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July 5: Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius

July 5: Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Saints Cyril and Methodius have shaped the history of Christianity and even language in Eastern Europe. By translating the Holy Bible into the Slavic languages, they were able to convert many Slavs to Christianity. Their efforts have resulted in the existence of the Cyrillic Alphabet through the development of the Glagolitic Alphabet, for example. July 5 is the day when the Saints’ far-reaching efforts are recognized.

Impacting the Arts

Impacting the Arts

There are several Czech artists who have and continue to influence the world, and four of them are highlighted in this article. These artists are Jiri Trnka, Anna Daucikova, Libuse Jarcovjakova, and Yemi AD. From film to painting, glassblowing to photograph, and performance to dance, these artists present a variety of expressions that have influenced the world.

Slovak Flag

Slovak Flag

White, red, and blue make up the Pan-Slavic Tricolor, chosen based on the flag of Russia since that nation, during the late 17th century, represented Slavic independence and power. In fact, their flag was initially too similar to the Russian flag for them to keep it that way, thus the decision to ultimately add the heraldic symbol was made on September 1, 1992.

An Army with No Country: The Czechoslovak Legion in Europe

An Army with No Country:  The Czechoslovak Legion in Europe

They were men without their own country, living split up among not one, but two mighty empires. When the Great War came and those empires began to crumble, those men took up arms in the struggle, and fought so that one day they too would have their own nation. These were the men of the Czechoslovak Legions.

Czechoslovakia and their only naval battle

Czechoslovakia and their only naval battle

Despite being a landlocked nation, Czechoslovakia had a naval army, one which fought a single battle. This singular battle took place on Lake Baikal in Russia during WWI. Being that Czechoslovakian soldiers fought so far away from their own nation and that they seemed unwelcome in Russia, the situation of their naval military grew more complicated.

Koláče, Klobásníky, and Czech Cuisine

Koláče, Klobásníky, and Czech Cuisine

If you’re from Texas, you’re guaranteed to have tried kolache - a savory sausage wrapped in a roll of sweet dough. However, that name is misleading. A kolač (pronounced kolach) is actually a sweet pastry made of puffy dough with a fruit filling. Originally brought to the United States by Moravian immigrants, it’s now a widespread dessert and snack. The savory snack mistakenly referred to as kolache, is actually called klobasniky, and it has an interesting Texan origin.

Ice Hockey: One of the Czech Republic's Most Popular Sports

Ice Hockey: One of the Czech Republic's Most Popular Sports

If you were to name a country where ice hockey was a closely followed sport, the Czech Republic may not be high up on the list. But Czech teams have grown from humble beginnings to become some of the most formidable players in the world today.

Three Wishes for Cinderella

Three Wishes for Cinderella is an Eastern European adaptation of the popular story Cinderella, directed by Vaclav Vorlicek in 1973 based on a story written by Bozena Nemcova.