Czech Culture

Slovanská Podporující Jednota Státu Texas

Česká Část

ROČNÍK 110 ČISLO 21 14.listopad.2022 Podpora ★ Lidskost ★ Bratrstvi´

BENEVOLENCE HUMANITY BROTHERHOOD

Uředni orgán SPJST ★ Založené roku 1897

CESAT offers free online lessons to learn Czech Christmas carols

CESAT is pleased to announce that on Fridays in November through December at 8 p.m., the Schulenburg Public Library will be offering online free Czech Christmas carol lessons.

Individuals from the comfort of their home will be able to learn the words for three to four Czech Christmas carols each Friday and will be able to learn the tunes to the carols.

To receive an invitation to the online meeting, please email your request to schulenburgpubliclibrary@yahoo.com. Thadious Polasek Lodge 67, Schulenburg —SPJST—

Brazos Valley CHS sets November 19 Christmas baking class

Brazos Valley Czech Heritage Society (BVCHS) is offering a Christmas baking class which will introduce bakers to making Czech Christmas bread (Vánočka) and Gingerbread cookies (Perníčky). The class will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Activity Center, 600 East 26th Street in Bryan, Texas, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost for the class is $35 per person with a limit of 12 participants (ages 12 and older).

Czech Culture Calendar

UPDATE - Hours of Operation Czech Heritage Museum and Genealogy Center (CHMGC), 119 West French Avenue, Temple. Hours: Open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for those 60 or older, and $2 for kids 12 and under. Every First and Third Tuesday Evenings: Tarok Parties—All ages and anyone interested are welcome. No admission or fee. Jimmie and Carolyn Coufal are award-winning tournament champions who not only teach beginners, but also help experienced players increase their skill. For Museum information: tours, happenings, and activities, call CHMGC 254-899-2935 (can leave a message); email czechheritagemuseum@gmail.com; find them on Facebook; or visit the website https://czechheritagemuseum.org.

Monday through Saturday Czech Center Museum Houston, 4920 San Jacinto Street in Houston, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits. Experience the culture, art, music, and stories of many Czechs, Slovaks, and people of all cultures who left their country to seek liberty and democracy in America. Beginner Czech Lessons: Monday evenings, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Conversational Czech hour Saturdays, 1 to 2 p.m. Bring a friend or neighbor and come practice your Czech! Not a member? Join today for early access to concerts, movie nights, lectures, and events at CCMH as well as free Czech language lessons and monthly membership socials. For information, call 713-528-2060; or visit czechcenter.org. —SPJST—

For further information, contact Stanislav Vitha at 979-587-1777, email bohemian2012@aol.com, or register online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI pQLSfMxNLlRX7vQChPm0Yoir7Dhn 0A0YtwUENm71Gk4jKgBXuEg/viewform?usp=share_link Kelly J. Sandhop, ADN, RN Brazos Valley CHS —SPJST—

Czech organization hosts project in celebration of November 17

Dear Compatriots,

I would like to address you on behalf of the Czech non-profit organization Díky, že můžem (Thanks that we can), based in the heart of Prague, whose aim is to nurture civic awareness and to show that the values of the Velvet Revolution are not a given and that it is necessary to put sufficient diligence and heart into maintaining them.

This is the ninth year we have brought the November 17 celebration of freedom and democracy to Národní třída, where the events of November 1989 began. For one festive day, the street where history itself took place will be enveloped in the mantle of a bygone era through a cultural and educational program. Korzo Narodni is a unique street festival that commemorates the crucial historical events of November 17, 1989, in a playful cultural manner, in a positive atmosphere with an emphasis on healthy national pride and with reference to contemporary social issues. I would be very grateful if you would share our “online candle” project with your network of Czech compatriots.

Lodge 25, Ennis members visit Texas Polka Music Museum Schulenburg, Texas

Texas Polka Music Museum in Schulenburg, Texas, is a wonderful place to stop for those who want to learn more about Texas polka bands and DJs (disc jockeys). The Krajca family donated a few of Johnnie I. Krajca’s polka DJ memorabilia, which are on display. It was nice to visit with Helen who has a done a wonderful job keeping the artifacts preserved for everyone to enjoy! TOP LEFT PHOTO: Johnnie’s wife Margaret Krajca holds Johnnie’s cap which is on display at the Museum. TOP RIGHT PHOTO: Johnnie I. Krajca, Polka DJ KBEC/1390 radio, 1964 to 2011. BOTTOM LEFT PHOTO: Brick honoring Johnnie I. at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center Museum in La Grange. BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTO: Margaret and sister Betty Macalik look through the photo album of Johnnie I’.s Polka DJ 40th year celebration.

What is an online candle?

Traditionally, visitors to the celebration have the opportunity to light a candle at the November 17 Memorial Plaque to honor the values of this festive day. We would like to make this opportunity available to people who cannot come to Prague to Národní třída in person. This applies mostly to Czechs who live abroad, but would still like to support the celebrations and our national day in general and light their personal flame of freedom and democracy. How does it work?

For a voluntary contribution on the darujme.cz portal, we put a personal message on a candle, light a flame of freedom, and place a candle on the memorial plaque on November 17 on Národní třída. People can watch the live broadcast all day on our website and social networks. See the photo on page 37 of a previous year’s November 17 celebration.

Jarmila for the whole team of Thanks that we can —SPJST—

TCGS offers legend, symbol, and traditional ornaments for 2022

Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) has, for a number of years, enjoyed helping our members and friends with their Christmas shopping by offering an assortment of ornaments that reference a legend, a symbol, or a tradition. The ornaments make wonderful gifts that can be enjoyed for many years, bringing a smile to the face of whoever received them as they decorate their Legend Tree each year, reflecting on the stories associated with each ornament. The story cards are included with each order.

Orders for ornaments may be placed for shipment by contacting Nancy Machu at nbmachu@gmail.com or by calling 512-971-4284. Please leave a short message for a return call. Shipping charges, based on the number of ornaments ordered, will be added to the order. We accept cash, checks, or credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

From December 5 to 9 and 12 to 16, our gift shop will be open daily, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We invite you to visit us then to shop for many Czech-themed gifts, including books, toys, jewelry, Czech candle holders, corn husk figures, hand painted Czech eggs, Czech glass, and textiles. We also have the TCGS published books available for purchase. Visits to the gift shop may also be arranged prior to December by calling 512-9714284. We introduce the following five ornaments this week for your consideration.

The Symbol of the Burgundy Rose No. OR-220 - $19 A burgundy rose symbolizes purity and loveliness and can convey commitment and passion even more significantly than a red rose. Presenting a friend or loved one with a preserved red rose can symbolize your wish to preserve the love and friendship that you share. Adorned with iridescent glitter accents and dazzling green leaves, this stunning CHRISTmas flower is artfully crafted of glass in the Czech Republic and measures approximately 3¼” tall.

The Symbol of the Cross No. OR-221 - $15 This beautiful silver infinity cross symbolizes faith and the everlasting love of God and the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ. This gift of eternal life was given to Christians when Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins, and arose from the dead. Because of the pain and humiliation that He suffered, this humbling symbol helps us to be mindful of our beliefs and duties as Christians. Shimmering with a shiny silver surface and glittering accents of white and gold, this unique double sided ornament is a meaningful expression of religious faith.

The Symbol of the Cow No. OR-223 - $19

Regarded in some cultures as a symbol of status and bartered as currency, cows have been invaluable to humans over the years. Its production of milk also makes the cow a symbol of gentle nourishment, motherhood, and prosperity. Cows have come to represent our connection to the land and are a sign of the bounty with which we are provided.

The Symbol of the Hummingbird No. CW-821- $15

The hummingbird symbolizes love, joy, wonder, and beauty. Hummingbirds are fascinating creatures which have been around since ancient times. Looking at a hummingbird from one direction may show its throat to be red, blue or green. From another angle, it may be cold black. Their color depends on how light filters through their feathers and is only partly caused by pigmentation. Hummingbirds spend their breeding season in the United States after which they fly to Central and South America. A hummingbird weighs about the same as a nickel, yet it flies over 500 miles, nonstop, to cross the Gulf of Mexico. They can do things no other birds can. Their wings beat approximately 80 times per second, and their extra flexible joints enable them to go from full speed to a full stop in the blink of an eye and to fly backwards. This unique ability teaches us that we can look back at our past without dwelling on it as we move forward. As the hummingbird hovers to drink nectar, we are reminded to savor each moment in life.

The Holy Family No. CW-1321 - $11 With its interesting shape and serene nativity image, this unique Holy Family glass ornament is sure to be treasured for many blessed CHRISTmas seasons to come. The colorful depiction within the ornament shows Joseph, Mary, and a peacefully sleeping Jesus under the beaming light of the Bethlehem star.

—SPJST—

= = = = = = = = = = Entire Christmas ornament collection offered by TCGS for 2022 = = = = = = = =