How did former Czechoslovakia became part of the Eastern Bloc

The 20th century was particularly painful for the Czech nation. “Victorious February” (25th Feb 1948), was a government coup and complete takeover of the communists behind the steering wheel of Czechoslovakia. Background Communism as a philosophy emerged from the turmoil of the European industrial revolution, where the ordinary people were for the first time in

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15 FUNNY PRAGUE PHOTOS – a possible basis for mild culture shock

No disrespect intended, but sometimes the Czech Republic differs from what outsiders are used to in some relatively humorous ways. Wandering around the country over the years, we’ve come across some things that seem perfectly normal here, but may be apt to raise an eyebrow or earn a smirk from people who aren’t from these

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St. Nicholas day in the Czech Republic.

The festival of st. Nicholas is recognized across European cultures and it has greatly afflicted how Santa Claus acts in American culture now. How does it work in the heart of Europe? Well, it´s a picturesque scheme. The festival is traditionally atributed to 6th of December in western christian tradition. In the eastern orthodox calendar

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November 17 – tribute to the fight for freedom

November 17 is a date of global significance. On that day in 1869, the Suez straight was open, on the same date in 1950, the 14th dalai-lama was inaugurated and in 1970 the computer mouse was patented. It is also an international day of students. For Czech people, it isn’t a celebration of liberal student life, partying

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ALL SOULS’ DAY, 2 NOVEMBER: some pass on to the hereafter… and some don’t

Czechs, by their own account, are some of the least religious people in the world. Nevertheless, the long-standing tradition of All Souls’ Day is alive and well here, so to speak. Over the weekend, the country’s already-beautiful cemeteries began to blaze with the light of thousands of candles, lit in remembrance of those no longer

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THE PRAGUE SPRING AND THE SOVIET INVASION OF 1968

In the late-night hours of 20-21 August, 1968, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was invaded by approximately 500,000 members of the combined armed forces of East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Poland lead by – who else? – the USSR. This military incursion was undertaken by the Warsaw Pact nations in order to put a stop to

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Prague vs. Taxi: Drivers in the city center rip tourists off money

A lot of travelers have probably experienced this situation. You just came to an entirely foreign city and you are feeling tired and confused. You withdraw the first foreign money from an ATM. Then you try to count how many euros, dollars or rubles that approximately is, but you still have a hard time estimating

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10 Czech Christmas Traditions

It’s Christmas. It’s time to slow down, recharge batteries and spend some time with the closest ones and have fun over some Czech traditions and superstitions! Some of them are rather weird, mysterious or heartless, some were forgotten but a few one can still witness during Christmas time in a Czech home. Before the humanking

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