The Czech Siblings Who Won Four World Figure Skating Championships

In 1959, a brother and sister team of figure skaters won first place in the ice dancing section of the Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championships. It was the first year that ice dancing was recognized and competed in Czechoslovakia. Before then, the Czechoslovakian Figure Skating Championship was composed exclusively of pair skating, men’s singles, and ladies’...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

June 29, 2018

The Famous German-Language Poet Who Was Born In Prague

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Bohemians, PEOPLE

May 30, 2018

Old Czech Language and the National Anthem

Czech language developed at the close of the 1st millennium from common West Slavic. Until the early 20th century, it was known as Bohemian but I will refer to it as old Czech language in this post. I wanted you to hear a wonderful example of old Czech language, at least as old an example...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, History, LIFESTYLE, Movies, NOSTALGIA

May 25, 2018

In Memory of Award Winning Czech Director Miloš Forman

Miloš Forman, the most successful Czech-American filmmaker and scriptwriter, who lived in the US since 1968, a holder of two Oscars for the best directions, three Golden Globe awards and BAFTA prizes in the same category, died on Friday, April 13, 2018, in a hospital in Danbury, Conn. He was 86. He has been SVU...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, PEOPLE

Magical_Cavern_Prague_Reon_Czech_Painter_Vanished_Shaman

May 21, 2018

Fairy Tale Paintings and the Magical Cavern of Prague

Today we slip into the magical world of Czech painter, Reon Argondian. Though he was born in Prague with a different name, Jan Zahradník, and was given a Czech name that translates to gardener by birth, the powers that be wanted to suppress the garden of his mind. Born on the 21st of July 1948, he...

Art and Design, Bohemians, CULTURE

April 25, 2018

Věra Čáslavská: The Eloquent and Graceful Gold-Medal Winning Protester

Věra Čáslavská of the Czech Republic is the only gymnast, male or female, who has ever won an Olympic gold medal for every individual event in gymnastics: all-around, vault, uneven bars, beam, and floor exercise. Čáslavská also has the distinction of holding more individual gold medals than any other gymnast in Olympic history. In fact, she...

Bohemians, PEOPLE, Women

Býchory_Chateau_aka_Castle_of_the_Stradivarius_Violin

April 23, 2018

Býchory Chateau, Castle of the Stradivarius Violin and Jan Kubelík

Near the city of Kolín lies a small village known as Býchory (only 7 km northeast). In this village, sits a unique a Neo-Gothic castle chateau estate. Today we are going to call the Býchory chateau, the castle of the Stradivarius violin because it was once owned by world famous Bohemian violinist and composer, Jan Evangelista Kubelík. Jan Kubelík was...

Bohemians, Czech Republic, ENTERTAINMENT, History, Music

April 9, 2018

31 Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak Writers You Never Knew Existed

Today I am proud to introduce you to 31 Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak writers you (probably) never knew existed. I was inspired to write this based on a book entitled České Album Spisovatelé which translates to Czech Album of Writers published in 1919 in Prague. Each of these individuals were born in the late 1800s and I was...

Bohemians, History, PEOPLE

March 24, 2018

Czech Animation Master Jiří Trnka Documentary

Today we are sharing a short twelve minute documentary which will educate you on the famous Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. A man who some believe was better than Walt Disney at telling a tale and a man who is known as one of the Czech Republic’s greatest animators, puppeteers, illustrators and story...

Bohemians, Childrens Books, Movies, PEOPLE

March 19, 2018

Karel Kulík’s Cheerful Calendar or How Coffee Came to Prague

Karel Kulík and his cheerful calendar enjoyed popularity from 1909 onward. The Kulíkův zábavný kalendář as it was called was an advertising calendar was created by Kulík who was a wholesaler of coffee. Karel Kulík distributed his calendar to his permanent customers free of charge. (Nice marketing idea for the time!) Karel Kulík was one...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

March 16, 2018

The Czech Composer Who Married Dvořák’s Daughter

On January 4, 1874, a boy was born in the small Bohemian village of Křečovice. His name was Josef Suk. Over the years, as he grew, so would his love and his involvement in music. At a young age, Suk began his musical training under the guidance of his father, Josef Suk senior. His father...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

January 12, 2018

Good King Wenceslas and his Descendant (Charles IV)

Today’s Guest Post about Good King Wenceslas was written by Susan Steiner Bolhouse from Michigan. We found the accompanying illustrations and the closing video and added them. Before delving into my chosen topic for today, I must first share with you a brief introduction as to my interest and fascination with this Christmas carol. Like...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

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 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 7, 2017

The Writings of Czech Poet Jiří Kolář

Jiří Kolář was a Czech painter (September 1914, – August 2002). He worked as carpenter and had a few other a manual jobs in his younger years but by the 1940’s, he was already a leading figure in a Surrealist group. These days he is perhaps most remembered for his beautiful collages (check out the...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

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