ONCE or NEVER
By Katka Konopecka
And the Oscar goes to... Excuse me... Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova for Falling Slowly from Once - legendary John Travolta read the winner of Oscar in The best film song category at Oscar night from 24th to 25th March 2008 in Los Angels Kodak Theatre. And a fairy tale started. Or finished?
The real start of an incredible story of an unknown Czech girl and a good known singer of Irish musical group Frames had been in the last part of the October 2007 when the film had had a premiere. Despite the fact that this film has not got any real actor or famous person and the budget was only 150 thousand dollars, it gained heart of millions of Americans (it earned about 10 million dollars). Once struck Americans like My Big Fat Greek Wedding (next only MBFGW) years ago. These films have at least one thing in common - they were produced by different but famous person: Once was born thanks to Steven Spielberg and MBFGW arose by support of Tom Hanks and his wife (it is important to say that MBFGW was not so loved by critics).
After an excellent start in the cinemas the movie began to go round the film festivals. The success came at the biggest not-Hollywood enterprise Sundance in Park City. There it won the audience price. As we know now, it was not last one. Once continued in journey through the USA and got for instance the award of American association film critics (BFCA). Falling slowly and whole soundtrack was nominated on Grammy, but it lost the fight with the Beatles remake. Next appreciation came at Oscar Night, when Once got Spirit Award-price for independent image. The most glamorous, the most famous, the most important prize was given to Once from the hands of John Travolta. I think that it is the last confirmation for you to go to the cinema to watch Once or to enjoy the movie on DVD in the comfort of your house.
Now I would like to introduce the main stars of Once:
Marketa Irglova
She was born to the family of teachers on 28th February 1988. Marketa started to attend piano lessons when she was 7. Only two years later, she learnt to play the guitar, but only by ear, no lessons. At the same age she tried to compose her first song. The real twist happened at her 13, when she met up with Glen Hansard at a musical festival. Young Marketa fascinated Glen and they started to cooperate. They released one album-The Swell Season in 2006. This CD was recorded by chance, Marketa, Glen, Bertrand Gallen and Marja Tukkanen were asked by Jan Hrebejk, who needed some songs to his film Krsska v nesnazich(=Beauty in difficulty). But the name of the CD was not chosen by chance, it got the same name like the novel by Josef Skvorecky - Glen loves this writer works of art.
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard was born 21st April 1970 in one of poorest quarter in Dublin. At the age of thirteen he changed school desk for street- he made his living in the street singing and playing. It was Alan Parker, who found him and gave him the role in The Commitments. Now, Glen Hansard is the frontman of Irish group the Frames. Their first clip won the second place in the MTV competition-the best European indie-music clip. The last album of The Frames-For the Birds-was awarded in Ireland the price-The best world rock album.
Glen and Marketa are not a couple only on film screen, they fell in love in their real life. Their friendship overgrew to love during shooting the film. Glen said: I have loved her for long time, but I persuaded myself at all time, that she is only a child. Now they are living in Dublin together. Marketa said (in an interview in Instinkt magazine), that she wants to be a nursery nurse. But it would be great shame.
A IM CZECH....
By Slavek Dechterenko
I have been in a shop recently. I saw a very strange thing. Two girls were shopping and suddenly one said: "You cannot buy this. You are right, that it’s a nice thing but it’s a Czech brand. Czech things are not cool". And I was confused. Why? They were Czech girls, so why do they have such problems? But it was worse next day. I was speaking about the politics with my friends. Everybody except me though that the Czech Republic meant nothing in the world and our country had no future. One friend of mine would like to live in the USA and another one in Germany. And nobody was able to find more than two good things about our state. So I asked again. Why? Our country is a good country! It was the worst next day. My friend came to tell me something and he used at least three English words. He was speaking in a new language-Czenglish. And this third day forced me to write this article. I would like to write about reasons, why I am proud of being Czech.
My name is Jaroslav Dechterenko. I do not have a typical Czech surname, but I feel like typical Czech citizen. I have got Czech father, mother, and brother. I have been living in this country for my whole life. And I love this country. The first reason why I like our country is our rich history. I am interested in the lives of all Czech kings and monarchs. I admire our big authors too. Germany has E. M. Remarque, America has J. Kerouac and the Czech Republic has for example Bohumil Hrabal. He was a big writer. We also had excellent composers. Bedøich Smetana, Antonín Dvoøák. They were the brilliant musicians. Then we had famous personalities like Voskovec and Werich to help us in the hard times of the war. We also have Jára Cimrmann, never existing but really Czech figure. I like Czech good and bad habits. Czech people go to pub very often. We make good beer. And I am used to hearing there the nice Czech language. This language is great. No other language has words like "miluji"-instead of saying "I love" or "dìkuji"- instead of saying "Thank you". Josef Jungmann, one of the members of the Czech national reborn would not be happy if he saw us using English words like "shit" or "fuck". People think it is "cool" to use it. And I think: "What a pity". We have very nice mountains around our small republic on the borders. We have a beautiful capital city too. Prague - "One-hundred-tower city". I like this city. There are wonderful sights. We have really unique buildings there. Prague represents our country in a very good way. And of course our President lives and works there.
I think the Czech Republic is a strong state. Velvet revolution showed us, that we can fight for our citizenship rights. And I want to be a good citizen all the time. I am the Czech and I am proud of it.
EASTER
By Marketa Kalabova
Ugly Wednesday
On this day Judas glower on Jesus. (Judas was his follower, which betrayed him because of money.) Accordingly we call it ugly Wednesday. So on this Wednesday we cannot glower, otherwise it will last all year.
Maundy Thursday - Green Thursday
The name is from waking up and green nature. On this day we should eat something green for our health.
Good Friday – Big Friday
It is day of deep grief in memory of Jesus crucifixion. This day people wake up earlier and they wash with water from a brook. We must not eat meet and we must fast. People must not do anything with soil during this day. Today we must clean and prepare everything for Jesus rise on Easter Sunday. Women cook festive dish, bake cross-buns and Easter lamb, decorate eggs. Men tress plated willow cane from osiers. On this day people eat and celebrate. Traditional food are cross-bun, Easter lamb, eggs, bread and wine, which are devoted in a church in the morning. In the morning boys and men go to whip girls and women to be healthy, merry and hardworking. Women give them eggs, some chocolate and for adults some alcohol. After noon, when some boy wants to swish the girl she can water him.
How can we prepare Easter lamb?
Ingredients: 4 eggs, sugar, flour, butter, milk, chocolate lentils, form for lamb We must beat 4 yolks with 12 table spoonful of sugar and 4 table spoonful of water. We give 8 table spoonful of flour to bowl, pour whipped mixture. We mix it and add whisked whites. After mixing we pour this to form, which must be deleted and tilt by flour. We bake it. In the meantime, we beat butter with 15 dkg of sugar and cold paste, which we prepare from boiling 3 dcl of milk and 3 table spoonful of flour. Afterwards we give it to decorating bag and we sprinkle on baked lamb. We make creamy waves. Point his eyes, we give there chocolate lentils.
HISTORY OF ST. VALENTINE
By Aneta Matejickova
Firstly I would like to say something about Valentine, because he is a real historical person. He was a priest and lived during the government of Emperor Claudius II. He died in 269. There are many legends about him and here is one of them.
Disordered emperor Claudius II decided to dissolve a marriage, because in his opinion married men weren’t good warriors. Priest Valentine married a courtier couple in private in spite of emperor prohibition and that was the reason for his imprisoning and murdering. Last message, which he sent to warder’s daughter before death was concluded with his words: “From your Valentine”. Since the time these words have been sent with Valentine wish cards.
Single girls look at birds this day because they will tell them what sort of men they will once marry.
Titmouse – sailor
Goldfinch – rich man
Pigeon hen – goodie
Azure – very happy person
Blackbird – rector
Woodpecker – no bridegroom this year
There are lots of other symbols of love:
Flowers
Flowers are, were and will be the best and most frequent formulation of love and friendship. All the flowers mean something.
Bluebell – you are brilliant
Daisy – good luck!
Lily of the Valley – I have you in my heart
Pansy – you annoy me
Primrose – who is the man of your heart
Pink rose – you are beautiful
All the people in love should respect these Valentine rules:
- breakfast – valentine toast with butter and cinnamon sugar
- to give to your darling a crazy present, whose purpose is to astonish and make laughing
- people in love write to each other love messages
- on this day people think of their parents
- our pets get red ribbon
BALL SEASON
By Marketa Kalabova and Pavlina Hableova
Dress
Girls usually must buy dress, because they want to have their own, but it’s very expensive – for example from 3000 crowns to 10 000 crowns (it is from 100 € to 310€). A lot of girls borrow dress for one evening from special shop, but they have to give it back the next day. It costs about 900 crowns (it is 30€). Such shop provides dress for ball and for wedding for girls and boys. It is very nice shop and we love it. Some girls want to have original dress so they have their dress made by dressmaker and they can devise their style. Dancing course A lot of people in our country learn to dance. This is typical for second grade of secondary school. We go there now. It is very beautiful, because there are a lot of girls and boys from different schools and they are wearing dresses and suits. They look like different people than in their normal life. The course takes about 2 hours once a week. The end of our dancing course is finished by “long evening” where we have got our parents and friends. The second important evening we call “Wreath” But there are plenty of people – us, family, friends and teachers from school. So it is so difficult to fit into. Polka Our typical national dance is so called “polka”. Kostelec nad Labem is the place of beginning of polka. Once upon a time one girl who was very happy began to dance something in rhythm. It was in 1834. Polka has been danced in our capital and all over the world since the girl’s “dance” was shown in Prague.THE FIRST JANUARY AND NEW YEAR´S DAY
By Katka Konopecka and Aneta Matejíckova
Vaclav Havel
Vaclav Havel, the first president of our republic was born three years before beginning of the Second World War, on the 5th October 1936. He graduated from DAMU in drama theory and from 1960 to 1968 he worked as assistant of director of a theatre. After 1968, he was constrained to leave his place by communists and he made his living as worker. In the same time he started to do dramatic production, he worked for newspaper. Except for many next activities he functioned as spokesman of Charta 77 and that was why he was imprisoned several times. In November 1989 he was the man, who dealt with representatives of communist’s regime; he participated in the founding of the Civic Forum. Until 2004 he represented the country as the Czech President. Vaclav Havel isn’t only important politician. His dramatic production is rich. For example he is the author of Garden Celebrate, Audience etc… His political and dramatic production was appreciated by many abroad awards.
CHRISTMAS TODAY
By Comenius team
Houses
At the beginning of Advent (the first Sunday in December) some people give on the door or on their tables wreathe with curlicues, golden bells, nutshells and candles. On the windows of the houses there are angels, snow flakes and comets made from paper. It is also time for big cleaning too.
Everybody is looking forward to 24th December morning, when the X-mass tree is being decorated. Nowadays most of the people prefer glossy decorations. They decorate the tree with colourful balls, lights, golden and silver chains and stars. But some people prefer the way how the trees were decorated in the past and they use apples, nuts, decorations from straw and gingerbreads.
Little children in kindergartens make paper decorations with festoons. They believe that little Jesus brings them presents and decorates the tree for them.
X-mass tree in history
The first tree could be seen in Germany in the 16th century. It got to Czech country in the first half of 19th century. The first tree was lighted in 1812 at home of director Liebich from Stavovského theatre. It was decorated with apples and nuts.Nativity scene
The first Nativity scenes were seen only in the churches, now they are very frequent part of Christmas decoration in people’s homes. They are made from wood, paper, glass or even pottery.And what is it about?!
Nativity scene shows the birth of Jesus. You can see many people there as three kings, little herdsmans, Mary and Joseph. In the centre there is a baby Jesus in a cradle. On the left side there is donkey and on the right side ox. In the sky there is a comet.
Small children on matternity scholl make paper decorations with feestons. They believe, that Jesus give them presents and prepare for them trees.
CHRISTMAS TABLE
We don´t eat all Christmas day, only in the evening. Why? As we want to see golden piggy. No everybody can handle it, because it is so difficult. But we try it again and again. On Christmas day we prepare special dinner and sweets. For dinner we eat fried carp and potato salad and some people like fish soup.
We usually buy carp one day before Christmas Eve. Some families buy live carps and children love keeping it in the bath until it must be killed to make the dinner. During dinner we can’t leave Christmas table and we drink special drink for example vine or champagne. And after Christmas dinner we go to Christmas tree and we sing carols and unpack our presents. We love it! We eat sweets and we have a rest. Somebody eats a carp and potato salad at midnight again. But nowadays a lot of people don’t like fish, so they don’t keep this habit and they eat other kinds of meat.
We prepare some recipes for you, so you can try to bake it…
Linz sweets
You must take: 800g smooth flour, 500g butter, 350g sugar, 2yolks, 1 egg and 1 vanilla sugar
We prepare dough from these base materials, which we put to waste in the fridge. We roll out the dough on the baking board and core by shapes. We bake it in oven when the temperature is 200?C
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Coconut
You must take: 13 dkg coconut, 35 dkg sugar, 7 eggs white, 4 dkg whole-meal flour, lemon peel
Kokos, cukr a 4 bílky se dobře promíchají; směs se za stálého míchání nahřeje ve vodní lázni. Nechá se vychladnout. Rozředí se 3 bílky a přidá citrónová kůra, prosetá mouka a dobře vše promíchá. Stříká se na plech a ve vyhřáté polootevřené troubě peče.
We must mix well coconut, sugar and 4 eggs white. This mixture warm up in water bath. We let it cool down. We water down 3 eggs white and add lemon peel, flour and we must mix it well. It die-cast on baking tin and we bake it in semi-closed and heated oven.
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Tiny vanilla crescent
20 dkg hl. mouky, 8 dkg cukru moučka, 20 dkg másla, 12 dkg mandlí, vanilkový cukr.
You must take: 20 dkg smooth flour, 8 dkg icing sugar, 20 dkg butter, 12 dkg almond, vanilla sugar
Zpracujeme v těsto a vyvalujeme rohlíčky které pečeme ve středně vyhřáté troubě.
We make dough and we roll out small rolls, which we bake in medially heated oven.
CHRISTMAS HABITS
1) Slippers
Young girls threw with slippers to know if they get married next year. When the toecap goes out, she will probably get married. When it goes home, she will stay here.
2) Scales
We believed that when we put scales into wallet we will have lots of money next year.
3) Apple
People cut apple in two pieces after Christmas dinner. When there is a star in the middle, you will be healthy next year and when there is a cross, it won’t be so good for you.
4) Nutshells
Every member of family puts a nutshell with a candle into a pot with water and when it floats on the water, you will probably travel next year, when it stays at the same place you will be mostly at home. And when a boat turns over, you will have problems with health.
5) Wax (lead)
You pour hot lead or wax into the pot with cold water and you observe what it looks like or what the shapes remind you. You will have with this thing some experience next year.
6) Carols
We sing carols about origin of Christmas and a birth of Jesus Christ. The most famous carols are,, Silent night” and ,,Jesus was born”.
7) Christmas tree
Christmas tree with decorations can’t miss in any family
8) Golden pig
When you won’t eat all Christmas day you will see, “Golden pig” in the evening ?
9) Presents
Children believe that baby Jesus gives presents to them. Presents are usually under the Christmas tree. They are packed in wrapping paper.
10) Nativity scenes
Small Nativity scene is usually put under the Christmas tree with presents.
And now you can go to bake it…