czech republic

Ride of the Kings

Ride of the Kings

Each spring, people in the Czech Republic celebrate many different events and holidays. The Ride of the Kings is one of the Czech Republic’s many unique customs. It is so deeply rooted in the history and culture of the area that it was placed on the UNESCO heritage list and has been painted, photographed, and filmed to preserve its tradition.

The Czech Republic's Communist-Era Architecture

The Czech Republic's Communist-Era Architecture

For the Communist countries in Eastern Europe, the necessary rebuilding following World War II was accomplished in the construction style that the Soviet Union popularized. As a result of this period, the Czech Republic has many buildings and monuments that differ significantly from the historic ones surrounding them, serving as a reminder of its Communist era.

10th Anniversary of Krtek in Space

10th Anniversary of Krtek in Space

Today, March 5th, 2021, marks the 10th anniversary of the little mole's flight into space with American astronaut Andrew Feustel onboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour's mission STS-134.

Five Czech Towns to Visit

Five Czech Towns to Visit

With twelve UNESCO World Heritage Sites, four awe-inspiring national parks, and literally thousands of castles, there is much to see in the Czech Republic beyond the beautiful city of Prague. Today, we’ve compiled a short list of five towns that definitely warrant the trip next time you visit the country.

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.

The Kroj - A Connection to Czech Heritage

The Kroj - A Connection to Czech Heritage

Kroje (singular: kroj) are Czech and Slovak traditional costumes. A combination of western and eastern influences shaped by centuries of stylistic shifts, from the Gothic to the Baroque, they are stunning pieces of cultural heritage.

Jan Žižka

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."

The Slavic Circle

The Slavic Circle

The circle is one of the most widespread and universal symbols. It commonly represents unity, wholeness, and infinity. In Slavic culture, it is especially important, often associated with the Sun, protection, and rebirth. Perhaps some of the most preserved examples of this symbol are the Slavic circle dances: kolo and khorovod.

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.

The Mullet: The Most Infamous Haircut of All

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.