Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC

12/24/2020

Wishing you a very merry Christmas!
Přejeme vám veselé Vánoce!🎄🎁

12/23/2020

The Mutual Inspirations Festival 2020 – John Amos Comenius has come to a close. The festival, culture worldwide, and of course humanity faced an unprecedented year and tremendous challenges. Through the loss and suffering and loneliness of social distancing, new avenues for hope and joy evolved. Ironically, the Father of Modern Education also witnessed the horrors of the pandemic of his own period and yet never lost faith for his people as well as all nations. He invested his greatest energy, time and wisdom in the quality and universal education of future generations.

In these hard times of the Covid-19 pandemic, the imagination and smiles of the children and students participating in this year’s festival have brought light and delight. We thank them foremost for carrying on the traditions and learnings of their elders and teaching others about not only the greatest pedagogue of all times but also about the history, language, cooking, and holidays of the Czech Republic.

We wish you a peaceful holiday season. Stay tuned for the announcement of next year’s festival personality!

www.mutualinspirations.org

12/23/2020

Teach Me: American Sokol Washington, D.C.

American Sokol Washington, D.C. "teaches" us about some Czech Christmas traditions. Will you find the golden pig this Christmas? 🐷🎄 #TeachMeCR

About Teach Me: As part of the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2020 – John Amos Comenius, the Embassy of the Czech Republic is thrilled to release short videos of children of all ages teaching about the Czech Republic every Wednesday on its social media! Children from all over the United States have submitted their pieces about food, travel, customs and more to the Embassy’s project in honor of the Father of Modern Education, who deeply cared about universal education for all and modern teaching methods, such as learning through play.
If you would like to submit a short 1-minute video of your child “teaching” something about the Czech Republic, please email [email protected]. For more information about the project, please visit: https://bit.ly/3c1m08f.

12/22/2020

CZECH CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS (Honest Guide)

Gearing up for the holidays, check out the Christmas Prague Guide Special by Honest Guide. Do you have any special traditions you would like to share? 🎄🎁🐖 🍪#HonestGuide

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZb_506RFyk

VESELÉ VÁNOCE everyone! Merry Christmas and enjoy our Christmas Prague Guide special :) And if you want a Christmas present tip... WE MADE A BOOK! About our ...

12/21/2020

Holiday Beat: Becherovka

Bring holiday cheer home via the Embassy's Online - Czech Christmas Market, featuring Becherovka, the number one exported spirit from the Czech Republic. Becherovka has a distinctly complex and incomparable flavor, blended with more than twenty herbs and spices with aromatic oils, alcohol, and the mineral-rich water from the Czech spa town Karlovy Vary. Browse online locally for your spirit this season at Metro Wine & Spirits or Sherry's Wine & Spirits!

Stock up for New Year's!

12/20/2020

We wish you a very happy holiday season!
Přejeme Vám radostné prožití vánočních svátků !

12/18/2020

Václav Havel’s philosophical legacy remembered on 9th anniversary of his death

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the death of former Czech President and playwright - Václav Havel. Czech Radio posted an interesting article on his legacy remembered. 🇨🇿🖋

Read the article at: https://english.radio.cz/vaclav-havels-philosophical-legacy-remembered-9th-anniversary-his-death-8703132

Václav Havel (1936-2011), playwright, essayist, poet, dissident, and politician, was one of the writers of Charter 77, a document that criticized the communist government for failing to implement human rights provisions. After the Velvet Revolution, Havel became the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic. Shortly after being elected, he gave a speech to the joint session of Congress. In his speech, he stated, “The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and in human responsibility.” Havel received numerous state decorations, honorary doctorates, and international awards, including the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. After leaving office, he continued to work in human rights, creating the Forum 2000 Foundation. Havel passed away on December 18, 2011.

Czechs will mark nine years since the death of playwright, dissident and president Václav Havel on December 18, 2011.

12/17/2020

Exciting news today! Right in time for the holiday season, unique handmade production of Czech Christmas tree ornaments have been inscribed to the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. These blown glass beads come from the village of Poniklá.

Skvělá zpráva!
Nominované vánoční ozdoby z foukaných skleněných perliček z Poniklé na Semilsku byly dne 17. prosince 2020 úspěšně zapsány na Reprezentativní seznam nehmotného kulturního dědictví lidstva UNESCO!
👇👇👇
https://www.mkcr.cz/novinky-a-media/vanocni-ozdoby-z-ponikle-jsou-svetovym-unikatem-4-cs4092.html

12/17/2020

Home Page - Marlenka

Holiday Beat: Marlenka

Bring holiday cheer home via the Embassy's Online - Czech Christmas Market, featuring Marlenka.us. Marlenka USA is the official representative and importer of MARLENKA® products in the US. Based on centuries old family recipes, MARLENKA honey cakes have been produced from local ingredients in the Czech Republic since 2003. Due to their distinctive taste and extraordinary shelf life, the “miracle from honey” products are popular among customers in over 40 countries and have won many international food awards and prizes over the years. Bring a delicious cake to your holiday table this season!

https://marlenka.us/

Through December, the Embassy will be featuring companies from its annual Czech Christmas Market.

12/16/2020

L. V. Beethoven - biography and upcoming concerts in Prague

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, we remember and are honored that the great composer wrote several great compositions in Prague and penned an unforgettable love letter to his mysterious "Immortal Beloved" in Teplice, Czech Republic. His music remains forever immortal as well.

Read more about his life at:
https://pragueclassicalconcerts.com/en/composers/beethoven

Enjoy classical concerts of Beethoven music in Prague. Book tickets online. No further fees are charged. The process of buying tickets is simple and safe.

12/16/2020

Teach Me: Trisha

Six-year-old Trisha from Pennsylvania is so excited to "show and tell" us about her book that plays a Czech song. What was something special that you received from your grandparents?🎵📕🖊 #TeachMe

About Teach Me: As part of the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2020 – John Amos Comenius, the Embassy of the Czech Republic is thrilled to release short videos of children of all ages teaching about the Czech Republic every Wednesday on its social media! Children from all over the United States have submitted their pieces about food, travel, customs and more to the Embassy’s project in honor of the Father of Modern Education, who deeply cared about universal education for all and modern teaching methods, such as learning through play.

If you would like to submit a short 1-minute video of your child “teaching” something about the Czech Republic, please email [email protected]. For more information about the project, please visit: https://bit.ly/3c1m08f.

12/15/2020

Try out some delicious recipes to get you into the holiday spirit. The EU Cookbook features recipes for specialty drinks, main dishes, and desserts. Put your chef's hat on and get started. The Ambassador himself cooked this delicious duck.👨‍🍳🥂 #EUHolidayCookbook

👉Check out the link: www.euholidaycookbook.org

The Ambassador said, “This is an original recipe dating back to the 17th century. The red and white cabbages serve as a testament to our neighbors, both in the North and South. The large pieces of duck have been made in the same style since around the 1860s. It is one plate with a lot of good, hearty food mixed with a long history, just like Europe.”

12/14/2020

In case you missed it, check out the Czech.global webinar as part of the series Connecting Czechs in the US. The platform czech.global aims to connect all Czechs, descendants of Czechs, and friends of the Czech Republic anywhere in the world.🌎 🇨🇿 #CzechGlobal #ConnectingCzechs

👉Visit: https://youtu.be/keGzytw6Z9s

Connecting Czechs in the United States is the first part of the Zoom series organized by the Czech Embassy in Washington, DC, to stay in touch with the Czech community in the United States during the COVID-19 outbreak. We aim to strengthen ties between the Embassy and Czechs, descendants of Czechs and friends of the Czech Republic in the United States, and their associations, including schools, museums, and cultural and sports organizations.

12/14/2020

Rudolf Jelínek – fruit spirits

Holiday Beat: R. Jelínek

Bring holiday cheer home via the Embassy's Online - Czech Christmas Market, featuring R. Jelinek USA​. R. Jelínek is the producer of Jelinek Slivovitz, which is the national brand and plum brandy from the Plum Valley in the Czech Republic. Established by the Jelínek family in 1894, the privately owned company continues to adhere to its tradition of kosher distillery production. Exporting the popular brandy to the United States since 1934, it currently distributes in over 30 states. Bring the spirit home for the holidays!

https://www.rjelinek.us/

Through December, the Embassy will be featuring companies from its annual Czech Christmas Market.

12/13/2020

Baking Czech Christmas Cookies in NYC - Czech Center New York

Have you finished baking your Czech Christmas cookies? Hear about everyone's favorites such as Vanilkove Rohlicky (vanilla crescents) from Czech expatriate Eva Giannone in NYC.

http://new-york.czechcentres.cz/news/czech-christmas-cookies/

12/12/2020

Startled deer steals hunter's rifle, absconds with firearm stuck in antlers

Interesting news bit: Deer disarms hunter in the Czech Republic and runs off with the weapon.

https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/startled-deer-steals-hunters-rifle-antlers

A hunter in the Czech Republic suffered a strange encounter with a deer last Friday when the animal managed to abscond with a rifle that was slung over his shoulder.

12/11/2020

The ambassador's wife, Indira Gumarova, added a little holiday cheer to the residence, while keeping everyone in mind during these difficult times.

12/11/2020

Determined to find solutions to climate change, the Czech government is considering applying for membership in the Arctic Council, a leading intergovernmental forum promoting cooperation in the Arctic. The application consideration comes ahead of the five-year anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Climate Ambition Summit on December 12, 2020. #TogetherforOurPlanet #ParisAgreement

https://english.radio.cz/denik-n-czech-government-consider-applying-membership-arctic-council-8692258

12/10/2020

Happy Hanukkah! To all who celebrate this Festival of Lights, we wish you a warm and wonderful Hanukkah filled with love and joy. Chag sameach 🕎

12/10/2020

RobinPrints

Holiday Beat: Robinson’s Fine Prints
Bring holiday cheer home via the Embassy's Online - Czech Christmas Market, featuring Robinson’s Fine Prints, an art gallery in Harrisburg, PA. It specializes exclusively in original prints, specifically etchings, lithographs, and wood engravings. With more than 1,000 artworks in stock, prints by Czech artists from the past 100 years dominate the store’s collection. Search the collections to find the perfect gift!
http://www.robinprints.com/
Through December, the Embassy will be featuring companies from its annual Czech Christmas Market.

12/10/2020

Today, we celebrate #HumanRightsDay. Ambassador
Hynek Kmoníček hosted a socially distanced Human Rights Breakfast with Cuban, Venezuelan and Belarusian dissidents to express Czech support and commitment to democracy and human rights.

12/10/2020

PANEL DISCUSSION: Radio Free Europe at 70 - Its Importance Then and Now

Check out the link to the full discussion: Radio Free Europe at 70 - Its Importance Then and Now with former RFE/RL directors Jamie Fly and Tom Dine, moderated by Tomáš Etzler, and presented by the Czech Embassy and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 🎙
👉View: https://youtu.be/tQR-o-T_2zw

More about the link:
For 70 years, Radio Free Europe has played a significant role in supporting democracy and freedom of expression. By providing access to information and responsible debate, it has furthered the cause of freedom and human rights. Today, RFE broadcasts to 23 countries in 27 languages. What is its importance and role in today’s world? How has its work changed throughout the decades? How has social media impacted RFE? These and more topics are addressed in this panel discussion in celebration of Radio Free Europe’s 70th anniversary.

The Embassy of the Czech Republic, in collaboration with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), presented the online discussion Radio Free Europe at 70: I...

12/09/2020

Již tento pátek od 10:00 EST (16:00 SEČ) se můžete těšit na on-line debatu „Konzulární problematika pro Čechy žijící v zahraničí“.

Tentokrát s JUDr. Martinem Smolkem, náměstkem ministra zahraničních věcí pro otázky konzulární a právní. Debata navazuje na 1. on-line debatu Čechů v zahraničí s ministrem Tomášem Petříčkem v listopadu tohoto roku.

Pro více informací a registraci:
https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/zahranicni_vztahy/krajane/aktualni_informace/pozvanka_na_on_line_debatu_konzularni.html

12/08/2020

Historical Treasures Return Home: The Embassy of the Czech Republic transferred historical artifacts once belonging to late Czechoslovak President Edvard Beneš and First Lady Hana Benešová to the National Museum of the Czech Republic.

The items contained largely significant pieces, such as the pen used by Dr. Edvard Beneš, on behalf of the then Czechoslovak Republic in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, to sign the Versailles Treaty on June 28, 1919. Further included were beautifully preserved ivory letter openers with Dr. Beneš’ signatures commemorating the Versailles Treaty of June 28, 1919, the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye of September 10, 1919, and the Treaty of Neuilly of November 27, 1919.

Additionally, the President’s drafted speeches, hand-written notes, and even the First Lady’s diplomatic passports filled with multiple foreign countries’ visas and stamps of entry during the inter-war and WWII period, carrying enormous historical value and interest, were presented.

The National Museum also received the First Family’s personal records consisting of the President’s and First Lady’s original marriage certificate and the First Lady’s school records. Personal items included clothing, such as the First Lady’s elegant gala dresses, exquisite mink and fox furs, magnificent hats and gloves, scarves, and a gorgeous hand-made national costume of the time. Special relics of appreciation included the First Family’s tennis rackets and even the First Lady’s wooden skis with ski poles made of bamboo!

You may read more at: https://www.mzv.cz/washington/en/culture_events/news/historical_treasures_return_home.html

12/07/2020

Artisans from the Czech Republic are part of this year's Winternational! Browse Bohemian crystal products made with renowned craftsmanship, thanks to centuries of perfected traditions, in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center's virtual marketplace. #winternational
https://www.rrbitc.com/winternational-virtual-marketplace/

Mayor Bowser has proclaimed today #Winternational Day! Our Virtual Marketplace has officially launched – explore an embassy-curated shopping experience of artisans from around the world. From visual and decorative arts and handcrafts to apparel, jewelry, artisan-crafted culinary fare and more, shop now: https://www.rrbitc.com/winternational-virtual-marketplace/

12/07/2020

Bohemian Made Design

Holiday Beat: Yes She May - Bohemian Made Design

Bring holiday cheer home via the Embassy's Online - Czech Christmas Market, featuring Yes She May - Bohemian Made Design. Yes She May is the only online platform where consumers can shop for products made by women-owned businesses around the world. Bohemian Made Design, created by Hana Tenklova originally from the Czech Republic, offers conventional yet modern glassware, porcelain, chairs, and home decor. Browse the aesthetic of the state-of-the-art brand for your holidays! Enter promo code Czech2020 at checkout.

https://yesshemay.com/collections/bohemian-made-design

Through December, the Embassy will be featuring companies from its annual Czech Christmas Market.