December 2014 News of the Czech Center Museum Houstonin the Museum District

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!VESELÉ VÁNOCE a ŠŤASTNÝ NOVÝ ROK!

4920 San Jacinto, Houston, TX 77004www.czechcenter.org

czech@czechcenter.org

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View our Blog: czechcentermuseumhouston.wordpress.comView items for purchase: http://ow.ly/FOCe4

From the Heart of Europe to the Heart of Houston,The Czech Center Museum Houston

Czech Christmas

Advent begins the Christmas season on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve. On that day, Christmas Trees are lit in the city squares throughout the Czech Republic, and the Christmas town fair season begins. The symbol of Advent is a round Christmas wreath made of pine tree branches that is adorned with four candles. On each week leading to Christmas, one candle on the advent wreath is lit to symbolize the coming of Christ. Advent is a time of strict fasting – people are not allowed to eat meat and are prohibited from excessive revelry. In 2014, Advent started on November 30th.

Over the centuries, the Czech people have created a distinctive form of the Christmas season. "Czech Christmas" includes a rich tradition of folk customs and ceremonies.

Advent

Christmas Market (Vanocni trhy)Christmas markets, called “Vanocni trh”, are a key ingredient of the festive magic in the Czech Republic. The Prague Christmas markets are open daily from the first Advent day to January 6th in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. In the Christmas markets traditional Czech handicrafts, hot food and warm beverages are sold from wooden huts. In the Old Town Square, Czech and International choirs and dancing groups entertain

visitors. Children can pet sheep, goats and donkeys at an animal stable. There is also a large Bethlehem scene with a wooden stable that depicts Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the Three Kings. The Christmas markets are attended by many and are fun for all.

On December 6th, the Czech people enjoy a Saint Nicholas Day celebration. The tradition is based on the legend of St. Nicholas, a bishop who lived in the 4th century in Asia Minor and became famous for his pious life and charity. On that day, St. Nicholas visits many Czech homes with

The most important Christ-mas celebrations start on Christmas Eve.  Leading to that day, families decorate their home with a Christmas tree and a Bethlehem Na-tivity scene. Gifts are placed under the tree and there is a festive atmosphere. Christ-mas Eve is a family holiday on which everyone must be with family or friends for dinner, not home alone.  If someone lives alone, they are invited to the celebrations by neighbors or acquaintances. A special dinner meal includ-

Saint Nicholas

Christmas Eve - December 24th

an angel and devil. Children are asked if they were good in the past year. Most kids say yes and then sing a song or recite a short poem to St. Nicholas and their family. They are then rewarded with sweets, candy or other treats, which are handed out by the Angel. Not so good kids only get coal or potatoes instead

ing many treats is prepared for Christmas Eve. There are a number of recipes for prepar-ing the holiday menu based on family and regional tradi-tions. A typical dinner con-sists of fish soup, fried carp and potato salad. After din-ner, a bell rings to announce that baby Jesus has brought the presents. The family gath-ers around the Christmas tree, sings Christmas carols and opens gifts. After family cel-ebrations, many people attend midnight Christmas Mass at their local church.

of treats - of course this does not really happen! St. Nicholas Day is observed not only in the Czech Republic, but in other Slavic countries as well.

On December 25th and 26th, people visit friends and take walks in nature. The Christmas tree is taken care of until January 6th, when the holiday season is officially over until the start of the next Advent season.

December 25th - 26th

Carolyn Hubenak of Whar-ton TX, spoke on the history of Czech buttons.

Special Events at CCMH in in November 2014

The Czech Center Museum Houston marked its 10th Year in the Museum District in September 2014. To celebrate, we hosted a multitude of events related to different parts of Czech culture. Take a look!

Czech pearl and other variet-ies of buttons were on display for the audience to examine firsthand.

Czech Film Screening of “Listopad”November 1stThat Saturday night, CCMH had the privelege of being the second venue ever to screen the new Czech film Listopad. The story focuses on the events surrounding the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The film’s Producer, Jeffrey Brown, was in attendance and facilitated a Q&A after the movie. Producer Jeffrey Brown speaks about the making of Listopad.

November 1stCzech Button Presentation with Carolyn Hubenak

CCMH CEO Effie Rosene received the winning button for the button guessing game and donated it to be displayed in the museum on a perma-nent exhibition.

Alphons Mucha Exhibit and Lecture by Kelly JohnsonNovember 8th

10 Years - 10 Million CelebrationNovember 15th

Kelly Johnson presents her research on Alphons Mucha. CCMH had its Mucha prints and merchandise on display.

Bree the Mural Girl and Sally Miller

Virginia Stoner, Cecilia For-rest, Paula Pizzitola

Minnette Boesel, Mayor’s Assistant, and Effie Rosene reunveiling the mural

CCMH V.P. Bill Rosene and Stephanie VanicekJazz Medics, the night’s entertainment

St. Nicholas Day CelebrationDecember 6th

Andrea Pustejovsky with Wesley’s great granddaugther little Ludmilka Effie Rosene, Czech Center

Museum CEOSaint Nicholas alias Rev. Paul Chovanec

Devil, Bishop and Angel, Alli Wagner, Rev. Paul, Bella Bernal

Apollo Chamber Players Concert November 19th

A great night with the Apllo Chamber Players:Matthew Detrick, violinAnabel Ramirez, violinWhitney Bullock, violaMatthew Dudzik, cello

Effie and Bill Rosene and big crowd enjoy the lovely music of the Apollo Cham-ber Players, underwritten by member Beryl Hogshead in memory of her father Louis Andor Komjathy

The journey from Czecho-slovakia of Louis Andor Komjathy - an exhibition by Beryl Hogshead

PRESENTS THE EXHIBITION

TEXAS CZECHS ROOTED IN TRADITION

TEXAS CZECHS ROOTED IN TRADITION

JANUARY 26–APRIL 25, 2015

Czech Center Museum Houston Czech Center Museum Houston

For three months, our museum will host the traveling exhibition Texas Czechs: Rooted in Tradition. Come and see this unique exhibition and learn about role the Czech culture played in the iconic Texas landscape.Grand opening reception on January 24th, 2015.

Coming to CCMH in 2015

Get ready to experience the traditions of Texas Czechs!

We at the Czech Center Museum Houston thank long time friend and distinguished member Mr. Raymond J. Snokhous for his past years of service to Texas and the Czech Republic as Honorary Czech Consul General. On November 21, 2014, Mr. Snokhous hosted a reception attended by Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who that day also met with Brian Vaníček, who was named the new Consul. The CCMH welcomes Brian Vaníček into his new position and is ready to work with him to facilitate good relations between our beloved Czech Republic and the state of Texas. Many thanks and well wishes for all!

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Ambassador Petr Gandalovič, New Honorary Czech Consul General for Texas Brian Vaníček

New Honorary Czech Consul General

Considered the most beau-tiful and popular Czech fairytale ever filmed. Every family in the Czech Repub-lic and even in other coun-tries watches this treasured fairytale on Christmas day over and over again, year by year, generation after gener-ation. Why? It is a romantic and brilliant movie for the whole family with amazing music and great actors. And did you know: the costumes from the movie are held as a Czech national treasure and are insured for millions of dollars!

Mulled simply means heated and spiced. Mulled wine mi-raculously appears in restau-rants as holiday markets start to open. Svařák is not only a traditional Czech drink, but one that is popular through-out Europe (especially in the

Recipe for a basic Svařák:add spices and sugar to taste•1 liter red wine•8 decagrams sugar•1 cinnamon stick•5 cloves•Half a lemon

What makes Czech Czech?

A small country in the heart of Europe, but its glory touches the stars! What makes Czech Czech?

What have Czechs given the world? What can we be proud of? We are starting a list of 100 things that are typical of the Czech nation. Please forward your

ideas for the list to events@czechcenter.com with the subject “Newsletter.”

1. Tri Orisky pro Popelku (Three Wishes for Cinderella)

colder countries) in one form or another. If you are plan-ning a holiday party, svařák is an excellent drink to serve, as not only is it festive and warm, it also fills the house with a lovely Christmassy smell.

2. Mulled wine (Svařené víno or Svařák)

Newsletter Auction

Valid until May 12, 2015Starting Bid: $125

Please submit bids to events@czechcenter.org by December 30, 2014 with the subject line “Vacation”

For information on the latest bid, call us at 713-528-2060

This is your chance to bid on a wonderful vacation for two people, two nights/three days, breakfast included in The Crown Plaza Hotel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic!The Hotel is located on the most important boulevard of the city and within just minutes of the historical Colonial Zone, surrounded by a variety of restaurants, bars and tourist attractions. All rooms are renovated and

have the most spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is a very beautiful and inter-esting city with a Colonial Zone. The Colonial Zone was the first city of the Americas and is considered heritage to humanity. It is the home of many wonderful and histori-cal sites, such as the Colum-bus Castle, the Santa Maria Cathedral, first in America, Columbus Square, the Spain Plaza and others. This could be a start of a great vacation combined with other sea re-sorts as Punta Cana, Puerto Plata or La Romana.

Bid on a wonderful vacation for two to the Crown Plaza Hotel in Santo Domingo!

The Crown Plaza Hotel in Santo Domingo

This organization is supported in part by a grant from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance and by the contributions of our Friends, Members and Volunteers.

DONORS:Rev. Paul Chovanec,

Wesley Pustejovsky Family, Bill & Effie Rosene, Paul & Anette Sofka,

Sandra & Edward Pickett, Rudolf Rusnak,

Eva Marie Bartoskova Campo & Alfonso Duncan, Ray & Nina Vitek,

Lorraine Rod Green, Chris Hlavinka, lbert Smaistrla,

Mr.Jerry & Dr. Louise Terrill, Honorary Czech Consul

Brian Vanicek & Joan Vanicek, Grace & Bill England,

Adelma S. Graham, John Dickerson,

Ervin Adam M.D., Sandra & Edward Pickett,

Annette Scranton, Carolyn Filipp Beseda,

Diane & Mark Kosobud, Jeffrey Brown,

Virginia and Doug Stoner, Caroline & Marion Freeman,

Rev. Joseph Hybner, Stan Marek, Marek Family

Companies, Mary Rose Uher,

Henry & Barbara Hermis, Brianna Bruncher,

Marion Bell.,Gene K. Veselka,William Morgan,

Nita B. Bagley

SILENT and LIVE AUCTION ITEMS:

Moravian Villa in the Vineyard, Hlohovec,

Czech Republic,Hilton Cartagena, Colombia, Intercontinental Hotel-San

Juan, Puerto Rico ,Crowne Plaza-Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Ritz Four

Seasons Lisbon-PortugalRuidoso Vacation-

New Mexico,New Orleans Condo,Fayetteville Weekend,Arturo Boada Cuisine,

The Raven Grill, Maria Selma Restaurant,

Ral’s Fine Food.

Special Thanks

for the generous support of all our Members and Friends:

Charles Bridge Mural at CCMH on the north side of the building