

History, NOSTALGIA, Shopping

December 14, 2020

A Century of Czech Tramping

Have you ever wondered what the big deal is with Czech Tramping? Why do they walk around with cowboy hats or military fatigues? Who are they, and what kind of a movement it is? The following was written by Jan Pohunek of the Institute of Ethnology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. It...

Bohemians, Tramping

August 20, 2020

A Death to Remember

They slept that night in peace. The danger, they felt, had ended. Their democratic revolution would live. The Russians would not come in. As they slept, the chief of Czechoslovakia's secret police, who was scheduled to lose his job within a few days, arrived at Prague's new airport - to secure the field, he explained, for the arrival of an important Russian delegation. Within minutes, Czech and Soviet agents ringed the field, and airborne troops landed. At 1:00 a.m., the people of Prague awakened to the blaring of taxi horns and to news they could not at first believe.

History

August 14, 2020

The Last King of Bohemia

Charles I (Czech: Karel III) was the last Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and King of Bohemia. He was born in the beautiful Persenbeug Castle in Austria in 1887, toward the end of Summer. Though his father was an Archduke and his mother a Princess, he was not in line for the throne until...

History, PEOPLE

February 6, 2020

Joseph Kaspar the (Czech) Accordionist from Texas

Today we are time traveling to Texas to meet Joseph Kaspar, the Texas accordionist of Czech descent. In this interview which took place on August 9, 1987, Al Lowman sat down with Joseph Kaspar at the Folk Like Festival in Texas. Here is what we can learn from this unique and very special Czech musician....

History, Music

January 23, 2020

Did the United States Influence the Czechoslovak National Flag

Today we have a wonderful history of the Czech flag to share with you. This special guest post was a paper originally published by NAVA (North American Vexillological Association) in the Proceedings of the 24th International Congress of Vexillology (2011). It was written by Aleš Brožek and is reproduced here with permission. The outbreak of...

History, NOSTALGIA

January 20, 2020

Sister Kenny and Polio in Czechoslovakia

Today we are looking at a bit of unknown history about polio in Czechoslovakia and the Czech influence that would become a part of the polio wars. Poliomyelitis or polio is a highly contagious disease that can cause paralysis of the legs, hands and respiratory muscles. It’s basically a bullet trying to kill specific parts...

History, NOSTALGIA

December 9, 2019

American Airmen Killed in Czechoslovakia

75 years ago today, several American airmen were murdered in a Bohemian field in Czechoslovakia. These fighter pilots fighting against Nazis had safely crash landed and were sitting on the wing of their plane handing out food and cigarettes when they were picked up. Today you will learn the unknown story of these American airmen...

History

November 9, 2019

The Salvation Army in Czechoslovakia

The Salvation Army in Czechoslovakia from 1919 until 1951 was largely due to the work of Josef Korbel (Order of the Founder) and his wife, Erna. Josef Korbel was born on January 17, 1907 in Prague. He grew up in the town of Prelouc, where his father owned a factory for agricultural machinery. He attended...

History, Men, NOSTALGIA

October 28, 2019

Voice of the Velvet Revolution

The first major manifestations of dissatisfaction began in August of 1988. The demonstrations continued until end of totalitarian regime. In January of 1989, memorial demonstrations were held to commemorate Jan Palach’s self-immolation. Water cannons and special intervention units were sent to the streets. The reaction of the communist regime prompted more people to attend further...

ENTERTAINMENT, History, Movies

October 27, 2019

A Brief History of the Early Bohemians of Chicago

The following is a reprint of an article featuring a brief history of the early Bohemians of Chicago that appeared in the Chicago Tribune on March 07, 1886. It was entitled as follows: Manners and Customs of the Bohemian Portion of the City’s Population. They Are Industrious, Thrifty and Generally of a Most Peaceable Disposition....

Bohemians, History, NOSTALGIA