Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Happy Name Day, Marcela! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Marcela.  Happy Name Day, Marcela! 
The name Marcela is a variant of Marcella, which is of Latin origin and means "dedicated to Mars".  

Saint Marcella was a Roman matron.  She was widowed after nine months of marriage, refused to marry Cerealis, the consul, and formed a group of noble ladies to live a life of austerity and asceticism. She was tortured by the Goths looting Rome in 410 to force her to reveal the whereabouts of her wealth, which she had long since given to the poor, was released, but dies shortly after, in August.  Her feat day is January 31st.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Happy Name Day, Rostislav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Rostislav. Happy Name Day, Rostislav!
The name Rostislav is of Czech origin and means "to usurp glory".

Saint Rastic or Rastiz (in modern Slovak Rastislav) was the second ruler of Great Moravia between 846 until his death in 870.  He was canonized in October 1994 by the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church.  His feast day is May 11.

Prince Ratislav

Monday, April 18, 2011

Happy Name Day, Valérie! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Valérie.  Happy Name Day, Valérie!
The name Valérie is the Czech form of Valerie, which is of Latin origin and means "strong, healthy".

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Happy Name Day, Rudolf! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Rudolf.  Happy Name Day, Rudolf!
The name Rudolf is the Czech form of Rudolph, which is of Old German origin and means "famous wolf".

This is my favorite Rudolph!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Happy Name Day, Irena! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Irena.  Happy Name Day, Irena!
The name Irena is a variant of Irene, which is of Greek origin meaning "peace".



Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Hey, nice pens were a rarity for 45 years!





Czech leader's vanishing pen act is YouTube hit
PRAGUE — A clip showing Czech President Vaclav Klaus spiriting away a pen during a press conference has become cult viewing on YouTube and inspired a tongue-in-cheek Facebook campaign.
The clip, copied from a report on Klaus's visit to Chile which was broadcast by public Czech television on Sunday night, was posted on Youtube the same day.
It had drawn more than 550,000 views on YouTube by Tuesday afternoon.
Klaus, sitting next to his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera, is seen first opening a pen case lying on the table in front of him as the Chilean president gives him an enthusiastic welcome.
He takes the pen out, examines it carefully, hides his hands under the table, shuffles with his jacket, then buttons it up with both hands and finally lets his empty hands emerge above the table again to close the case.
Klaus, 69, is no stranger to international protocol. He has been Czech president since 2003 and was prime minister from 1993 to 1997.
On Tuesday he was quoted by the Novinky.cz news site as saying it was "standard to take a pen from an event," stressing it was no golden pen but a ballpoint.
The clip, which uses red arrows and circles to trace the route of the pen to the president's pocket, has inspired a Facebook collection for Klaus.
Participants are to send pens to his office on May 2 "as the president obviously has nothing to write with", according to the Facebook group.


Happy Name Day, Aleš! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Aleš.  Happy Name Day, Aleš!
The name Aleš is of Greek origin and means "man's defender, warrior".  It's the short form of Alexander and often used independently as Alexander has become more and more popular.  It's one of the few names used with equal frequency for both genders.  

The most famous bearer of the name was Alexander the Great, King of Macedon.  In the 4th century BC, he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia and parts of India.  Due to his fame, and later medieval tales involving him, use of his name spread throughout Europe.



Tuesday, April 12, 2011

"Czechs shop longest"

Who knew!  We Czechs like to shop...apparently.

According to an article in the Prague Daily Monitor, "Czechs shop longest".

The article states:

Czechs tied with Romanians for the most time in Europe spent shopping per week according to a Eurobarometer report on consumer empowerment released April 11.


Czechs tied with Romanians for the most time in Europe spent shopping per week according to a Eurobarometer report on consumer empowerment released April 11.  
“On average consumers in the Czech Republic and Romania spend most time shopping (3.8 hours per week), though it should be noted that 10 percent of Czechs and 17 percent of Romanians don’t know how much time they spend shopping. The average time spent shopping per week is also relatively high in Bulgaria, Austria and the UK (3.7 hours each),” the Eurobarometer report issued by the EU statistical arm Eurostat stated.
Portugal found itself on the other end of the spectrum. “Consumers in Portugal spend the least amount of time shopping (two hours on average in a typical week). Indeed, 31 percent of respondents in Portugal spend only one hour shopping in a typical week. People in Greece, France and Cyprus also spend comparatively less time shopping (2.4 hours per week on average),” the report said.
There was also a divide between new and old EU members, with respondents in the 12 states that joined in 2004 and 2007 spending more time shopping, 3.6 hours on average, than those in EU-15, at 3.2 hours.
Time spent shopping (EU-27 average)Time spent shopping (Czech Republic)
As might be expected, across the EU women spend more time shopping, some 3.7 hours in a typical week,  than men who racked up 2.8 hours, according to the report.
Respondents who live in larger towns also tend to spend more time shopping, 3.7 hours, especially when compared to those in rural villages, at 2.8 hours. “House persons,” the Eurostat term for people who spend the majority of their time on domestic chores, spend the longest time shopping, some 4.0 hours, of all socio-demographic groups; 19 percent of house persons spend six hours or more shopping in a typical week. Students spend the least amount of time shopping, 2.7 hours.

Happy Name Day, Julius! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Julius.  Happy Name Day, Julius!
The name Julius is of Greek origin, and its meaning is "Jove's child". 

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician

Monday, April 11, 2011

Happy Birthday to my beloved Babi

Today is my beloved grandmother's birthday and I want her to know that she is in my thoughts daily, and in my heart forever.

I love you, Babi!


Sunday, April 10, 2011

A timeless ballet treasure...

The Prague State Opera ballet ensemble brought another classic onto the stage...Giselle in its traditional version, as it is best known to audiences worldwide.  Giselle is one of the best-loved works of the romantic repertoire.  The production's choreography is the work of Hana Vláčilová, a former prima ballerina and the current head of the Prague State Opera ballet ensemble.


For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit:


Happy Name Day, Darja! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Darja.  Happy Name Day, Darja!
The name Darja is the Slovene and Czech form of Daria, which is the feminine form of Darius.  Darius is the Roman form of Dareios, which was the Greek form of the Persian name Dārayavahush.  Three ancient kings of Persia bore this name, including Darius the Great who invaded Greece but was defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It has never been very common as a given name in the English-speaking world, though it rose in popularity after the middle of the 20th century.

Saint Daria was a 3rd-century Greek woman who was martyred with her husband Chrysanthus under the Roman emperor Numerian. 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Happy Name Day, Miroslava! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Miroslava.  Happy Name Day, Miroslava!
Miroslava is the feminine form of Miroslav and is of Slavic origin.  Its meaning is "peace and glory", derived from the Slavic elements mir "peace" and slav "glory".  This was the name of a 10th-century king of Croatia, who  presided over a civil war.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Prague, My Love

Everywhere around me there's beauty...and this is why I love Prague

Happy Name Day, Ivana! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

 Today we honor Ivana. Happy Name Day, Ivana! 
Ivana is of Czech and Slavic origin.  It's the feminine form of Ivan, from John (Hebrew), meaning "Jehovah is gracious".

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Happy Name Day, Petr! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Petr.  Happy Name Day, Petr!
Petr is a variant of the name Peter, which is of Greek origin and means "rock".

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Happy name Day, Jiřina! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Jiřina.  Happy Name Day, Jiřina!
Jiřina is of Czech origin and the feminine form of Jiři (Czech form of George)

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day! Šťastný Valentýna!


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 the Czechs aren't romantic...

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 http://www.lupomesky.cz/maj/may.html

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!
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

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Happy Name Day, Věnceslav! Všechno nejlepší k svátku!

Today we honor Věnceslav.  Happy name Day, Věnceslav!
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.