 Culture
and Traditions |
The Czechs are plain-spoken, even-tempered people,
revealing a spectrum of cultural, religious and
political influences that is surprisingly broad
for such a small country - German and Austrian
to Polish and Hungarian, liberal to deeply traditional,
global-thinking to fiercely nationalistic. Practically
every day is a saint's day in the Czech Republic,
and 'special days', festivals and public holidays
are widely acknowledged.
The main features of Czech art are the crystal
and glass production. In the local markets, you
can find all sorts of hand made glass products,
ranging from standard glasses to crystal jewellery,
glass birds, plates, clowns etc….
The history is full of Czech names like Thomas
Garrigue Masaryk (1850 - 1937) - who was an university
professor, a philosopher and a politician, often
called ''Father of the Nation" and who was
elected first President of the Czechoslovak Republic
in 1918. But other personalities where famous
for their work, their thoughts and their performances.
Musicians:
Bedrich Smetana, Antonin Dvorák, Leoš
Janácek.
Painters:
Alphonse Mucha (1860 - 1939) - artist of the ''belle
époque" - famous for his posters,
prints and calendars - created a new style typically
featuring beautiful long-haired women framed with
fruit, foliage and Egyptian-styled symbols.
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Writers:
Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924) - Austrian-Czech writer
bonr in Prague - his best know novels are The
Trial, The Castle and America - wirtten in German
- his work has not been recognized during his
lifetime
Karel Capek (1890 - 1938)
writer and playwright - first introducing the
word "robot" in a sci-fi play R.U.R.
(Rossum´s Universal Robots) - delivered
from a czech expression "robota" - labour
and it bacome used worldwide
Scientists:
Jaroslav Heyrovský (1890 - 1967) - Nobel
laureate for inventing polarograph
Otto Wichterle (1913 - 1998) the inventor of
modern contact lens
Sigmund Freud (1856 - 1939) - ''Father of psychoanalysis"
developed techniques of Psycho-Analysis for the
treatment of psychological and emotional disorders.
Contemporary personalities:
Madelein Albright - first female secretary of
state and the highest-ranking woman in the history
of the U.S. She was born in the CR
Milan Kundera - writer - best novel "The
Unbearable Lightness of Being"
Miloš Forman - Academy Award winning movie
director - emigrated to the USA in 1968 - directed
One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest, Hair, Valmont,
Amadeus, The People vs. Larry Flynt etc.
Cultural events in 2003
· March - December Agharta Prague Jazz
Festival 2003
· April One world - Photos
· April Festival of writers Prague 2003
· April International Book Fair - Book
World
· May International Television Festival
Golden Prague
· May - June International Music Festival
Prague Spring
· May Prague International Marathon
· June - August Music Festival Smetana
Litomyšl
· June Dance Festival Prague 2003
· July International Film Festival Karlovy
Vary
· 5.July. Religious holiday of St. Cyril
and St. Methodius
· September World Press Photo
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