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.

"People who love to eat are always the best people." - Julia Child

The 6th annual Foodparade is coming up - on Sept. 3 & 4, more than 20 of Prague's restaurants and chefs will offer their wares...so come hungry!

There is, of course, beer & wine.  We are Czechs after all.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at http://foodparade.cz/vstupenky/ OR http://www.ticketstream.cz/

Or even better yet, you can try to win tickets by answering the following question and emailing your answer to info@prague.tv by August 21st:

What's the value in CZK of the festivals currency "1 CHEF"?

Pssst...I'll give you a hint.  1 CHEF is 20 CZK.  Shhhh, don't tell anyone! And good luck.

Oh, and did I mention... this event is being held at Troja Chateau ...a stunning Baroque structure located in the city's suburbs.  Stunning views, vineyards, and the Prague Zoo is located right next door, thus you can make a day of your visit to Troja.

Romance is a Knight in Shining Armor

I am so bummed that I won't be able to attend this event.  Then again, how would I choose just one castle or chateau?

On August 27th, several castles and chateaus throughout the Czech Republic will open their doors at night for Hradozámecká noc.  AT NIGHT.  Meaning candlelight and classical music and knights in shining armor.  

One of the chataeus participating is Duchcov, where the stud Giacomo Casanova worked as a librarian in the late 1700's.  Perhaps, on this night his spirit will roam the building flirting with women as they pass by.  Will you be so lucky?

Duchcov Chateau

Read about the event here

Duchcov Chateau

Another participant is the baroque castle Žleby, which is particularly romantic in appearance.  

Zámek Žleby

Zámek Žleby

Zámek Žleby

I can picture it... candle lit rooms, music playing softly in the background, the click-clap of horse hooves as they pass by on the cobble-stoned paths, and the knights.  Oh, the knights...

Mozart in Prague

Why not taking a walking tour of Prague and follow in the footsteps of Wolfgang.  With its majestic charm, the city will surely take you back to days long ago...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 

Here's a piece by the famous composer that made its debut in Prague in 1787:

Symphony No. 38 in D

Prague TV had a good article which will surely inspire you to explore Prague and visit the places that Mozart once did.

Following Mozart Through Prague

One of my favorite places associated with Mozart is the Estates Theatre.  It holds a special place in my heart because it is where my father introduced me to opera by taking me to see Le nozze de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), which just happens to be composed by Mozart.

  Buy Tickets for Le nozze de Figaro at the Estates Theatre

The Estates Theatre 

The Estates Theatre, better known for the premiere of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, which was performed here on October 29, 1787