The Past&nbsp;Year

The city is widely known for its famous Kostince (Bone Church), but there’s so much more to see and experience. The city center became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, and is the 4th largest UNESCO site in the Czech Republic. Just walking through the old city it soon becomes evident Kutná Hora was a place of wealth and importance.

Highlights from Kutná Hora's History

A Mining Town

Kutná Hora, Czech for “Mining/Digging Mountain,” is named after the famous silver mines from its medieval past. Silver mining dates back to at least 985 when silver ore surface deposits were discovered by the Slavníks (one of the oldest Czech tribes, who competed with the Přemyslids for ruling Bohemia). The Slavníks used the silver ore to mint silver coins in Malín (now a part of Kutná Hora). The coins were stamped with the words “Malin Civitas” and were minted between 985 and 995.

Silver Mining

The Kutná Hora Silver Rush

Fast forward to the 1200s and we come to the big silver rush of the Kutná Hora area. Rich silver ore was found deposited on the surface of the land, causing a rush of new settlers (mostly Germans from Germanic areas and other nearby Czech mines) to move to the area. One resource suggests that in the beginning of the silver rush, the area was similar to those gold rush settlements in the U.S. In other words, Kutná Hora was a wild and chaotic place, with no law--it was where you could take a stab at making your fortune in silver.

These medieval silver mines were the main supply of silver for Europe. Near the end of the 13^th century, the area supplied one third of Europe’s silver production.

Prague Groschen (groš) (Front & Back)

Seat of the Royal Mint

Order came to the area when King Wenceslas II (1278-1305) issued a new royal mining code: the Ius Regale Montanorum. This was a legal document that set up all the administrative and technical terms and conditions needed for the operation of the silver mines. In addition, the city became the seat of the royal mint for the Czech lands.

The new mining code brought law and order, affluence, culture, and society to the wild silver rush town of Kutná Hora. New Germanic settlers also brought advanced manufacturing methods and social systems, which made these people dominant in the region for years to come.

Master Italian minters were brought in to create a new coin, known as the Prague Groschen (groš), which was minted from 1300 until about 1547. The royal mint was set up in a small castle, named the Italian Court in honor of the Italian minters. The formation of the royal mint made Kutná Hora the second most important city in the Czech lands only after Prague.

Jan Hus

The Hussite Wars & the Battle of Kutná Hora

In 1421, one of the first battles of the Hussite wars was fought in Kutná Hora. The battle was fought on December 21 & 22, 1421 between the troops of the Holy Roman Empire and the Hussites. The Hussites were followers of Jan Hus, a Catholic priest who wanted to reform the church. Hus was burned at the stake by the Council of Constance on July 5, 1415. It was after his death that his followers began to revolt, as the Catholic monarchs tried to force the Hussites to rejoin the Catholic Church.

During this time, Kutná Hora was also the scene of Hussite martyrdom. Those who were considered heretics were cast down mine shafts to their deaths. Bounties were paid for each heretic brought in.

The Italian Court

Economic Ups & Downs
Just as modern mining towns experience economic ups and downs, so did Kutná Hora. The city became embroiled in the Hussite religious wars, which brought tragedy and death to this prosperous area. Many of the German magistrates and miners were either killed or quickly left the area during the wars. This led to the closing of the mint and most of the mines. Czechs moved in and restored the mines, which lead to renewed prosperity. However, silver mining again declined by the early 15^th century.

The area’s decline continued into the 1600s when the mines eventually played out. At this point, Kutná Hora became a sleepy, backwater town until the coming of the railroad and modern industry in the late 1800s.

Walking in the Old City Center
Back to the present, you’ll see some evidence of the Kutná Hora’s past wealth when walking through the old city center. You’ll notice some very old buildings—most of these have been restored from former times. You can see in the pictures how some of the buildings may have looked before restoration. Becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site brought money into the city and they’ve done a beautiful job of restoring many buildings to their former glory.

Beautiful Building in Disrepair

A Building That Has Been Restored

This is a brief look at the historical highlights of Kutná Hora. It’s a charming city, easily reached by bus or train from Prague. I highly recommend you visit this beautiful place—you won’t be disappointed.

Map by Google

In the next post, I’ll share some pictures and details of three famous landmarks in Kutná Hora, including the Kostnice (Bone Church).

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

God bless,

Sher

(c) 2015 by Sher Vacik. All rights reserved.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Happy 8th Anniversary Czech Off the Beaten Path

Czech Off the Beaten Path was established back in 2007--eight years ago! The time's passed quickly and I've had many adventures since moving to the Czech Republic. This blog was started as a project to share my expat experiences, along with life married to a handsome Czech.

The Blogging Adventure

When I started writing CZOBP, I had no idea what direction the blog would take. It's become a mixture of travelogue, life experiences and funny "foreigner" stories (me--as the foreigner!) and more.

Czech Off the Beaten Path has not only provided me with a place to share stories, but it's also been a place where I continue to connect with readers and meet new people. Some readers are fellow expats in the Czech Republic and other countries, while others are back in the U.S. wondering what life is like out in the world. Along with meeting people, the blog has been a way to find freelance work and network with other freelancers.

In addition, writing this blog led me to writing for BellaOnline's Asthma site, along with writing my first ebook about asthma and working on my own freelance website.

The Past Year

Loss of Loved Ones

The past few months have been pretty busy with freelance work, but I've not been able to write much. Family matters have come to the fore.

My grandma passed away (at 100 years 11 months) and I lost my eldest daughter to PTSD (she's chosen to distance herself from everyone in our family. I hope and pray that we'll all be reunited one day). These two losses have hit me pretty hard.

Health Issues

My mother-in-law suffered a severe stroke back in June. This has had a profound effect on life for Jiri and I, but we continue to work through this situation together. I've also had to deal with my own health issues that are not life-threatening (nothing serious--just make you not feel so great).

Writing Came to a Stop

With all of this, writing just came to a stop. It's not writer's block, at least not in the traditional sense. I've had so much to write about, but just couldn't sit down and get it out. This has been more of an emotional issue--working through everything had to take precedence. However, I've finally gotten to a place where I've started writing again, and it sure feels good!

The Future

The future looks bright--my brother is marrying the love of his life this summer! I see his bride as the sister I've been waiting for--this has been in the making for 30 years or so! This is a very joyous time for our whole family!

My youngest daughter graduated with her master's degree this past May. She's back to work and happy with her new life. We're all very proud of her accomplishments. I have to say I'm one very proud mother!

Jirka and I continue to work on our cross-cultural marriage--there are always new experiences to deal with together. Each new experience points out some area that needs tending in our relationship. At times this leads to cross-cultural misunderstandings, but we keep working through together. We'll soon be celebrating our 11th anniversary, which is also the 9th anniversary of when I moved to the Czech Republic!

I'm also working on an update to my asthma ebook, along with another book to create an asthma series. I also have ideas for other books based on my expat experiences, etc. The future is bright, indeed!

What's Next on CZOBP

Kutna Hora

Jiri and I took a trip to Kutná Hora this past Wednesday. We had a wonderful time in that beautiful, ancient city. I'm working on a blog post about our trip and the things we saw, so be sure to check back for that post!

Thanks to all of you who continue to come by and visit--thanks for also visiting the CZOBP Facebook page and connecting on Twitter! It's been great meeting you all and I look forward to connecting with new people as the blog continues!

Thanks, again, and have a wonderful day!

God bless,

Sherry

Friday, April 3, 2015

Veselé Velikonoce 2015

Hi Everyone,

We're gearing up for Easter weekend, with Winter still trying to keep hold. The past week's been one blustery, cold, and sometimes snowy week, in spite of it now being Spring.

Czech Easter Traditions
Today's post is a roundup of my past posts written about Easter and Czech traditions. This is the time of year when women and girls run the gamut between men and boys trying to administer the annual Easter Monday beating with a pomlázka.

Personally, I don't mind these beatings--at the very least I am happy my Czech husband treats me as a traditional Czech wife. I've come to look forward to an Easter "beating" each year and enjoying the fun of other Czech Easter traditions.

My Easter Experiences in the Czech Republic
Here's a list of three of my past posts on Easter in the Czech Republic:

Veselé Velikonoce

Pomlázka and Easter Whippings

Slivovice o Jirko

One of my favorite stories is Slivovice o Jirko. This post is written about the first meeting with my then future in-laws. We all had a great time and my new Czech family accepted me with open arms.

Happy Easter!
That's all for now--thanks for stopping by! I'd like to wish you each a very Happy Easter!

God bless,
Sherry

(c) 2015 by Sher Vacik. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Welcome & Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2015!

Hi Everyone,
Welcome to Czech Off the Beaten Path's new home! I announced the move back in August, but didn't have time to begin working on the move until today. It feels good to have this blog on it's own shiny new site. My intention is to take up blogging regularly once we are through the holiday season. Which reminds me--Happy New Year!

The Past Year

The past year, 2014, has brought two important anniversaries; Jiri and I have been married for 10 years, I moved here 8 years ago, and Czech Off the Beaten Path turned 7 years old. Time has gone so fast, but most every minute has been packed with adventure, new experiences and people, and so much more. I can't complain.

What I've Been Up To

This past year has seen me branch out into writing my first ebook, Asthma's Nothing to Sneeze At!, and working a bit on Fiverr and other clients on many intriguing projects. I am currently working on two more ebooks that will be out later in 2015, and my fingers have itched to write fiction. I don't know where this might lead--maybe nowhere--but I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Other projects have involved getting acquainted with Linux Mint, which I installed on a USB drive, moving this blog and much more.

What's Next

Please bear with me during this transition time--my "house" is being unpacked and put in order. I'll have to go through each post to edit and fix everything that didn't "translate well" during the move.

Paint Brushes

Part of the mess comes from writing posts in Word, then copying and pasting into Blogger. Word likes to throw in it's own formatting, which only complicates things for the web. The process of cleaning up the posts includes copying and pasting the text into Notepad, which strips out all the Word formatting, then pasting the text back into the blog. There's usually a little bit of formatting left for headings, at times needing to realign/add pictures, etc., but it doesn't take too long. I'll also have to configure the comments (for each blog post), the RSS feed and some other work before this process is complete.

Wet Paint

Hopefully this will be done soon, but in the meantime, things will be a little messy until everything is put to rights and cleaned up. Please bear with me during this transition time and know that I'm working as fast as possible to get things back in working order. Moving is a messy process, especially when you're doing it yourself! Even so, please feel free to browse, read and leave comments (where possible). Just watch out for the wet paint and drop clothes--step over them carefully and please don't trip!

Cleaning House

Thank You

Thank you for hanging in there while I've been off doing other things. Thanks, too, for coming to visit our new home on the web!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year in 2015, filled with love, health, happiness and prosperity!

God bless,

Sherry

PS Please feel free to let me know about additional problems (to those I listed above)! Thanks!

(c) 2014 by Sher Vacik. All Rights Reserved.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth of July!

Hi Everyone,
After moving to the Czech Republic, people back home were shocked to learn that Czechs don't celebrate the Fourth of July. This holiday is an important one in the U.S., but not in the Czech Republic. The 4th of July is strictly an American holiday. Being an expat I still celebrate the 4th in my own way.

How I Celebrate the 4th of July in Another Country

I enjoy wearing my t-shirt with fireworks, which says, "Happy Fourth!" It's also fun to watch fireworks displays online; this is much better for my lungs. Fireworks typically cause my asthma to worsen and that's not much fun on. You can find all kinds of patriotic firework displays on YouTube.

Sometimes Jiri and I cook hamburgers on the grill, or I make one of our other favorite meals for supper. Our 4th of July meal may include Czech dishes--this is a great way to be inclusive. After all, our family is 1/2 Czech and 1/2 American, so I try to incorporate traditions from both nationalities for most of our holidays.

Czech Holiday on July 5th

Tomorrow we'll celebrate a Czech national holiday with a day of remembrance for Sts. Cyril and Methodius. These were two brothers who are credited with bringing Christianity to the Slavs and also developing an alphabet for the Slavic language. Cyril and Methodius didn't actually Christianize the Slavs in this country; however, they are responsible for creating an alphabet and much more that I'll share tomorrow!

In the mean time, I'd like to wish you a very safe and happy Fourth of July!

Have a great day!
God bless,
Sher

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Spring in Praha March 2014

Hi Everyone,
We're having a beautiful spring here, in Prague. Today was so pretty--my walk this afternoon was soothing and relaxing. Really spectacular weather. The fruit trees have begun to blossom and the bumble bees are busy! I've taken a few pictures and put them together in a video.

This video is the very first I've made, so please bear with the quality. I just wanted to try my hand at something new--video seemed a good place to explore. This video is better to watch in HD--the pictures come out clearer. I'll have to learn how to manage all the settings to obtain the best quality of streaming.

Give it a try--enjoy!

It was fun putting this together--here's another creative outlet to explore!

That's all for now!

Have a great day!
God bless,
Sher

Thursday, March 13, 2014

The Ukraine Crisis as Seen from Our Backyard

Map provided by Google Maps

(Click on the map to see details)

Hi Everyone,

There’s been a lot of political unrest in the Ukraine the past couple of years, which boiled over about a month ago into violence between Ukrainian police and civilians on the Maidan in Kiev. Here, in the Czech Republic, we’re looking at the crisis in our own backyard.

Ukrainian Crisis Near, Yet Not So Near

First off, when I say the Ukrainian crisis is in our backyard, it is. Prague is about 729 miles (1172.6 km) from Kiev and is 1252 miles (2014 km) from the Crimea. In the European perspective of distances Prague is a long ways from the crisis. However, by American standards, Prague isn’t really all that far away. When you realize a missile can easily enter Czech airspace from the Ukraine or Crimea, it puts a slightly different perspective on things. I must say, though, from my own perspective, it feels like we’re neither so close nor so far away. In other words, I'm happy we're not physically closer to the crisis.

Slight Tension in the Air for Czechs

There is a slight tension in the air here, with Czechs wondering what will happen next in the Ukrainian crisis. Most people understand that the referendum (this coming Sunday) for separation will put Crimea completely into the hands of the Russians, who already are in possession of the entire peninsula. That’s pretty much a given, but what happens after that? Will Russia go ahead and begin a takeover of eastern parts of Ukraine, where many ethnic Russians live? Will they grab the western portions of the country, which wants ties with the West? No one can predict for certain how it will all play out, so we all feel a slight tension of what may come next.

Here's an article that shares Eastern Europeans' feelings about the Ukrainian Crisis. I agree that an instantaneous takeover isn't likely; however, there are many parallels with Hilter's invasions and allied responses to treaties. Would treaties be honored this time? Will NATO step up to the plate to protect this region? Is it likely we'll see a return of the Cold War, with half of Ukraine behind another "Wall?"

Czechs Have Experience with Takeovers and Occupations

The Czech Republic has quite a bit of experience with this type of takeover, as do the other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. The 9^th century saw the creation of the Great Moravian Empire, with Czechs and Slovaks united. However, in 906 the empire was dissolved after defeat by Magyars (Hungarians). From that time, the Czechs were to endure Hapsburg rule, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the occupation of Germany, then the rise of the communist regime, the 1968 invasion of the Soviet Union.

With the fall of the Soviet Union and the non-violent Velvet Revolution, Czechs have had to adapt to a ruthless form of capitalism. Many of these changes have occurred in the last 100 years in central Europe. Most Americans have a hard time conceptualizing these types of changes taking place in such a short time period. Czechs are survivors and are preparing for what the future may hold.

Czech Supporting Ukrainians

Czechs are supporting the new government of the Ukraine--the government the Russians say is nothing but a government of thugs. Not only have Czechs sent aide to Ukraine, they’ve also accepted protestors who were seriously hurt in the violence seen on the Maidan about a month ago. They have made it clear they side with the Ukrainians who want sovereignty over their own country.

In preparing for what may come next, Czechs are also looking at how to care for refugees who may come in the event of an escalation of the crisis. During the German occupation of the Sudentenland in WWII, Czech refugees fled the region in large numbers and were taken in by other Czech families. Czechs are willing to do this for their Ukrainian neighbors. I admire the Czech spirit and how they’re supporting the Ukraine.

Czech Republic and Ukrainian Workers

As Ricky Yates mentioned on his blog, the Czech Republic is home to many Ukrainians who come here to work at menial jobs Czechs don’t want and then send money back to their families in the Ukraine. They come here to do farm work, construction and other jobs. You could equate this to the immigrants who come from Mexico to the US; the Ukraine is a poor country much like Mexico, with not enough work for its people.

The Ukrainians who live here have held large and small protests in Prague over the past few weeks. Czechs are supporting these peaceful demonstrations, and working with the EU, the US and Ukraine to find ways to stop a Russian takeover.

What Will the Future Bring?

Life here is going on like normal, but that slight tension’s in the air—wondering what will be next. How will changes in relations between Ukraine and Russia effect life in surrounding European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia? Will the Russians take over the Ukraine and then try to move on into Europe? No one knows, but one thing is clear—the majority of people in this part of Europe do not want to see Russia take over the Ukraine or come closer to the heart of Europe.

God bless,
Sher

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Home Rentals in Prague

Flat available for rent in Vinohrady
Photo: Home Sweet Home

Hi Everyone,

Have you thought about coming to Prague for a month or more? If so, you might want to consider renting a flat during your stay. Or maybe you’re considering a move to Prague, but aren’t sure which part of the city is best for you. Rather than buying a flat right away, renting a flat in Prague may be the way to go. You won’t feel tied to one place; if one area of Prague’s not comfortable, you can move to another section of the city.

Prague offers a variety of beautiful areas to live, for instance, Vinohrady. Vinohrady (Prague 2) is a popular district of the city for expats. It’s close to Prague’s center, offers fast access to public transport, and has a wide variety of shops and restaurants. In addition, you’ll find beautiful parks and green spaces.

Here’s an example of a flat for rent in Vinohrady . This spacious, sunny flat is 88 m2 and is on the 5^th floor of a building with an elevator. You’ll find a living room, kitchen (with all major modern appliances), a bathroom (with tub) and one bedroom. The flat’s situated 2 minutes (by tram) to Museum Metro A stop, or if you’d like to walk, the metro’s only 10 minutes away.

A few years ago, Jiri and I were looking to move to a bigger flat in an accessible part of Prague. I spent hours of online research looking for a place, without much luck. Then I happened onto an ad from a local real estate agency—Home Sweet Home.

Home Sweet Home is an agency that helps you find the best home for your budget and personal preferences. This real estate company offers expats short-term as well as long term accommodation in Prague. The agency offers professional, knowledgeable real estate agents who stay in contact with you through the buying or rental process—from beginning to end. The people we worked with had excellent English skills, making my work even easier. You’ll find an excellent selection of flats on their real estate search engine.

Disclosure: this is a sponsored article; however, the views written here are my own.

That’s all for now! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Czech Off the Beaten Path Travel Store

Asthma’s Nothing to Sneeze At!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Running Errands

Hi Everyone,
We're having some lovely weather in Praha these days, with the temperatures running into the upper 40s - lower 50s F. After church yesterday I had to run some errands and happened to have my camera along. It was the perfect day to take pictures, as the humidity was low and the sky was partly sunny.

Here are some of the photos from around downtown; the first photos are from Prague's Jewish Quarter.

I've been through the Jewish Quarter so many times, but each visit I notice something different. In the picture above, the top of the building (with the higher spire) caught my attention. This small room on top of the house looked like a place a little girl might want to play house. Her Dad thought of her as his little princess, and she was dressed in the finest clothes, with swirls of ribbons, pearl buttons and delicate lace. I can just see her playing with dolls or reading up in her little hideaway. From that small window the little girl could have had a beautiful view of Praha. Doesn't it make you want to write a story? Prague has that effect on me, though I've not begun to try my hand at writing fiction...yet.

The next pictures are taken of the Mala Strana, Prague Castle and the Charles Bridge.

These low resolution photos don't do justice to the original photos, but they at least give you some idea of how pretty it was yesterday.

This is a quiet time for Prague. There are a few tourists, but nothing like the swarms we get at Christmas or spring/summer/fall. It was a pretty, quiet Sunday.

That's all for today!

Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

Asthma’s Nothing toWheeze At!

Shervacik.com

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

American Geographic Ignorance

Map showing the Czech Republic and Chechnya.

Hi Everyone,

On April 15^th, a month ago today, the Boston Marathon was struck by bombers. The bombers, the Tsarnaev brothers, were from Chechnya. Once the news about the Boston Marathon bombing burst across the U.S., Americans and American news outlets rushed to find out where Chechnya was. Some Americans, using social media, soon came up with the wrong home country of the brothers—the Czech Republic or Czechoslovakia.

“Chechnya” and “Czech Republic” sound very similar; as a result, some Americans mistook one country for another. Many Americans cannot tell you where either country is in relation to the other. Twitter and other social media platforms almost immediately burst out with comments against the Czech Republic after the bombing. In response to the angry, hateful and profane Twitter tweets, the Czech ambassador to the U.S. was quick to put out a statement letting Americans know the Czech Republic and Chechnya are completely unrelated countries. How sad and embarrassing for me that the Czech ambassador had to give many of my fellow Americans a lesson on world geography.

Europeans Are “World-Aware”

When I first moved to the Czech Republic, it was soon apparent that Czechs and most Europeans are highly “world aware.” Czechs and Europeans in general are also well versed in geography. Czechs are interested and concerned about what’s going on in the rest of the world, including in the States. Many of our friends (both Czech and European expats) enjoy discussing American politics and policies. We have had many lively discussions about the U.S. at our dinner table. Not living in the States, Czechs (and Europeans) do not have a complete understanding of what happens in the U.S. However, Europeans have a better knowledge of what’s happening in our country, while Americans generally are not as aware of what’s happening in Europe or the rest of the world.

Possible Reasons for American Geographic Ignorance

The past 100 years has seen my country much involved with the outside world (WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars, etc.). In addition, our country has become engaged in the “war on terror” and become an immense player in global trade. It would be logical to infer that Americans would be “world aware,” but the opposite is true. Why?

History & U.S. Geography. The first 100 years of American history dealt with surviving and subsisting in a completely new country. Who pays much attention to the rest of the world when you’re just trying to survive? Throughout American history, mountains, forests prairie and two oceans have come in between the U.S. and the rest of the world. When you're almost the only kid on the block, why pay attention to those who are so far away?

We have also experienced periods of isolationism, such as after the world wars and the Great Depression. Americans wanted to turn their attention inward to escape the realities of war and to create a safe place to live. At that time, Americans were the consumers of products created in their own country. We weren't as involved in the global economy in those days. It’s easy enough to feel safe when your country is separated from most of the world (aside from Canada and Mexico) and what country has not had periods of isolationism?

Superpower Status. The United States became the recognized “big kid on the block” after WWII—in other words the superpower country of the world. The U.S. has become one of the most prosperous and technologically advanced countries in the world, with a strong military. Strength, prosperity and technology have made the U.S. a world power, even in the 21^st century.

"Disneyland Lifestyle." Czechs would tell you that Americans live a “Disneyland” lifestyle. In other words, Americans generally tend to “bury their heads in the sand,” enjoy their safe lives and don’t care about what’s going on in the rest of the world. I believe this is partly true, as with prosperity and power comes the tendency to create a “bubble” of safety and comfort. This is human nature.

My Feeling on the Matter

The Boston Marathon bombing was a tragedy—one that affected people from around the world, as runners came from all over the world to take part in this event. With the advent of smart gadgets and instantaneous news, people are able to quickly express their fear and anger after such an event. Before speaking out, however, people should get their facts straight. Condemning the Czech Republic—a country that happens to be an ally to the U.S.—is ignorant, as is any form of gossip or misinformation.

We Americans need to study geography and pay more attention and care to what’s going on in our neighborhood. Our neighborhood now includes the rest of the world.

That’s all for today! Have a great day!

God bless,

Sherry

P.S. You can find some examples of the hateful tweets against the Czech Republic on a blog called Public Shaming. One word of warning--many of the tweets use obscenity. Read at your own risk!

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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Czech Christmas Artist Josef Lada

Hi Everyone,

Christmas is almost here; with Czech women (and at least one American wife married to a Czech!) are busily cooking and baking in preparation for Christmas Day. I’ve baked several batches of cookies and have other holiday chores to do, but today, I would like to introduce you to a wonderful Czech artist, Josef Lada.

Background

Josef Lada was born in 1887 in a village near Prague called Hrusice. Lada was the fourth child of a shoemaker. As a baby he lost one of his eyes when he fell out of a cradle and landed onto a knife of his father’s. The loss of his eye didn’t slow Lada down one bit. Though his family was poor, he had very happy memories of Christmas after he grew up. He would later uses these memories to create wonderful Christmas paintings.

In 1901, at the age of 17, Lada was sent to Prague to become an apprentice to a painting decorator and scenery painter. It was at this time that his first pictures were published in a magazine called Maj. In 1906, Lada attended the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague. He studied there for one year. During his studies he was introduced to a movement of anarchists and proletarians who were dissatisfied with the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During this time Lada became associated with politics and satirical caricatures.

Naïve Art

In the early 20^th century, Lada developed a distinctive form of drawing that would be classified as Naïve Art. He focused on the village and country life from his earliest childhood memories. He had a happy childhood. His drawings are filled with the visages of village life, along with that of country people working on their fields. Lada also depicted many Czech holiday traditions in his paintings, such as the Easter pomlázka and Christmas carp being sold in the square.

Lada’s works are simple, yet have bold lines with the use of primary colors. His works give you a warm, cozy feeling. You can’t help but smile when looking at his paintings.

While he was known for his political caricatures and satirical art, Lada is also fondly remembered for his children’s book illustrations, along with the children’s books he authored. In addition, Lada is known for his illustrations in The Good Soldier Švjek, by Jaroslav Hašek.

Svjek

Christmas Paintings

Czechs, including my husband, associate Christmas with Lada’s paintings, many of which have appeared on Christmas cards in this country for many, many years. His paintings even survived the Communist years, though at times Christian imagery was censored by the regime.

All through this post you can see a few of Lada’s art works. Don’t they make you think of Christmas from a child’s eyes? And yet, if you take in all the imagery, you can see a depth of information in each picture. You can see the joy of children playing in the snow or looking with wonder at a Christmas tree through a window. There’s a father carrying home his family’s Christmas tree—you can feel the frost and cold he is experiencing.

Then, in the painting below, you can feel the coziness of a family’s Christmas celebration. Just tell me you can’t feel the warmth of that room, smell the Christmas feast and feel the joy! There’s even a picture of a carp being sold in the village square. It reminds me of Christmas here, in Prague, with the tubs of Christmas carp in the cold outside grocery stores and in markets around the city.

I wanted to share a few of Josef Lada’s holiday paintings with you as we get ready for celebrating Christmas next week. I hope these paintings will give you as much joy and holiday spirit as they’ve given me.

I’d also like to wish you and yours a very wonderful Merry Christmas, and all the best in the coming New Year!

Before I go, here's a video showing some of Lada's paintings through the seasons.

Have a blessed Christmas,

Sher :0)