For a list of locations and further information about Poesiomat, see www.poesiomat.cz
Czechs will join millions of people around the globe in turning off their lights for 60 minutes on March 23 starting at 8:30 pm local time in a symbolic show of support for the Earth Hour campaign against climate change.
Earth Hour will dim some of Prague’s best-known landmarks including Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square or the Žižkov TV tower.
Other fifty businesses and administrative buildings will turn off their lights in the capital. In addition, the illumination of some famous landmarks will be turned off
Prague and other cities around the Czech Republic first marked Earth Hour in 2012. Hundred thirty cities and towns are expected to join the campaign this year.
Everyone recognizes the importance of environmental protection in everyday life in order to ensure a brighter future. In this way, we may leave a healthy Earth to future generations.
A pollution-free environment and a green world are essential. It is really important for living a disease-free life.
Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event organized by WWF and allies and has now grown to become one of the world’s largest environmental grassroots initiatives.
Every year on the final Saturday in March, millions of people in over 180 nations and territories participate in Earth Hour by turning off their lights to show their respect for our planet.
Since 2007, millions of people have participated in a global event to raise climate change awareness.
58 years ago, Věra Chytilová released her movie ‘Daisies’, which displeased the communist dictatorship with its criticism of the materialistic and male-dominated society and was banned by the regime.
Although Czech society has made considerable progress since then, calls for equality from Czech women are often silenced, as evidenced by the recent incident involving director Daria Kascheeva at the Czech Lions Film Award ceremony.
Where does the Czech Republic stand in terms of promoting gender equality? Join us for a discussion on this burning topic while watching this Czechoslovak New Wave masterpiece with English subtitles at kino Aero on the 20th of March. Purchase your tickets here.
In ‘Daisies’ (1966, watch the trailer), Chytilová, who had made her living as a model in commercials before becoming one of the leading figures of the Czechoslovak New Wave, brings a nihilist story about two Maries who decided to be spoiled as the world they live in.
They play pranks on men, catwalk down the overflowing buffet table and swing from the chandelier. The bold aesthetic she created with the artist Ester Krumbachová and the metaphorical language was too much for the communist regime and they tried to silence her by locking this movie in the vault.
Throughout the years, the movie gained strong international recognition and Chytilová was and still is perceived as a key feminist filmmaker (although she refused to call herself a feminist).
In 2022, ‘Daisies’ ranked #28 on the prestigious Sight and Sound poll of the greatest films of all time. In the same year, this iconic picture was restored and screened at the Cannes festival.
Although Czech society has clearly made considerable progress since the socialist times of censorship and the restriction of human liberty, it appears that our Czech society still has much to learn in terms of giving space to pro-gender equality voices.
The evidence could be the recent incident that has stirred social debate. On March 9th, Daria Kashcheeva, a Tajik-born, and Czech-based filmmaker, received an award at the Czech Lions for her short film ‘Electra’. During her speech, where she tried to make a point about the position of women in the film industry, she was silenced, allegedly due to the excessive length of her speech.
Was she interrupted because she didn’t respect the rules of the show, or because our society doesn’t want to hear about these topics? Does Czech society support feminist voices? Is the Czech Republic a safe space for people with different sexualities and genders?
Come and join “Some like it Czech” project at the English-friendly screening of Daisies, accompanied by a feminist, flower power-driven introduction discussing all these burning questions. Secure your tickets now. Screened on March 20th at kino Aero.
If you want to know more about the event and the project itself, follow “Some like it Czech” on Instagram or Facebook
Whooping cough is on the rise across Europe, and the Czech Republic is no exception.
In the first week of January, say the Czech authorities, there were 28 registered cases of whooping cough. That figure now stands at 3,084 – a number not seen since 1963.
As cases continued to rise, the Prague public health authority took matters into its own hands.
It sent out a letter to the capital’s schools, saying in the event of a confirmed case of whooping cough in a class, any unvaccinated children must be sent home.
This was immediately shot down by the head of the national public health authority, who admonished her Prague colleagues at a press conference. Schools had no authority to send home unvaccinated children as a precaution, she said.
Instead, all cases should be judged individually, based on how long the infected child had spent in the classroom, and so on.
Epidemiologists, including one who led the government’s measures against Covid, shook their heads in disbelief. Recently amended health ministry guidelines called for exactly the approach recommended by the Prague authority, they said.
But the confusion over the official guidance obscured a curious conundrum; what unvaccinated children?
Vaccination for whooping cough, known in Czech as “black cough”, is mandatory in the country.
It is meant to be administered, alongside inoculation for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, and others, from the very first weeks of life.
Yet according to official figures, immunisation for whooping cough is estimated at 97% of the infant population, suggesting there are thousands of unvaccinated babies in the Czech Republic.
Health Minister Vlastimil Válek told Czech Television the current rise in cases is down to a combination of two things: a resurgence in respiratory diseases as society abandons strict Covid measures; and incomplete immunisation in children.
The whooping cough vaccine is applied in five stages, the first three in the first 12 months of life. Almost all children receive these initial doses.
However, only 90% end up receiving the final two, administered around the ages of six and ten. This, said Mr Válek, would explain why the greatest rise is among Czech teenagers.
Parents have been urged to check their children’s vaccination history. Adults are encouraged to go for booster shots.
The resurgence in cases, however, still carries dangers.
Those infected teenagers may suffer nothing more serious than a persistent cough. But they can still pass on what can be a fatal disease to their younger siblings – whose immunity is still forming – or indeed their grandparents, whose immunity may have faded.
What is whooping cough and what are the initial symptoms?
Whooping cough (also known as pertussis) is a contagious infection in the lungs or breathing tube.
The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat.
But after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are typically worse at night.
Lukáš Kovanda, Chief Economist at Trinity Bank, has recently highlighted the affordability of public transportation in Prague.
A recent study commissioned by the Prague City Council revealed that an annual public transport pass, adjusted for inflation and distance traveled since 2000, should cost approximately 11,250 CZK.
However, the current price has been 3,650 CZK since 2015.
This translates to a significant decrease in real terms, with residents essentially paying half the price for public transport compared to just a decade ago.
“Prague residents are now traveling for roughly twice as cheaply as they did in 2014,” commented Mr. Kovanda. “This forward-thinking approach by the city administration deserves recognition. In a world facing inflation, Prague has ensured affordable and efficient travel for its residents.”
The coalition parties that form the city government have not yet agreed on how much fares should be raised, but several possibilities are being discussed.
One of the proposals on the table is doubling the price of the annual public transport pass, which currently costs CZK 3,650, working out at CZK 10 per day, one of the cheapest in the world.
Deputy Mayor for Transport Zdeněk Hřib from the Pirate Party told Deník N he did not agree with the proposal, saying he wanted public transport to remain affordable for the residents of Prague.
Before 2020, passenger fares covered roughly 21 percent of the transport company’s costs, while now it is only around 15 percent, with Prague covering the remaining 85 percent from its spending budget.
In most other countries the share is closer to 50-50.
* POLITICS:
Former Czech President Miloš Zeman, 79, remains in ICU post-surgery for a blood clot in his leg, with stable but serious condition at Motol Hospital. His health will be reassessed Monday. Zeman’s aide Vratislav Mynář abstains from visiting per doctors’ advice. Zeman’s history includes neuropathy and recent wheelchair use. Surgeons performed a common hybrid procedure to restore blood flow.
* WEATHER:
Monday should be partly cloudy and mostly dry with day temperatures between 6 and 10 degrees Celsius.
* PROTESTS:
Several dozen Russian nationals took part in a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin on Prague’s Wenceslas Square on Sunday, the final day of the Russian presidential elections. The protest aimed to show the public that Russians in Prague stand against Putin and support Ukraine in its defense against the Russian aggression.
* BRNO:
The Brno Exhibition Centre is featuring an exhibition on space missions. There are over 200 artefacts on display on a space of over 3,500 square meters. Many of them are originals on loan from NASA that have actually been in space. The Space Mission is a travelling exhibition, which came to Czechia from Barcelona and will next head to Asia.
* EASTER:
Residents of Jablonné v Podještědí in Czechia’s Liberec Region have crafted a giatn Easter egg using 324 meters of ribbons and 320 meters of wire. The colossal egg, standing three meters tall, took approximately 80 hours to complete. the egg serves as a festive centerpiece on the town’s Náměstí Míru until Easter.
Czech private railway operator RegioJet has announced the launch of a brand new train route connecting Prague, Czech Republic, with Chop, Ukraine.
The service kicks off on Wednesday, March 27th, but passengers can already secure their tickets.
This new line serves as an alternative to the existing route linking Prague with the Polish border town of Przemysl.
According to ZDopravy.cz, a key advantage lies in the smooth border crossing between Slovakia and Ukraine. Unlike buses, this train route avoids longer wait times.
RegioJet’s owner, Radim Jančura, revealed that the Chop-Prague route will consist of three cars with 140 seats, including 80 in sleeper cars and 60 in seated cars.
RegioJet will collaborate with Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) on this new service. Plans are underway to extend the line further to Mukachevo, a city in the Transcarpathian region.
The new connection complements RegioJet’s existing Prague-Košice route. Passengers can choose between comfortable sleeper cars and regular seating.
The ticket price encompasses both breakfast and dinner, offering excellent value. Prices start from 459 CZK for a seat and 740 CZK for a sleeper berth.
RegioJet will not be the only operator of passenger trains on 1435-mm-gauge lines to Ukraine.
Slovakia’s national operator ZSSK operates a twice-daily service to Chop and Mukachevo, while Hungarian State Railways (MÁV) operates up to eight pairs of trains per day from Záhony to Chop.
A Czech invention that brings an innovative twist to the concept of urban furniture.
They look like black periscopes sticking out of the ground and observing the urban landscape around them. Or they could be confused with an air pipe that connects to some grid hidden in the Netherlands.
Meet the Poesiomats – the urban poetry machines that have taken over most of the cities in the Czech Republic, and recently also other places around the world.
The idea behind the Poesiomat, invented by café owner and cultural activist Ondřej Kobza, was to create a sort of publicly accessible jukebox for spoken word culture.
The first one of this type was installed in Prague’s Namesti Míru in 2015 and since then they have become a common feature in other Czech cities, towns, villages and even castles.
The aim of the Poesiomat is to revive the appeal of poetry by making it easily accessible to the masses. According to the initiative’s website, the poetry machines, however, can also contain lyrics, songs, and sounds related to the specific place they are located in.
On Tuesday, 12 March, a Poesiomat was erected in Kaznice, Brno-sever district.
Reminiscent of a submarine periscope, this machine talks and sings when prompted, offering poetry by important Czech poets interned in Káznice such as Jan Zahradníček, memories of political prisoners, and also poems, songs and texts by contemporary Czech and Roma authors.
Listeners of the Poesiomat can choose from 20 audio tracks, including the poem “Bratislavská”, written by the prominent Czech poet Jan Zahradníček during his prison stay in Káznice. Other poets featured who were also interned in the Cejl prison include Václav Renč and Zdeněk Rotrekl.
In essence, that means that no two are alike in terms of their cultural content.
The poetry machines are made of steel and are about 180 cm tall, consisting of three assembled parts. Inside each of them, there’s a speaker and electronic software which contains 20 different mp3 files. Passers-by can spin a handle jutting out from one side of the machine and choose what to play.
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* LATEST NEWS:
Former President Miloš Zeman was hospitalised after a medical examination on Thursday due to a blood clot which caused the blood supply to his leg to stop. He then underwent surgery in Prague’s Motol hospital to correct the problem. Mr. Zeman’s spokesperson Jiří Ovčáček said that the health issue was related to his diabetes and that he is expected to remain in hospital for about a week.
* POLITICS:
Czechia and the Philippines are aligned in their assessments of the international security situation, President Petr Pavel said after meeting with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in Prague on Thursday. Mr. Pavel also noted that Czechia is struggling with a labour shortage and that the Philippines is one of their priority countries for workers to come and fill the gap.
* WEATHER:
Friday is expected to be overcast with a chance of light showers in the late afternoon and evening. Daytime temperatures should range between 8 and 16 degrees Celsius.
* ENVIRONEMENT:
The Czech state spent CZK 26.8 billion on anti-drought measures last year. The money was used, among other things, for land adjustments, increasing the proportion of organic matter in the soil, and the construction of water supply and sewage systems. In the previous five years, an average of just under CZK 16 billion was spent on drought measures, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
* CULTURE:
The One World International Human Rights Film Festival kicks off in Prague on Wednesday 20 March. The festival will open with the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol.
Roxy Club, known for its focus on cutting-edge electronic music, will feature Scottish DJ and producer Ewan McVicar on March 16th.
Originally from Ayr, the Scottish producer and DJ is particularly known for his unique fusion of house and techno.
His breakthrough came in 2020 with the release of the “Street Rave” EP on Trick, a label run by one of his idols. The EP’s energetic sound resonated with audiences across the UK.
McVicar’s talent gained recognition from established labels like Nervous Records and Shall Not Fade, solidifying his position in the dance music scene.
A defining moment in McVicar’s career was the release of “Tell Me Something Good” in 2021. The track garnered him the title of “Best Single of the Year” by DJ Mag and achieved platinum sales status.
McVicar is not just a studio artist; he’s a sought-after DJ known for his energetic sets that showcase his diverse influences and love for music.
He’s starting to get a lot of bookings around the world, and recordings of his live sets on YouTube attracting a lot of a positive reactions from fans around the world.
You’ll find a lot of excellent live performance footage on YouTube (we recommend his Boiler Room set, which is all made from his productions), as well as checking out his name on streaming services.
You can buy the tickets here
The traditional the 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia (1000 mil československých) race will be held in the heart of Prague on June 12.
A summer staple for collectors in the Czech Republic, the long-distance road rally revives the spirit of the endurance race of the same name which took place in former Czechoslovakia from 1933 to 1935 and took competitors twice from Prague to Bratislava and back.
Residents and visitors to the Czech capital will be able to view the rarities on Opletalova Street (in front of the Czech Automobile Club, Opletalova 29) on June 12 from 13:00 to 20:00.
The event is organised by the Czech Automobile Club, the Czech Automobile Club Veterans Association, and the city of Prague 1.
Around 150 automobiles of various brands (Škoda, Aero, BMW, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes Benz, etc.) will be on display, including iconic Praga cars and motorcycles. The nostalgic vibe will be enhanced with themed music and dance ensembles.
The next morning (13 June), rally participants will set off on a symbolic race through the Czech Republic to Bratislava.
The 1000 Miles of Czechoslovakia took place under the patronage of Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomás Garrigue Masaryk, and has since become an annual event after a long hiatus.
It was inspired by the famous Italian Mille Miglia (1,000 miles) race.
When talking about typical Easter treats baked in the Czech Republic, you can’t forget mazanec, sweet Easter bread! Also known as „velikonoční bochánek“, it’s one of Czech Easter’s main symbols.
Mazanec is a sweet yeast pastry baked on White Saturday (Holy Saturday). It is shaped like a round loaf, a symbol of the sun, marked with a cross in the middle, and sprinkled generously with almonds.
The Story of Mazanec recipe
In the olden days, Mazanec would be made with a cross cut on the top and blessed by a local priest. Any crumbs that would remain on the table (or on the floor) after eating would be thrown into the open fire to burn (I guess so that nothing is wasted)
The oldest Czech recipes are from the 15 and 16 century when the recipe didn’t have any sugar (as it wasn’t as known around the country and was also very expensive) – only used thick cream (which is naturally quite sweet) or cream cheese (tvaroh) if you were fairly well off family. People also used safron or ground cloves as the spice in the dough.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour; for the dough, plus a handful to dust the work surface
- Milk; lukewarm
- Active dry yeast
- Sugar
- Unsalted butter; softened at room temperature
- Eggs; warmed to room temperature
- Vanilla paste; or vanilla essence
- Raisins; or other soft dried fruit
- Almonds
- Rum
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
STEP1
If you are using fresh yeast, don’t forget to prove the yeast. If you use dry yeast, continue here. Best in a large bowl of a stand mixer, combine all-purpose flour, dry yeast, fine sugar, salt and lemon zest. Stir in with wooden spatula.
STEP 2
Start mixing with a hook attachment on power 4 and slowly add (if you are using fresh yeast, add proven yeast here) milk, melted butter, eggs, vanilla extract and mix until the dough comes together. Continue mixing for another 5-7 minutes at medium speed, so the dough is well mixed. Add the last ingredients, almonds, and raisins and mix just to combine. Remove the hook attachment and with your hand get all the nuts and raisins on the bottom of the bowl. Bring the dough with your hand up and shape a ball.
STEP 3
Take the dough in the bowl and cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic food wrap. Let the dough rise for 1 hour, in a warm place, or until it double in size. Make sure the dough is not in a drafty spot in your kitchen.
STEP 4
Once the dough has risen, bring it back to the kitchen counter and, with a clean hand, gently punch in the middle to let the gases escape from the dough. Place the dough on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Shape the dough into a ball by making plies like an envelope, then turn the dough upside down and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic food foil and prove for another 20 minutes.
STEP 5
In the meantime, preheat the oven to 200 °C. Crack an egg in a small bowl and add rum. Whisk the egg with rum to have egg wash. Brush the egg wash all over the sweet bread.
STEP 6
Place the sweet bread in the oven and bake first for 10 minutes at 200 °C, then reduce the temperature to 160 °C and bake for an additional 40 minutes. If your bread already had browned the first 10 minutes of baking, cover the bread with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
STEP 7
After baking, let the sweet bread rest for 40-60 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar. Slice and serve as is or spread with butter, or jam.
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This year marks the 600th anniversary of the death of Jan Žižka – a key figure in the 15th-century Hussite movement – and the town of Tábor and the Hussite Museum have prepared a grand celebration in his honor.
The program extends throughout 2024, offering a variety of events for all ages and interests.
The Year of Žižka commenced with a museum exhibition in February, followed by a documentary film project.
A competition for school teams invites students to create short videos about Žižka, while the “Tábor Encounters” festival returns in September, showcasing the town’s rich history.
A highlight for history buffs is sure to be the dramatic reenactment of a historical battle planned for July 20th near the Klokoty Monastery. The Plzeňský Landfrýd association will stage the conquest of Příběnice Castle, complete with cavalry, swordsmen, and a historic marketplace.
Those seeking a battle experience even sooner can head to the 11th Battle of Sudoměra on March 23rd.
Official commemorative events will take place on October 10th, featuring a ceremony at the Jan Žižka monument and a lecture by historian Petr Čornej.
The celebrations culminate on October 12th with a public display of the Hussite army encampment in Tismenické údolí, showcasing military training demonstrations, period cuisine, and traditional music.
The entire program is funded by the town of Tábor, showcasing their commitment to honoring the legacy of Jan Žižka.
Žižka, born circa 1360, led Hussites until he died in 1424, shaping Czech history with his religious and military leadership.
Here is the whole program:
- From 1 April to 30 November: Jan Žižka exhibition featuring works by pupils of the O. Nedbal Art School in Tábor
- From 25 April to 11 May: Jan Žižka 1424-2024 exhibition at the Hussite Museum in Tábor – Gothic Hall and adjacent galleries
- Friday 21 June: concert of the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra – Žižkovo Square
- Saturday 20 July: reconstruction of the historical battle of the Conquest of Příběnice Castle
- Friday 13 to Sunday 14 September: International historical festival Táborská setkání – Old Town
- From 10 to 12 October: Žižka Weekend
- Friday, 10 October: festive commemorative event on Žižka Square from 5 p.m.
- Friday, 10 October: lecture by historian Petr Čornej About Jan Žižka – Gothic Hall of the Old Town Hall from 6 pm
- Saturday 11 October preview of the film “The Truth about Jan Žižka” – Svět cinema
- Sunday 12 October: Žižka’s military camp – Tismenické údolí from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., demonstrations of Hussite army training, period cuisine, roving music, Hussite chant.