Well today happens to be a beautiful day, a bit chilly, but no-the-less beautiful. The sun is shining, so hopefully I'll get more work done today. Well this Czech Tibit is going to be a bout about upcoming Czech Holidays, which I get the next two Mondays off, which is fine with me (more time for homework, maybe).
Burning of the Witches
On the evening of April 30th, huge bonfires will be lit on hills in the Czech Republic, and young people gather around and stay late into the night. This is called "The Burning of Witches" and symbolizes the end of winter and invitation of spring. This is also connected to St. Philip and Jacob´s Day as well as Valpruza´s Night from the 30th of April to the 1st of May, which is supposedly one of the magical nights when evil forces have greater power that at other times. At midnight before St. Phillip and Jacob´s Day, when evil spirits had the power to harm people, in order to protect themselves from the spirits, people had to have on them a flower from a fern, a blessed chalk, a wafer and as well as other objects. People believed that masses of withces were flying in the air, and came swooping down on the Sabbath. Supposedly, before this Sabbath the witches coated themselves in magic creams, which enabled them to fly (I'd like to see that). So, fires (in some pleces have a very ancient origin) were lit on high ground as protection against the withces. This is where the actual name "The Burning of the Witches" came from. Nowadays, these fires turned into "The Burning of the Witches" that is celebrated today. Well we'll see if I see any bonfires around later tonight, since I am in the city, it may not be a holiday that they celebrate too much.
May Day
May 1st, was once the day that welcomes spring and is a time of love (a sort of Valentine's Day in the Czech Republic), but during the communist era this was changed to a Labor Day, and there are float parades in cities across the Czech Republic. Today May Day is celebrated the way it used to be before the communist era. In smaller towns ln the eve of May Day young men would go into the forest to cut down the tallest tree and by the morning make it into an old Czech maypole, the traditional symbol of spring. Here in Prague the tradition is slightly different, couples of all ages will stroll through Petrin Hil, a place where lovers have walked for centuries. People who seek love, or those who are lucky enough to have found it, often lay a spring flower at the statue dedicated to the 19th century poet Karel Hynek Macha, who has become a patron of lovers. This is to pay tribute to the talented poet and pioneer of romanticism in the Czech lands. The following is the first verses of probably the best-known Czech poem, May, written by Macha.
The four-canto poem is actually based on a real story. It is about a young man called Vilem, whose lover is unfaithful to him. He kills his rival, unaware it is his own father. The desperate Vilem becomes a highwayman and later is arrested, jailed and executed. This tragic and exceptionally musical poem, set in the romantic landscape around a lake which now bears Macha's name, has become a symbol of love for Czechs, although at first it was rejected by many Macha's contemporaries and literary critics. Macha, who was a legal clerk in the north Bohemian town of Litomerice, published the poem in 1836 at his own expense, only a few months before his sudden and untimely death, which was froma mysterious illness. Although nobody knows exactly what Macha looked like, there is a statue dedicated to him on Prague's Petrin Hill, which is one of the most romantic corners of Prague and a traditional meeting place of lovers. There is another tradition that is a girl who is not kissed on this day will wither within a year (well we'll hope not, it's a far journey for my boyfriend to make for just one kiss).
Prague Uprising (1945)
On May 5th, although Berlin was captured and Hitler dead, German troops were still fighting in Czechoslovakia. The Prague's Radio Station, back then known as Radiojournal, now know as Czech Radio, was under an attack; they SOS for help, and ordinary citizens rushed with weapons to defend their Radio. That was the beginning of Prague Uprising when Czech citizens took an active part in fighting the remaining German troops until the arrival of the Liberation Army. Not sure if anything is going on for this, maybe a visit to Czech Radio Station should be in order, I've found a picture of the monument. I should check into it, maybe grab a Metro (free newspapers you find in the subway stations) to see what's going on.
Liberation Day (1945)
Until recently Liberation Day was celebrated on May 9th, which was a day when Russians arrived in Prague, but is now celebrated on May 8th. Czechoslovakia was liberated by Americans from the west and Russians from the east. Last year I heard that there was lots of different activities in celebration for Liberation Day for an entire weekend with re-enactments and fireworks, so hopefully there will be some for me to attend this year! (The picture was from a girls blog last year, who studied here from my school).
Burning of the WitchesOn the evening of April 30th, huge bonfires will be lit on hills in the Czech Republic, and young people gather around and stay late into the night. This is called "The Burning of Witches" and symbolizes the end of winter and invitation of spring. This is also connected to St. Philip and Jacob´s Day as well as Valpruza´s Night from the 30th of April to the 1st of May, which is supposedly one of the magical nights when evil forces have greater power that at other times. At midnight before St. Phillip and Jacob´s Day, when evil spirits had the power to harm people, in order to protect themselves from the spirits, people had to have on them a flower from a fern, a blessed chalk, a wafer and as well as other objects. People believed that masses of withces were flying in the air, and came swooping down on the Sabbath. Supposedly, before this Sabbath the witches coated themselves in magic creams, which enabled them to fly (I'd like to see that). So, fires (in some pleces have a very ancient origin) were lit on high ground as protection against the withces. This is where the actual name "The Burning of the Witches" came from. Nowadays, these fires turned into "The Burning of the Witches" that is celebrated today. Well we'll see if I see any bonfires around later tonight, since I am in the city, it may not be a holiday that they celebrate too much.
May DayMay 1st, was once the day that welcomes spring and is a time of love (a sort of Valentine's Day in the Czech Republic), but during the communist era this was changed to a Labor Day, and there are float parades in cities across the Czech Republic. Today May Day is celebrated the way it used to be before the communist era. In smaller towns ln the eve of May Day young men would go into the forest to cut down the tallest tree and by the morning make it into an old Czech maypole, the traditional symbol of spring. Here in Prague the tradition is slightly different, couples of all ages will stroll through Petrin Hil, a place where lovers have walked for centuries. People who seek love, or those who are lucky enough to have found it, often lay a spring flower at the statue dedicated to the 19th century poet Karel Hynek Macha, who has become a patron of lovers. This is to pay tribute to the talented poet and pioneer of romanticism in the Czech lands. The following is the first verses of probably the best-known Czech poem, May, written by Macha.
"Late evening, on the first of May-
The twilit May-the time of love.
Meltingly called the turtledove,
Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay.
Whispered of love the mosses frail,
The flowering tree as sweetly lied,
The rose's fragrant sigh replied
To love-songs of the nightingale."
The twilit May-the time of love.
Meltingly called the turtledove,
Where rich and sweet pinewoods lay.
Whispered of love the mosses frail,
The flowering tree as sweetly lied,
The rose's fragrant sigh replied
To love-songs of the nightingale."
The four-canto poem is actually based on a real story. It is about a young man called Vilem, whose lover is unfaithful to him. He kills his rival, unaware it is his own father. The desperate Vilem becomes a highwayman and later is arrested, jailed and executed. This tragic and exceptionally musical poem, set in the romantic landscape around a lake which now bears Macha's name, has become a symbol of love for Czechs, although at first it was rejected by many Macha's contemporaries and literary critics. Macha, who was a legal clerk in the north Bohemian town of Litomerice, published the poem in 1836 at his own expense, only a few months before his sudden and untimely death, which was froma mysterious illness. Although nobody knows exactly what Macha looked like, there is a statue dedicated to him on Prague's Petrin Hill, which is one of the most romantic corners of Prague and a traditional meeting place of lovers. There is another tradition that is a girl who is not kissed on this day will wither within a year (well we'll hope not, it's a far journey for my boyfriend to make for just one kiss).
Prague Uprising (1945)On May 5th, although Berlin was captured and Hitler dead, German troops were still fighting in Czechoslovakia. The Prague's Radio Station, back then known as Radiojournal, now know as Czech Radio, was under an attack; they SOS for help, and ordinary citizens rushed with weapons to defend their Radio. That was the beginning of Prague Uprising when Czech citizens took an active part in fighting the remaining German troops until the arrival of the Liberation Army. Not sure if anything is going on for this, maybe a visit to Czech Radio Station should be in order, I've found a picture of the monument. I should check into it, maybe grab a Metro (free newspapers you find in the subway stations) to see what's going on.
Liberation Day (1945)Until recently Liberation Day was celebrated on May 9th, which was a day when Russians arrived in Prague, but is now celebrated on May 8th. Czechoslovakia was liberated by Americans from the west and Russians from the east. Last year I heard that there was lots of different activities in celebration for Liberation Day for an entire weekend with re-enactments and fireworks, so hopefully there will be some for me to attend this year! (The picture was from a girls blog last year, who studied here from my school).
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