All of us celebrated on New Year`s Eve. On New Year`s Day we had a big meal including pork for good luck and lentils soup for prosperity. Stay away from fish or poultry today!!! Those meals may make your luck swim or fly away.
1st January is also the day when Czechoslovakia split and the Czech and the Slovac Republic came into existence. Not many people celebrate this act, but it’s a pity because it was a very important event for us. The second important holiday is the holiday of Three Kings on January 6. A lot of people go in disguise as three kings, they go to people`s houses and ask: Would you like to contribute to the people in need? Mostly they get some money.
In January we had a lot of work for school, because the term finishes on 31st January and we get a school certificate.
But January is also a months of balls. Our school with the help of parents also organizes one, a Students` Ball ----->
The last year`s students were decorated - as usual, and some programme was prepared by students from different classes, and also by our class. As we attended dancing classes, which has become a tradition for 2nd year and Sexta students, there are usually some dance performances - at the beginning of the ball something more formal, and at midnight some crazier dance........
Sunday, March 29, 2009
December in Policka
December in Policka
On the evening of 5th December you can meet St. Nicholas, angels and devils in the streets of Policka. Actually you can hear the bells of the angels and the chains of the devils long before you can see them. St. Nicholas wears bishop clothes and carries a cross in one hand and a book of sins in the other hand. The group enters some houses and flats. The devils frighten children and threaten to put the naughtiest children inside their big bags and take them away. St. Nicholas reads the sins of the children from the book and the children promise that the next year they will be good. Some children also sing a song or say a poem. Then the angels give the children some small presents, usually some fruit, walnuts and also some coal which is a symbol of the devil.
St. Nicholas, devils and angels walked around our school, too. The youngest students in special costumes sang Christmas carols and recited Christmas poems. They walked from class to class and read from “the book” some sins of the students and the students had to promise they would be nice. It was fun.. Our teachers were not excluded and during the main break the students entered the staffroom.
P.S. Notice the big bag over the hand of one of the devils.
Christmas in Svojanov Castle /the castle is the property of Policka/
Policka also organized a fabulous Christmas weekend in the castle of Svojanov. The castle belongs to the town Policka. The warden of the castle invited a group of fencers and they showed some parts of knightly fights. The Visitors were able to see an exhibition of naticity scenes , too. The guides put on period costumes and sang Christmas carols. In the dining room, there were tables prepared for Christmas dinner.
Every year Policka has a Christmas tree in the middle of the square. But this year for the first time almost everybody was able to decorate it, because people were invited to make Christmas stars from different materials. You can see the Christmas tree in the square. It stands near the Town Hall, which you can see below.
Pavlina
On the evening of 5th December you can meet St. Nicholas, angels and devils in the streets of Policka. Actually you can hear the bells of the angels and the chains of the devils long before you can see them. St. Nicholas wears bishop clothes and carries a cross in one hand and a book of sins in the other hand. The group enters some houses and flats. The devils frighten children and threaten to put the naughtiest children inside their big bags and take them away. St. Nicholas reads the sins of the children from the book and the children promise that the next year they will be good. Some children also sing a song or say a poem. Then the angels give the children some small presents, usually some fruit, walnuts and also some coal which is a symbol of the devil.
St. Nicholas, devils and angels walked around our school, too. The youngest students in special costumes sang Christmas carols and recited Christmas poems. They walked from class to class and read from “the book” some sins of the students and the students had to promise they would be nice. It was fun.. Our teachers were not excluded and during the main break the students entered the staffroom.
P.S. Notice the big bag over the hand of one of the devils.
Christmas in Svojanov Castle /the castle is the property of Policka/
Policka also organized a fabulous Christmas weekend in the castle of Svojanov. The castle belongs to the town Policka. The warden of the castle invited a group of fencers and they showed some parts of knightly fights. The Visitors were able to see an exhibition of naticity scenes , too. The guides put on period costumes and sang Christmas carols. In the dining room, there were tables prepared for Christmas dinner. 
Every year Policka has a Christmas tree in the middle of the square. But this year for the first time almost everybody was able to decorate it, because people were invited to make Christmas stars from different materials. You can see the Christmas tree in the square. It stands near the Town Hall, which you can see below.
Pavlina
November
November
November=Fall of leaves /Listopad/ in the Czech language.
All Souls‘ Day (on 2nd November) vs. Halloween (on 31st October) ..is it the same?
In the Czech Republic we have not Halloween but we have All Souls‘ Day. These two holidays have the same origins in a pagan celtic festival-Samhain. They are associated with ghosts and souls. It is because Celts believed that at this time the spirits of the dead could come back and be with the Libiny peoples. These holidays are a little bit different now. Halloween for somebody means dressing up, sweets and going to costume parties. Halloween is crazier and funnier than All Souls‘ Day. On All Souls‘ Day you remember the died people and you are nostalgic.
11th November
The day of the fight of freedom and democracy.
Our country was under the supremacy of Germany, then of communism .
In 1939 Germans closed all universities.
In 1969 Jan Palach disagreed with Russian occupation, so he protested and burned him self.
Finally in 1989 communism was broken. We call this big event Velvet revolution. It started when students celebrated the anniversary of Jan Palach’s death.
November=Fall of leaves /Listopad/ in the Czech language.
All Souls‘ Day (on 2nd November) vs. Halloween (on 31st October) ..is it the same?
In the Czech Republic we have not Halloween but we have All Souls‘ Day. These two holidays have the same origins in a pagan celtic festival-Samhain. They are associated with ghosts and souls. It is because Celts believed that at this time the spirits of the dead could come back and be with the Libiny peoples. These holidays are a little bit different now. Halloween for somebody means dressing up, sweets and going to costume parties. Halloween is crazier and funnier than All Souls‘ Day. On All Souls‘ Day you remember the died people and you are nostalgic.
11th November
The day of the fight of freedom and democracy.
Our country was under the supremacy of Germany, then of communism .
In 1939 Germans closed all universities.
In 1969 Jan Palach disagreed with Russian occupation, so he protested and burned him self.
Finally in 1989 communism was broken. We call this big event Velvet revolution. It started when students celebrated the anniversary of Jan Palach’s death.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
October
October
October is Říjen in the Czech language. This name means deer rut.
28th October is a holiday, because in 1918 the Austro – Hungarian monarchy broke up. Czechoslovakia, Austria, Jugoslavia etc. came into exisrence.
But Czechoslovakia changed because Slovaks wanted their own state, so in 1993 Czechoslovakia broke up. Now there are the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In 1918 Czechs and Slovaks had their first democratic state.
October is Říjen in the Czech language. This name means deer rut.
28th October is a holiday, because in 1918 the Austro – Hungarian monarchy broke up. Czechoslovakia, Austria, Jugoslavia etc. came into exisrence.
But Czechoslovakia changed because Slovaks wanted their own state, so in 1993 Czechoslovakia broke up. Now there are the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In 1918 Czechs and Slovaks had their first democratic state.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
September
September
September was a very sad month for most of us as we had to return to school.
But it was fun to see our friends again and everybody had a lot of stories. And this year we had a school trip to England. We could compare not only the two countries but also schools because we spent one day in a private school. We also visited Oxford, Stratford upon Avon and London, of course. Good experience!
Perhaps September 28 is the second most important holiday in the Czech Republic. It is a holiday related to the tradition of Christianity and the tradition of Saint Wenceslas. On that day, Saint Wenceslas, the duke and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stara Boleslav. Every year there is a Saint Wenceslas´s pilgrimage organized in this place, and at Prague Castle the president awards Saint Wenceslas medals to personalities who have contributed to the Czech statehood.
September was a very sad month for most of us as we had to return to school.
But it was fun to see our friends again and everybody had a lot of stories. And this year we had a school trip to England. We could compare not only the two countries but also schools because we spent one day in a private school. We also visited Oxford, Stratford upon Avon and London, of course. Good experience! Perhaps September 28 is the second most important holiday in the Czech Republic. It is a holiday related to the tradition of Christianity and the tradition of Saint Wenceslas. On that day, Saint Wenceslas, the duke and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stara Boleslav. Every year there is a Saint Wenceslas´s pilgrimage organized in this place, and at Prague Castle the president awards Saint Wenceslas medals to personalities who have contributed to the Czech statehood.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Quiz on the Czech Republic
1. What is the capital city of the Czech Republic?
a) Bratislava
b) Wien
c) Bern
d) Prague
2. How many people live in the Czech Republic?
a) about 11 million
b) about 10 million
c) about 8 million
3. What is the name of the Czech president?
a) Vaclav Havel
b) Vaclav Klaus
c) Vaclav Vydra
4. What is the national tree of the Czech Republic?
a) Lime
b) Oak
c) Willow
d) Pine
5. What is the typical drink in the Czech Republic?
a) Wine
b) Beer
c) Vodka
d) Juice
6. What is the Czech national dish?
a) Roast chicken
b) Pizza
c) Fruit salad
d) Svickova (a special sauce, beef and dumplings)
7. What is the most favourite sport in the Czech Republic?
a) Football
b) Ice-hockey
c) Rugby
d) Lacross
8. The Czech ice-hockey player is:
a) Jaromir Jagr
b) Emil Zatopek
c) Lukas Bauer
d) Roman Sebrle
9. The Czech Anna Geislerova is:
a) Singer
b) Sportswoman
c) Actress
d) Politician
10. Karel Gott is the famous Czech:
a) Explorer
b) Politician
c) Sportsman
d) Singer
Other information about the Czech Republic,the Czech president and the Prague Castle:
Pavlina
Quiz - Correct answers
Correct answers
1. d)
2. b)
3. b)
4. a)
5. b)
6. d)
7. b)
8. a)
9. c)
10. d)
Pavlina & David
1. d)
2. b)
3. b)
4. a)
5. b)
6. d)
7. b)
8. a)
9. c)
10. d)
Pavlina & David
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