Happy Name Day, Lumír! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Yesterday we honored Lumír. Happy belated name day, Lumír!

The name Lumír is of Slovak origin and means "excellent".

Happy Name Day, Alexandr! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Alexandr.  Happy name day, Alexandr!

The name Alexandr is the Czech form of Alexander, which is of Greek origin and means "man's defender, warrior".  The name is from the Latin form of the Greek name Alexandros and was probably coined originally as a title of the goddess Hera, consort of Zeus. 

Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) conquered and ruled the greater part of the known world before his death at the age of 33.  History describes him as a man of high physical courage, impulsive energy, and fervid imagination. 

The name Alexander was also a royal name in Scotland.

A very special shout out goes to my Alexander (you know who you are!)

Happy Name Day, Dorota! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Dorota.  Happy name day, Dorota!

The name Dorota is the Czech, Polish and Slovak form of Dorothea and it's the feminine form of the Late Greek name Δωροθεος (Dorotheos), which meant "gift of God". 

Happy Name Day, Liliana! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Liliana.  Happy name day, Liliana!

The name Liliana is of Latin origin and means "lily".

Happy Name Day, Matěj! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Matěj.  Happy name day, Matěj!  

The name Matěj is of Hebrew origin and is used mainly in Czech and Slavic. Matej is a pet form of Matthew, which is of English origin and means "Gift of God".

Happy Name Day, Svatopluk! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Svatopluk.  Happy name day, Svatopluk!

The name Svatopluk is of Slavic origin meaning "celebrating people".

Happy Name Day, Petr! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Petr.  Happy name day, Petr!

The name Petr is a variant of the name Peter, which is of Greek origin and means "rock".

Happy Name Day, Lenka! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Lenka.  Happy name day, Lenka!

The name Lenka is of Slavic origin and means "light; illumination".

Happy Name Day, Oldřich! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Oldřich.  Happy name day, Oldřich!

The name Oldřich is of Czech origin and means "one with riches and power".

Happy Name Day, Patrik! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Patrik.  Happy name day, Patrik!

The name Patrik is a variant of Patrick (Latin), and the meaning of Patrik is "patrician, noble".

Happy Name Day, Gizela! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Gizela.  Happy name day, Gizela!

The name Gizela is of Polish origin meaning "pledge".

Happy Name Day, Miloslava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Miloslava.  Happy name day, Miloslava!

The name Miloslava comes from a Slavic expression meaning "Gracious glory".

Happy Name Day, Ljuba! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Ljuba.  Happy name day, Ljuba!

The name Ljuba is mostly used in the Slavic language and is derived from Slavonic origins.  Its meaning is "person who loves peace".

Congratulations Ch Zlatapraha Brubeck on your win!

So I'm watching the Westminster Kennel Club 136th Annual Dog Show yesterday and I take notice of a new  breed for 2012...the Cesky Terrier (Český teriér) - and what a charming breed it is!  The winner of the Cesky Terrier group is this guy:

Ch Zlatapraha Brubeck 

Congrats Zlatepraha Brubeck!

     Ch Zlatapraha Brubeck

Breed: Cesky Terrier

Sex: Dog

AKC: RN 21109301

Date of Birth: August 06, 2003

Breeder: Wendy Craig

Sire: Ch Alchemy Milenka's Bohemian

Dam: Ch Zlata Kvitko

Owner: Wendy Craig & Marc Joliat

Photos: Breed judging

You can view the Cesky Terrier group judging here:  Westminster Kennel Club Cesky Terrier

Info about the breed:

The Cesky Terrier was developed to be a well-muscled, short legged and well-pigmented hunting terrier that could be worked in packs. The Cesky Terrier has natural drop ears and a natural tail. The Cesky is longer than it is tall and has a topline that rises slightly higher over the loin and rump. It sports a soft, long, silky coat in shades of gray from Charcoal to Platinum. The correct coat is clipped to emphasize a slim impression. The hallmarks of the breed should be unique unto itself with a lean body and graceful movement. They are reserved towards strangers, loyal to their owners, but ever keen and alert during the hunt. 

Happy Name Day, Jiřina! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Jiřina.  Happy name day, Jiřina!

The name Jiřina is of Czech origin and the feminine form of Jiři (Czech form of George)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day wasn't always celebrated in the Czech Republic.  Before 1989, Valentine's Day was non-existent in then Czechoslovakia.  Even a mere decade ago it wasn't as popular as it is today, but alas, times have changed, and now you see signs of Valentine's Day everywhere you go.  Some Czechs still see it as a commercial holiday, used to urge people to spend more money, but others have embraced its spirit.  It's hard not to finally accept Valentine's Day when businesses have been pushing it to boost their revenue, but don't think that makes the Czechs unromantic...

Czechs have their own version of Valentine's Day, and that day is May 1st...A Day for Lovers.  On the first of May, lovers are supposed to kiss under a blossoming cherry tree to ensure a year of good health and good luck.  Hmmm...I like the sound of this and think I'm going to bring A Day for Lovers to Brooklyn!  Imagine a kiss under all of those blossoming cherry trees at the Brooklyn Botantical Garden...or in DC when the blossoms are in full bloom.  I think we should all mark our calendars for May 1st, locate the nearest cherry Blossom, and kiss our beloved under a canopy of pink and white! 

Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but it just sounds so romantic!  So, back to May 1st...there's another tradition associated with A Day for Lovers, and that is to meet at the statue of Karel Hynek Mácha.  Why?  Mácha was a Czech romantic poet, and today he stands on Petřín Hill.  Couples who kiss in front of his statue believe that their love will be as strong as the stone his statue is made from. 

Karel Hynek Mácha is best known for his lyrical epic poem, Máj (which is about May 1st and speaks of the tragic love of two young people).  Máj is "regarded as the classic work of Czech Romanticism, and is considered one of the best Czech poems ever written."  It's quite beautiful and you can read the translated version of it here

Happy Name Day, Valentýn! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Valentýn...appropriately so since today is also Valentine's Day.  Happy name day, Valentýn!

The name Valentýn is of Polish origin and a variant of Valentine, which is of Latin origin, meaning "strong, healthy".

St. Valentine receiving a rosary from the Virgin

Happy Belated Name Day, Věnceslav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Yesterday we honored Věnceslav.  Happy belated name day, Věnceslav!

The name Věnceslav is of Slavic origin meaning "greater glory".  Věnceslav is also the Czech form of Wenceslas.  St. Wenceslas was a 10th-century duke of Bohemia who was murdered by his brother. He's the patron saint of the Czech Republic.

Happy Name Day, Slavěna! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Slavěna.  Happy name day, Slavěna!

The name Slavěna is of Slavic origin meaning "glory".

Happy Name Day, Božena! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Božena.  Happy name day, Božena!

The name Božena is of Czech origin and means "happy".

One of my favorite Czech novels was written by a Božena...Božena Němcová.  She wrote Babička in 1855...it's the story about a young girl named Barunka and her childhood with her grandmother in the countryside. The book was inspired by Němcová's own childhood in the village of Ratibořice, where she lived with her parents, siblings, and maternal grandmother.

Happy Name Day, Mojmír! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Mojmír.  Happy name day, Mojmír!

The name Mojmír is of Czech origin and means "My Peace".  Mojmír is a special name to me because my grandfather's older brother's name is Mojmír.  He has since passed, but will be forever in our hearts.  Here's to you, Mojmír, we love you!

Here's a photo of my grandfather, Zdenek (I call him DinDin), seated in the middle with his eldest brother, Vlada, to his right and Mojmír on his left.  My great-grandparents are Bohdan and Maxa Kříž

Happy Name Day, Apolena! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Apolena.  Happy name day, Apolena!

The name Apolena is a variant of Apollonia, which is of Greek origin and the feminine form of Apollonios.  Apollonios is from an ancient name that was derived from the name of the Greek god, Apollo.  Apollo was the Greek god of sunlight, music and poetry.  Saint Apollonia was an elderly 3rd-century Christian martyr.  In art, she is often portrayed with a pair of tongs and an outsized molar.

St. Apollonia

According to legend, her torture included having all of her teeth violently pulled out or shattered.  For this reason, she is popularly regarded as the patroness of dentistry and those suffering from toothache or other dental problems.

Happy Name Day, Milada! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Milada.  Happy name day, Milada!

The name Milada is of Czech origin and means "my love". Ah, how romantic!

Happy Name Day, Vanda! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Vanda.  Happy name day, Vanda!

The name Vanda is of Czech and Italian origin and is a variation of the name Wanda, which is of Slavic origin and means "the tribe of the vandals".  The Vandals (or Wendlas) were an ancient Slavonic tribe whose destructive behavior led to the modern term "vandalism".

Happy Name Day, Dobromila! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Dobromila.  Happy name day, Dobromila!

The name Dobromila is a Slavic name and means "good grace".