on the Square Event
5K Lighted Rudy Run
Parade
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Visit from Santa
their Culture from the Old Country
to the New and Back Again
region of the Czech Republic have more than just kolaches
in common. Not surprising, since folks from both countries
are keeping the Czech culture alive by establishing sister
cities and sharing experiences.
says Joe Rychlik, a member of the Czech community in
Burleson County. "It started when people here traveled to
Europe and made friends with relatives, and they came to visit.
They have different celebrations there, and we compare how
our lives and their lives are. Czechs are very social people and
they love to visit. One year, David Shineman and others went
to Europe specifically to demonstrate how we do barbeque.
Recently, a distilled liquor made out of plums called Slivovice
is becoming popular here because of folks traveling back
and forth. It's the Czech version of White Lightening. The
traditional toast is Na Drav, `to your good health.'"
1850," Rychlik continues. "Moravia is where ninety percent
of the Texas Czechs came from. The Joseph Skrivanek family
loaned money to Czech immigrants so families could buy
land. When they came here, they established two main
settlements in our area, Snook and Novy Tabor, or New Tabor.
To help each other, they started an insurance company called
the SPJST, which in English is the Slavonic
Benevolent Order of the State of
Texas. Snook became more of a
town, but New Tabor stayed a
community. A lot of Czech
names are still there. They
built buildings and halls,
and, in turn, those became
centers
for the
community.
They were
h a r d w o r k i n g
people who also
loved to hear music,
so they would gather at
the New Tabor Hall for
barbeque, parties, and polka dances."
made a huge contribution to fostering Texas Czech culture.
"The SPJST has youth groups and Beseda dancers,"
Rychlik says. "They dress in costumes of Europe. There's a
caller and Czech music plays. We kept all of our music that
our ancestors brought over. Sometimes, visiting Czechs
get amused that we know all those old songs that their
grandma might know."
Hana Juracakova, won first prize at the Caldwell festival
with her "old country" kolache recipe, and, the following
year, the city of Roznov held its own "cake" festival. In fact,
fifty Texans made the trip to Roznov to attend. This year's
Caldwell festival is on Saturday, September 14. Come for a
visit, a kolache, and a toast--to your good health.