Czech Center Museum Houston
Czech Beer : A Brief History

From the Brevnov Monastery to the modern-day Pilsner, the Czech people have been enjoying beer for over a thousand years. Known as the beer of tradition, Czech beer is ingrained into history itself.

Czech Beer : A Brief History
Czech Center Museum Houston
Edvard Beneš (28 May 1884 - 3 September 1948)

The Complicated Foreign Affairs of the Early 20th Century

Edvard Beneš (28 May 1884 - 3 September 1948)
Czech Center Museum Houston
Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)

The Reign of Mojmir I and Rostislav

Great Moravia: Mojmir I and Rostislav (830-870)
Czech Center Museum Houston
Milada Horakova

The Life and Death of Milada Horakova

Milada Horakova
Czech Center Museum Houston
Pride, Country, and a Balance Beam

The Proud Life of a Czechoslovakian Olympian

Pride, Country, and a Balance Beam

History

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An Army with No Country: A Siberian Odyssey 

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An Army with No Country: A Siberian Odyssey 

It’s the First World War, and the Czechoslovaks got to get their soldiers from Ukraine to France, but without going through a Central Powers country or a sea without enemy ships. What do they do? Naturally, they go East: fight through the Bolsheviks, take over the Russian railway network, capture most of Siberia, and reach Vladivostok before the ships arrive to get you home. All this while losing less than 10% of your men over three years of fighting. It might sound crazy, but this is just the 2nd part to the story of the Czechoslovak Legion.

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Czechoslovakia and their only naval battle

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Czechoslovakia and their only naval battle

A short story on Czechoslovakia’s only naval battle.

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Ten Popular Breweries in the Czech Republic

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Ten Popular Breweries in the Czech Republic

Ten small breweries in the Czech Republic that you should Czech out!

Prague Travel Guide

Prague Travel Guide

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a popular destination for tourists. It is ranked as the 20th most visited city in the world and hosts around eight million tourists each year.

The Church of St. Cyril and Methodius: A History Old and New

The Church of St. Cyril and Methodius: A History Old and New

St Cyril and Methodius lived in the 9th century and are important figures in Eastern Orthodox Churches. The brothers are known as the Apostles of the Slavs

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The Czech Republic and its’ Contribution to Cinematography

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The Czech Republic and its’ Contribution to Cinematography

Europe is known for its beautiful scenery and panoramas of its countryside used for movies. However, one country in central Europe takes the cake in picturesque landscapes, and it is named the Czech Republic.

Memento Mori

Memento Mori

Like something out of an Edgar Allen Poe macabre tale, an Ossuary is often misconstrued as a morbid and perhaps even a malevolent arrangement of skeletal remains. However, that is far from the truth.

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Jan Žižka

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Jan Žižka

Jan Žižka was born circa 1360 in Trocnov, Kingdom of Bohemia. He spent his early years growing up at court, being a squire and subsequently a bodyguard for King Wenceslas IV of Bohemia. He lost an eye at an early age, saddling him with the nickname "One-eyed Žižka."

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Prague Spring

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Prague Spring

In January of 1968, a season of reformation had begun to blossom in a country located in the Iron Curtain's shadow. This movement in Czechoslovakia where government leaders pushed for greater freedom for its citizens came to be known as Prague Spring.

Jan Hus: Czech Reform Theologian

Jan Hus: Czech Reform Theologian

Only a few years before Jan Hus was born, the Middle Ages came to a close. The term "Middle Ages" is used by modern scholars to reference a specific period in history. It began roughly with the collapse of Roman civilization around the 5th Century CE to the Renaissance. There are a few conflicting starting points for the Renaissance period. Depending on the location in Europe, the Renaissance started around the 13th, 14th, or 15th Centuries.

Prophecies of Libuše

Prophecies of Libuše

This ancient Bohemian legend dates back to the 8th century and tells the story of an oracle who foretold the coming of a golden city. Libuše, and her prophecies, were both a warning and blessing to her people. Ultimately, her prophetic visions would cause a chain reaction that would end her rule and usher in the Přemyslid Dynasty.

The Golem of Prague

The Golem of Prague

Legends and myths permeate every culture on Earth. Every corner of the globe has a harrowing cautionary tale to tell. Here we observe the prominent Czech legend of a Golem brought to life by a Rabbi. To set the scene, we must travel back to Prague circa 1583. It’s here that we find Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II and his odd collection of art, practicing scientists, alchemists, and an obsession with occult knowledge.

New Years in The Czech Republic

New Years in The Czech Republic

The holidays are upon us and I thought we might look into Czech traditions for celebrating the New Year. In the Czech Republic, New Year’s Eve is called Silvestr, for the anniversary of the consecration of Pope Sylvester I, a saint who served as Pope of the Western Church from 314 to 335. Since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the December 31st feast date has coincided with New Year’s Eve

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The Mystery of the Voynich Manuscript

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The Mystery of the Voynich Manuscript

In 1912, a strange manuscript surfaced in the collection of an antique-bookseller. It is written in a language that is not found anywhere else, contains pictures of plants that can not be identified, and astrological charts that don't match any records. The text today is known as the Voynich Manuscript, and it has been called one of the most mysterious books in the world.

Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

It's quite a difficult thing to pin down an exact historical reason for any significant event. We can, however, follow the lives of a specific royal family and the events that surrounded their tragic lives. Over the course of a seventy-two year span, we will look at the events that led to the creation and dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The (puppet) Strings that Bind Nations

The (puppet) Strings that Bind Nations

Puppet theatre is an integral part of Slovak and Czech local theatre and literary tradition. It also plays an important role in socialization, helping audiences young and old develop as creative thinkers and learn about cooperation, communication, and strengthening their sense of identity in society.

Fishy Christmas Traditions

Fishy Christmas Traditions

One can often perceive the richness of any culture merely by taking the time to sit and listen to the stories it tells. Czech traditions are no exception to this, and this time of year is saturated with history, customs, and celebration of the valuable inheritances we’ve received from those that came before us. Perhaps by peeking into the traditions still celebrated in the Czech Republic and abroad, one can learn something about the history carved into its roots.

Foundation of Czechoslovakia

Foundation of Czechoslovakia

Tomas Garrigue Masaryk was a sociologist, philosopher, and political activist. He was the founder and first president of Czechoslovakia. Before he was the founder, and President liberator, of the Czech and Slovak people, he lived a humble life in a small, industrial town.

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

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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.

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The Mullet: The Most Infamous Haircut of All

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The Mullet: The Most Infamous Haircut of All

Thus, of all things to creep into 2020, the mullet– a fashion statement that’s typically reserved for the ‘80s and ‘90s regrets, jokes at the expense of Billy Ray Cyrus and Jerry Seinfeld, or a mugshot in a “Florida Man…” news article– reemerged from its cave.