Festivals and Traditions The Czech Republic

6 th July – Day of burning Master Jan Hus - Priest, university lecturer, reformer, preacher - Critized the Catholic church - the Catholic church called him heretic - Invite to the Council of Constance - Burned

Easter Customs and Habits in the Czech Republic

Osnova/Outline Historie – křesťanské vysvětlení /History – Christian point of view jak je vnímáme dnes / Celebrating nowadays Pašijový týden / Holy Week – Květná neděle Palm Sunday – Škaredá středa Spy Wednesday – Zelený čtvrtek Maundy Thursday – Velký pátek (ukřižování) – ne v ČR- Good Friday – Bílá sobota (leží v hrobě) – končí Půst - Holy Saturday – Hod Boží velikonoční (vzkříšení) – neděle (doba Velikonoční) Easter Day – Pondělí velikonoční Pomlázka Kraslice Pečivo

Easter The climax of the Christian Year The most important holiday for Christians It reminds of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his resurrection Movable feast –

Easter It celebrates coming of spring and awaking of the nature Nowadays it is less important for atheists than Christmas

Holy Week Holy Week commemorates the Passion of Christ A week preceding JC’s resurrection There is a Great Lent preceding the Passion Week – 40 days – Meatless nutrition – proper food only once a day Memory of Jesus Christ’s torment Begins on Palm Sunday 13 th April

Spy Wednesday 16 th April – Judas betrayed JC and glower at him – According to a legend you should not glower at anyone otherwise you will be glowering the whole year Maundy Thursday 17 th April -Commemorates Maundy and the Last Supper -Determination Eucharist

Good Friday 18 th April – Reminding of Christ’s crucifixion – “The most silent” day of the year – Climax of the Great Lent – total lent – No work – It is a bank holiday in the majority of the world Not in the Czech Republic

Holy Saturday 19 th April – The final day of the Great Lent – It commemorates the day that JC’s body lay in the tomb – The memory of JC’s martyrdom, death – Praying for his resurrection

Easter Day 20 th April – The resurrection of JC Easter Monday 21th April – Not a religious feast – Folk traditions

Easter customs and habits Easter bread – Cross bun “pomlázka” – Easter carol Painted Easter eggs

Easter rattle – “řehtačka” Easter bunny Easter lamb

Pouring boys Easter decoration Easter postcards

28th October Foundation of Czechoslovakia after WWI 1916 – E. Beneš, M. R. Štefánik and T. G. Masaryk created the Czechoslovak National Council the Allies recognized the Czechoslovak National Council in the summer of 1918 On October 18, while in the United States, Masaryk issued a declaration od Czechoslovak independence Czechoslovakia was created on 28th October 1918

28th September Wenceslaus I Wenceslaus was killed on 28th September 935 the Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his assassination in 935 elevated to sainthood posthumously declared the king patron saint of the Czech state

17 th November International Day of Students 1939 Jan Opletal closen university students in concetration camps 1989 Start of Velvet revolution

Victory in Europe Day Public Holiday celebrated on May 8 it marks the formal acceptance of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces it thus marks the end of World War II in Europe

since the Soviet Union was to the east of Germany, it was May 9 Moscow Time when the German military surrender became effective, which is why Russia and most of the former Soviet republics commemorate Victory Day on 9 May instead of 8 May the Czech Republic celebrated VE Day on 9 May while under Russia‘s occupation (the previous regime), but now we celebrate on 8 May

5 th July Slavic Missionaries Cyril and Methodius Day Lucie Hronová

9th century - Great Moravian Empire … the first known west Slavic empire located on the territory of the today‘s Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and partially Poland, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and neighbouring with the Byzantine Empire.

Great Moravian Empire 862 AD –King Rostislav of Great Moravian empire wanted to spread Christianity within his kingdom in our language. He asked Byzantine emperor, Michael III to sent missionaries to teach Christianity in Slavic language. Byzantine empire (successor of Roman empire) was the center of Christianity then.

863 AD arrival of Cyril and Methodius We celebrate this day since Cyril and Methodius - brothers from Thessalonike.  transaltion of the Bible into the local languange.  promotion of the Bible within Great Moravia  they devised Glagolitic alphabet – first Slavonic alphabet manuscript  the first Slavic Civil Code  the brothers were declared "Patrons of Europe" in 1980.