Happy Name Day, Hynek! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Hynek.  Happy name day, Hynek!

The name Hynek is of Czech origin and a pet form of the name Heinrich, which is the German form of Henry.  The name means "home ruler".

Happy Name Day, Marika! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Marika.  Happy name day, Marika! 

The name Marika is of Danish origin (a variation of Mary) and means "star of the sea".

Happy Name Day, Robin! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Robin.  Happy name day, Robin!

The name Robin is of English origin and a variant of the name Robert, which is of Old German origin and means "bright fame".

The name Robin has been in popular use as a name since the medieval days of Robin Hood.  The name was also used for the male character Christopher Robin in A.A. Milne's "Winnie the Pooh" stories.  And who can forget Robin Williams... who made us laugh since his days on Mork & Mindy.

You are remembered, Mr. Williams.

Happy Name Day, Zdislava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Zdislava.  Happy name day, Zdislava!

The name Zdislava is a variation of the Czech name Zdeslava, which is of Slavic origin and means "fame, glory".

Happy Name Day, Otýlie! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Otýlie.  Happy name day, Otýlie!

The name Otýlie is the Czech variation of Ottilie, which is the feminine form of the German name Otto.  The name Ottilie means "prosperous in battle".  Ottilie, though it has German roots via Otto, has a distintively delicate French feel. It is rarely heard today, though it had some popularity in the US in the 1880s.

Happy Name Day, Ingrid! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Ingrid.  Happy name day, Ingrid!

The name Ingrid is of Scandinavian and Old Norse origin, and means ""Ing's beauty".  In Norse mythology, Ing, God of earth's fertility, rides the land each year to prepare it for spring planting.

Happy Name Day, Miloš! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Miloš.  Happy name day, Miloš!

The name Milos is of Slavonic origin meaning meaning "great, famous; peace; fame, glory."

It is also a pet form of the name Miroslav.

Happy Name Day, Milena! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Milena.  Happy name day, Milena!

The name Milena is of Czech and Slavic origin and means "favored".

Happy Name Day, Zdeněk! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Now here is a name I can relate to!  And I bet a lot of you out there, Czechs especially, can, too!

Today we honor Zdeněk.  Happy name day, Zdeněk!

The name Zdeněk is mainly used in the Czech language. It is of Latin origin and a variant form of the name Sidony, which means "from Sidon".  

The name Zdeněk is one that I am quite fond of as it's popular in my family...my grandfather, father, and uncle all bear the name.  So as we're supposed to do on name days, let's raise a glass in honor of Zdeněk!

Happy Name Day, Slavomír! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Slavomír.  Happy name day, Slavomír!

The name Slavomír is of Czech origin and means "renowned glory".

Happy Name Day, Běla! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Běla.  Happy name day, Běla!

The meaning of this name is not known for certain. It could be derived from a Slavic word meaning "white" or a Hungarian word meaning "within".  This was the name of four Hungarian kings.

Happy Name Day, Ilona! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Ilona.  Happy name day, Ilona!

The name Ilona is of Hungarian and Greek origin and means "light".

Happy Name Day, Doubravka! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Doubravka.  Happy name day, Doubravka!

The name Doubravka is of Slavic origin and means "oak grove".

Happy Name Day, Vladislav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Vladislav.  Happy name day, Vladislav!

The name Vladislav is of Slavic origin and mean  "to rule with glory".

Happy Name Day, Drahoslava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Drahoslav.  Happy Name Day, Drahoslav!

The name Drahoslav is derived from the Slavic elements dorgu meaning "precious" and slav meaning "glory".

Happy Name Day, Ctirad! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Ctirad.  Happy name day, Ctirad!

The name Ctirad is of Slavic origin and means "honor, care".

Happy Name Day, Alice! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Alice.  Happy name day, Alice!

The name Alice is of Old German origin and means "noble, exalted".  It's a variant of the Old French name Adeliz.  The name Alice was made famous by the heroine in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" (1865) and "Through the Looking Glass" (1872), who was based on his child friend Alice Lidell, daughter of the Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

FINALLY a name where I can actually wish an Alice a Happy Name Day.

Lots of famous folks named Alice, actually.  To name a few:

I think these two just cross each other out.  But then again, Alice probably just came across as all sweet and innocent.  Deep down we know she's hiding a few tattoos and some dominatrix clothing under that prim & proper dress of hers.

And my favorite Alice of all...

2016 decided to take her soul, too.  You are missed.

Happy Name Day, Radovan! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Radovan.  Happy name day, Radovan!

The name Radovan is of Slavic origin.  The name is derived from "rad", meaning care, joy. It can be translated as "the joyful one".  The name is mainly used in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia.

Prague, My Love

I never tire of the view...I never tire of the city.

Happy Name Day, Edita! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Edita.  Happy Name Day, Edita!

The name Edita is a variant of Edith, which is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Edita is "strife for wealth".

Happy Name Day, Pravoslav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Pravoslav.  Happy name day, Pravoslav!

The name Pravoslav has its origins in the Slavonic language and is used mainly in Czech.  The meaning of Pravoslav is "righteous glory".

Happy Name Day, Bohdana! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Bohdana.  Happy name day, Bohdana!

The name Bohdana is of Slavonic origin and means "given by God".

Trading in my Human for a Robot

Who needs a human spouse when you can build one to your liking?  

Hmmm, hang on, something about this is quite appealing.  I envision romance and towels hung back up after showers and more romance and, "yes, my love..."  Although it's just too artificial,  One would surely get bored, no? One would surely realize said robot was programmed to their liking and that the entire relationship is a fake.  But perhaps, for some, that would not matter.  Perhaps, some would be happy, and isn't happiness what we all strive for?

For those of you in London, go see  Love, sex and marriage...with a robot? at The British Academy on February 3rd "...for an evening of activities from talks to performances, as we explore the future of romantic relationships."

Is this REALLY our future??

Happy Name Day, Břetislav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Břetislav.  Happy name day, Břetislav!

The name Břetislav is of Slovak origin and means "noisy glory".

Happy Name Day, Vladan! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Vladan.   Happy name day, Vladan!

The name Vladan is a short form of Slavic names beginning with the element volod/vlad meaning "to rule, ruler".

Again, another name where I don't personally know a single Vladan, and again another name I am digging.  But there are Vladans out there, and to them I raise my glass on their special day.

Happy Belated Name Day, Vilma & Čestmír! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

On Saturday, Jan. 7th, we honored Vilma, and on Sunday, Jan. 8th, we honored Čestmír.  Happy belated name day, Vilma & Čestmír!

The name Vilma is a form of Wilma, which is the short form of Wilhelmina, which is of Old German origin and means "will, helmet, protection".   German settlers introduced the name Wilhelmina it to America in the 19th century.

A very famous Wilma...

The name Čestmír is of Czech origin and means "fortress".  I have yet to meet a Čestmír, but I am digging the name.

Tears fall as the Christmas ends

Epiphany, commonly known as Three Kings' Day in the United States, is on January 6.  Today.  It celebrates the three wise men's visit to baby Jesus and also remembers his baptism.

A short history lesson:
In the Czech Republic, today is known as Svátek Tří králů, Three Kings Day.  The Three Kings, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, also known as wise men from the east, saw a bright star on the night that Christ was born. They followed it to Bethlehem and met the baby Jesus, to whom they gave three gifts:gold, myrrh and frankincense.  Based on Biblical stories, the three kings represented three life stages - history, presence, and future (young, middle-aged, and old king).  The oldest man also had a dark face that represented the shadow of death.

Translates to:
Christmas is officially over and tears fall into my coffee.

My Solution:

Keep the tree up and pretend....

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Happy Name Day, Dalimil! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Dalimil.  Happy name day, Dalimil!

The name Dalimil is of Czech origin and is derived from the Slavic elements dal meaning "far away" and mil meaning "gracious, dear".

I don't know anyone named Dalimil, do you?

Happy Name Day, Diana! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Diana.  Happy name day, Diana!

The name Diana is of Latin origin and means "divine".  In mythology, Diana was an ancient Roman divinity who came to be associated with the Greek god Artemis.  Noted for her beauty and fleetness, Diana is often depicted as a huntress.  The name has been used since the 16th-century, and was popularized by the late Princess of Wales.

I tend to associate the name with a great song:

Michael Jackson's Dirty Diana

Oh, Michael & Diana, how me miss thee.  Gone too soon.

Happy belated name day, Radmila!

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

The name Radmila is a variant of Radmilla, which is of Slavic origin and means "industrious for the people".

Pop the Bubbly in honor of Karina

Someone named Karina best be getting a bottle of champagne today.  You see, in the Czech Republic, every day of the year is attached to a name, svátek as we like to call it.  Today just happens to be Karina's svátek, thus be sure to wish a Karina you know a Happy Name Day.

That aforementioned bottle of champagne surely won't hurt either.  Flowers will do as well... I mean, what female does not like to receive flowers? Champagne AND flowers, well you just earned yourself a little damn gold star.

So today we honor Karina.  Happy name day, Karina! The name Karina is of Scandinavian origin and a variant of the name Katherine, which is of Greek origin and means "pure".

Šťastný nový rok!

 Šťastný nový rok!  Happy New Year!  

I hope everyone had a VERY Merry Christmas!  May your hearts be light.

But moving on to severely important matters...superstitions and those dreaded New Year's Resolutions.  

First things first though.  Resolutions are null & void if we don't adhere to superstitions.  

I hope I'm not reaching you too late, but whatever you do, don't eat chicken on New Year's Day.  Why you ask?  Well, it will make all the luck fly away.  And if that isn't enough to keep you away from that plate of deep-fried hangover food goodness known as buffalo wings, then think about this:  chickens scratch backwards, implying dwelling on the past and the need to scrape by for a living.  Yeah, I think I'll pass on the chicken today. 

Now, on to those resolutions.  Did you make many?  Any?

I did!  Oh boy oh boy oh boy!  

I vow to eat healthier, workout more, save more money, drink less beer, be nicer to other drivers on the road, blah blah blah BS.  I don't vow any of those things because ...

But please don't let me sway you from making yours!  Just remember to make one of those resolutions is HAPPINESS.  Opt to be happy, because life is too short to not be happy.

So, with that we say good-bye to 2016, and welcome 2017 with open arms and optimism.  Don't let us down 2017, don't let us down.