Czech Culture

Lodge 47, Seaton youth collects, donates pull tabs to ronald mcDonald house

Our youth club donated pull tabs to the Ronald McDonald House. My family and I had been saving pull tabs for probably three years, and we had two milk jugs full. The lady at the House was really nice and showed us around. She talked about how they are able to help families with kids who are in the hospital. I’m glad that we were able to do something to help raise money for them.

Sydney Bilbrey age 10 —SPJST—

Frosty, Santa, and his reindeer friends around the yard.

Include kids in culinary decor.

Many celebrants cannot imagine a holiday season without gingerbread houses and cookies. These traditions provide another great opportunity to involve children in holiday decorating. Set aside some time to make homemade gingerbread houses, which can be used as decorations before they’re ultimately eaten. Cookies may not have the shelf life of a typical gingerbread house, but kids can pitch in and decorate cookies prior to a holiday party or family meal. The spirit of the holiday season can be seen on the faces of children each December. Inviting kids to pitch in when decorating for the holidays can make the season even more special for its youngest celebrants. (MS) —SPJST—

Lodge 185 New Braunfels youth wins tri-color grand champion fair awards

Congratulations to Megan Ohnheiser of Lodge 185, New Braunfels for receiving three tri-color grand champion awards at the 2022 Guadalupe County Fair for her baked goods. Megan entered in the food categories of yeast breads, cakes, and quick breads.

Slovanská Podporující Jednota Státu Texas

Česká Část

ROČNÍK 110 ČISLO 22 28.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—

CESAT membership meeting set for February 4

CESAT (Czech Ex-Students Association of Texas) will have its membership meeting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, 2023, in the meeting room of the Schulenburg Public Library in Schulenburg. Please email Thadious Polasek at polasek29@gmail.com to let us know that you are coming. We need a count of people coming for kolaches and coffee. Thadious Polasek CESAT President SPJST Lodge 67, Schulenburg —SPJST—

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—

TCGS offers legend, symbol, and traditional ornaments for 2022

For this set of ornaments, Texas Czech Genealogical Society (TCGS) features six lovely glass ornaments associated with traditions, symbols, or legends from the past. These ornaments, along with a large variety of other Czech related items suitable for gift-giving, may be purchased at the TCGS Gift Shop, located in the lower level of the SPJST Home Office Building, 520 North Main Street, Temple, Texas. From December 5 to 9 and December 12 to 16, 2022. The gift shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for your shopping convenience. We look forward to greeting you.

Prior to December 5, please contact Nancy Machu 512-971-4284 or via email nbmachu@gmail.com to make an appointment to visit the gift shop. Please leave a short message for a return call. We would also be happy to ship your order by UPS. Shipping charges will be added, based on the number of items ordered.

The Symbol of Peacock Feathers No. OR-222 - $12 The peacock is known as the bird with 100 eyes because of the iridescent, eye-like patterns in its beautiful tail feathers. The peacock is symbolic of the all-seeing omniscience of God. Because it was believed that the flesh of the peacock never spoiled, it is also a symbol of immortality. After molting, a peacock’s feathers are replaced by even more beautiful ones, illustrating the concept of resurrection. Bird lovers will love having this brilliant ornament displayed on their tree.

The Tradition of Beer OR-227 - $12

Originating in ancient Egypt, beer is almost as old as civilization itself. In medieval times, monks brewed beer for a nourishing drink, which was permitted while fasting. Considered a valuable source of nutrition, beer played such an important role in daily lives that workers were often paid with jugs of beer. The brewing of beer is considered by many to be the oldest manufacturing art practiced by man. The history of beer in the modern Czech Republic, historically Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, goes back even before the Slavic migration in the 6th century, although the ingredients differed from those used today. Hops have been grown, used in beer making and exported from the Czech lands since the twelfth century. Most towns had at least one brewery, the most famous brewing cities in Bohemia being Budweis, Plzen, and Prague. South Morava is known for winemaking and there are only few large breweries in this region. With over forty industrial breweries and seventy small and medium-sized family breweries in the Czech Republic, beer is one of the most important and well-known exports in the Czech Republic. Symbol of the Monarch Butterfly No. CW-421 - $24

Because of the Monarch Butterfly’s life cycle, from egg to caterpillar to butterfly, it is a symbol of transformation and rebirth. Sighting monarch butterflies often signifies upcoming changes and a new direction in life. Monarch Butterflies are also considered as inspirational creatures, due to their extreme strength and the endurance needed for their 2500 mile journey every year from Canada where they breed to Mexico where they hibernate.

The Legend of the CHRISTmas Stocking No. CW-1021 - $18 Perhaps one of the bestknown renditions relating to the legend of the CHRISTmas stocking is the one surrounding Saint Nicholas of Bari who was born a nobleman in 280 A.D. in Turkey. Nicholas lost his parents at an early age, and it is reported that he used his inheritance to help the poor and sick. As the story goes, a poor widower living in the 4th century A.D. had three unwed daughters. The family had lost all of their money and the old man feared that his daughters would not be able to marry without dowries. Residents of his village shared his story with St. Nicholas. Knowing the man would not take charity; Nicholas snuck into the house using the chimney and filled the girls’ stockings drying by the fire with gold coins. The next morning, the family was ecstatic to find the gold in the stockings! The father now had dowries so his girls could marry well and he would not be alone and poor in his old age. This folk tale has a very wonderful message: be kind to those less fortunate. Infant Jesus of Prague Nos. OR-210 and OR-212 - $21 each These unique Infant of Prague ornaments, mouth blown and hand painted in the Czech Republic depict Jesus as a young child, regally dressed in a colorful tunic. One ornament has him wearing a red robe and crown (OR210) and one has him wearing a red and white robe and crown (OR-212). Filled with symbolism, Jesus holds a miniature globe in his left hand, signifying His world-wide reign. Wreath No. OR-204 - $15 The wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love – never ceasing and never ending. It is one continuous round of affection. Because they are circular in shape, symbolizing eternity, the circle of life, and endless hope, people began to use them at Christmas. Wreaths combine several Christmas symbols including holly, fruit, mistletoe, evergreens, tinsel, or other items, all of which retain their own symbolism on the wreath. The wreath has no beginning and no end, symbolizing God Himself. —SPJST—

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