After an unusually mild start to the winter, the temperature has finally fallen below freezing and it's snowing. Ok, so the snowfall wasn't that heavy and there was just a light dusting covering the ground and rooftops, but it finally feels like winter again.
Where I live in Úvaly, whenever the snow covers the pavements outside, everyone brings out snow shovels and clears the snow away. It can be backbreaking work, but I quite enjoy shovelling the snow away as it is a novel experience for me. This is because it hardly ever snows in my part of England due to its milder climate. We have more rain and sleet than snow in the UK, and when it does snow, it rarely settles on the ground. And if we have more than a couple of inches of snow in England, the whole country grinds to a halt: roads are closed off, airports shut down, schools close down, and people are told to stay at home until the snow thaws. In Czechia, on the other hand, local authorities are used to dealing with heavy snowfall. Our town council, for example, immediately sends out gritting lorries (or gritters) to spread grit on the roads in order to help prevent vehicles from skidding. Snow ploughs are also used to clear away the snow after heavy snowfalls. The trains are sometimes delayed, but generally life continues as normal and everyone goes about their daily business. Prague airport normally stays open and they seem to have enough de-icing machines for the aircraft (unlike at Heathrow!). The biggest danger is from snowdrifts blowing over the runways, but their fleet of snow ploughs normally keep them under control, and flights are rarely cancelled. The worst thing about snow is when it melts and turns into slush, or when it freezes over again and makes the streets slippery. In these conditions, people can easily slip over and cars can skid out of control. Falling lumps of snow and icicles from rooftops can become a hazard to cars and passersby below. Snow also sticks to your shoes and makes everything wet and dirty inside. Driving is also more problematic in the winter months. An important job for Czech motorists to do at this time of year is to change their vehicles tyres. Czech law states that motorists must use winter tyres from the beginning of November or whenever the weather becomes wintery. Some car owners change the tyres themselves, whereas others prefer to have them changed professionally by a mechanic. If motorists don’t change their tyres, and are later involved in a traffic accident, then they can be fined heavily for not driving with the correct tyres. Thanks to the milder climate, this is something we don’t have to worry about in the UK, where cars can use the same tyres all year round Now let’s talk about the positive side of snowy weather. The winter scenery outside looks amazing under a blanket of snow, and you can do all kinds of winter sports. You can go ice skating on frozen fishponds or have fun with the kids sledging or tobogganing down the nearest hills. My son loves tobogganing, and he can happily spend hours bombing down the nearby slopes with his friends. You can also head off to the mountains and go downhill skiing in ski resorts (whenever the ski lifts start operating), or go cross-country skiing wherever there is enough snow and a suitable trail. You can have fun in other ways too: who doesn't enjoy a snowball fight? And what child doesn't enjoy building a snowman? And if you don't enjoy the cold weather, you can simply stay inside by the fireplace and watch the snowflakes fall with a cup of something warm in your hands. Mulled wine is one of my favourites. Now I’d like to finish with a common snow-related idiom we sometimes use in English: to be snowed under. When some says they are snowed under at work, it means they have too much work to do at once. Well I sure hope you’re not snowed under right now, and that you have plenty of time to enjoy the winter with your friends and family. Glossary mild: warm (in the winter) mírný snowfall: amount of snow sněžení dusting (of snow): light covering poprašek snow shovels: hrablo na sníh to clear (snow) away: odklidit / uklidit backbreaking: physically demanding vyčerpávající novel: new and interesting nový sleet: mixture of rain and snow déšť se sněhem to settle: to stay in one place zůstat inch(es): palec (2.54cm) to grind to a halt: to stop working completely (especially traffic)zastavit local authorities: místní úřad town council: městský úřad gritting lorry / gritter: sypač snow plough: sněžný pluh to go about your daily business: to continue living as normal plnit své každodenní povinnosti de-icing machines: machines that stop ice from forming rozmrazovací stroj fleet (of snow ploughs): vozový park snowdrift: sněhová závěj to melt: (roz)tát slush: wet melting snow / břečka to freeze over: zamrznout slippery: kluzký slip over: uklouznout skid: smyk lump: a (large) piece hroudy icicles: rampouchy passersby: kolemjdouci (osoby) to get to do something: to have the opportunity to do something moci / být schopen go ice skating: jít bruslit fishponds: rybníky go sledging / tobogganing: jít sáňkovat / sáňkování slope: svah head off: vypravit se go downhill skiing: jít lyžovat go cross-country skiing: jít na běžky / jít běžkovat trail: stezka snowball fight: koulovačka snowman: sněhulák snowflakes: sněhové vločky
0 Comments
New Year's Eve In many ways, Czechs spend New Year's Eve in the same way as everyone else - us Brits included. This involves going to parties, meeting up with family and friends, having fun, playing cards or board games and reflecting on the year gone by. Young people typically go on a pub crawl and get drunk with friends and strangers, others prefer to go to a night club and dance the night away. Many Czechs head off for the mountains or go to their cottage and celebrate New Year’s Eve there with family and friends. However, some of us prefer to go to bed early and not see in the New Year at all! Czechs across the country prepare finger food to snack on, such as sliced bread with topping, ham rolls with a creamy horse radish filling and crisps. When the clock strikes midnight, it's customary to open a bottle of bubbly and make a toast with everyone around you. Many people let off fireworks just after midnight, or at least go somewhere to watch them. I must say that you Czechs go completely crazy for fireworks and watching them go off here on New Year's Eve is even more spectacular than back in England. I live in a small sleepy town on the edge of Prague and the whole place comes alive after midnight. People let off fireworks in their garden or on street corners and they seem to last for ages. The fireworks include rockets, which shoot up in the air and explode in multiple colours, bangers or firecrackers, which make a loud bang when they are ignited and sparklers, which young children like to hold and wave about in their hands. Not everyone likes fireworks though; dog owners particularly dislike them as they are a source of distress to animals. Bangers are banned in many E.U. countries due to the danger of causing injury. This year's celebrations were among the quietest on record. Strict Covid-19 restrictions were imposed nationwide, including a 9 pm curfew, closure of pubs and restaurants, limitations on private and public gatherings and a ban on public firework displays. However, many people still let off fireworks in their gardens and enjoyed their own private display. New Year's Day New Year's Day is a bank holiday in many countries, including Czechia. The Czech tradition is to make a dish using lentils for the family. There are many recipes on how to cook them, but using lentils as a key ingredient should bring about good fortune as they symbolise coins. It’s considered bad luck to eat poultry on New Year’s Day as your fortune might fly away! In the evening, there is normally an organised public firework display and the display in Prague is well worth watching. However, all public firework displays were cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings. Some people make New Year’s resolutions such as promising themselves that they will quit smoking, lose weight, get fitter or just be a better person all round! If you're short of inspiration, click here to read an article on twenty ideas (for resolutions) for 2021. Let me finish by wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021! Glossary New Year's Eve: December 31st / Silvestr board games: stolní hry to reflect on something: vzpomínat na něco gone by: uplynulý to go on a pub crawl: visit different pubs and have a drink in each one to get drunk: opít se strangers: neznámí lidé to dance the night away: protančit celou noc to head off for (somewhere): to go to (a place) to see the New Year in: stay up until midnight finger food: jednohubky to snack on sth: jíst, zobat sliced bread with topping: chlebíčky ham rolls: šunkové rolky horse radish (filling): křen crisps: potato chips (U.S.) / brambůrky, chipsy to strike midnight: odbít půlnoc (a bottle of) bubbly: perlivé víno, šampaňské to make a toast: připít si to let off / ignite fireworks: odpálit ohňostroj / rakety to go crazy for something: být do něčeho blázen to go off (fireworks): být odpálen to come alive: ožívat rockets: rachejtle to shoot up: vystřelit bangers / firecrackers: petardy sparklers: prskavky to wave about: mávat distress: utrpení banned: zakázané impose: uložit curfew: večerka, zákaz vycházení public gatherings: veřejná shromáždění bank holiday: státní svátek lentils: čočka to bring about sth: přinést (štěstí, bohatství..) fortune: bohatství poultry: drůbež (New Year's) firework display: (novoroční) ohňostroj well worth (watching): stojí za to (vidět) resolutions: předsevzetí to get fitter: zhubnout / dostat se do formy prosperous: (financially) successful Christmas markets have opened. Christmas trees have been put up, decorated, and they have been lit up with Christmas lights. Street decorations have been erected and are lighting up towns and cities across the country. Shops and stores are packed with people stocking up on Christmas goodies. Czech women everywhere have started their annual Christmas cookie baking and decorating frenzy. In other words, the festive season has begun! Despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the festive season continues. However, there are people who can't get into the Christmas spirit and can't wait for it to end. Love it or hate it, we can't ignore it, and in this article, I hope you'll find most of the reasons you love or hate Christmas. 1. Christmas shopping Not everyone enjoys buying up presents for friends, lovers and family. It costs a fortune, takes up a lot of time, and then there is the hassle of choosing the right present for the right person. Men (myself included) are particularly useless at that! Then we have to compete with all the other Christmas shoppers in the mad rush before Christmas. Finally, you have to wrap them up, hide them away and remember who should get what. Ah, but just wait for the look of surprise and joy on your loved ones' faces as they unwrap your gifts! In the UK, presents are 'delivered' to children by Father Christmas (or Santa Claus in the US). He visits homes on Christmas Eve when the children are asleep, and places presents in their Christmas stockings hanging on the end of the bed or under the fireplace. They open them when they wake up on Christmas Day (December 25th). You can be sure that they'll wake up early to unwrap their gifts and come running excitedly into Mummy's and Daddy's bedroom shouting 'Look what Father Christmas gave me!' If they have been naughty, however, then they should just receive a lump of coal! In the Czech Republic, presents are delivered by 'Baby Jesus' on Christmas Eve and are opened immediately. 2. Cleaning and decorating the house This one mainly applies to women, and I must say that when it comes to cleaning and tidying up the whole household, Czech women would probably win a European contest. Everything should be spick and span before Christmas begins, and nothing goes unchecked; from windows and curtains to doors and cupboards. However, not all modern Mums have time for the super-intensive pre-Christmas cleaning, and there are signs that this tradition is beginning to die out. By now, most families have some kind of Christmas lights decorating their windows or gardens, and an advent wreath with candles. Mistletoe and Christmas stars (poinsettias) make popular decorations and some people also place fir tree twigs in a vase and hang decorations on them. Most people put up their Christmas tree (either real or artificial) and decorate it on Christmas Eve, so there's still plenty of time to find that perfect tree. Spruce, pine and fir are the most popular types of Christmas tree. The trees are put up in the days before Christmas and are typically decorated with Christmas tree lights, shiny baubles and tinsel. Some Czechs attach sparklers to the tree and light them just before Baby Jesus comes. I once tried this myself, although I didn't do it right, and I almost set fire to the tree! 3. Tasty goodies to gorge on Eat, drink and be merry - or so they say. In Britain, this means gorging yourself on turkey, stuffing, mince pies and Christmas pudding. Then you should make room for Christmas cake - all on Christmas day (Dec 25th)! And that's just the highlights of the gorging season. There is so much rich food and alcohol to consume that many people just end up feeling bloated and pass out on the sofa. No wonder the most popular New Year's resolution is to join a gym and get fit! In contrast, the Czech Christmas meal is somewhat more modest. Many Czech families stick to the traditional fish soup, potato salad and carp fried in breadcrumbs. The ingredients for the potato salad vary from family to family and, of course, everyone thinks that their family's recipe is the best! There should be plenty of Christmas cookies on hand too of course. Baking and decorating Christmas cookies with layers of coloured icing in the weeks before Christmas is like a national sport! Not everyone is that keen on carp, and there are a few Czechs who can't even stomach it even just once a year. They might choose to dine on an alternative type of fish instead, such as salmon, or even go without fish altogether and fry chicken or pork schnitzel instead. As for me, I quite like carp (if it's prepared properly), although I won't be putting any carp scales in my wallet for good fortune this year. The last two times I did that, I had my wallet stolen! 4. Alcohol to spread the Christmas cheer Christmas is also a time for alcoholic beverages. In England, many people drink mulled wine just over Christmas, rather than throughout winter like people over here. Sherry is particularly popular with older people. Eggnog liqueur, brandy, whisky and Irish cream are popular in both countries, but drinking grog or punch hasn't really caught on in Britain like it has over here. Whatever your favourite tipple is, you'll probably need it to help spread the Christmas cheer. Just don't get too tipsy! 5. Family get-togethers Many people look forward to spending the festive season with various family members. For some, however, it's their idea of hell. It could be a bossy mother-in-law, who always has it her way, spoiled nephews and nieces running around causing havoc, or just the strained conversation with distant relatives you only see once a year. Or maybe you're just fine with everyone, but your partner isn't. Whatever the reason, you can be sure that if there's family tension, it will rear its ugly head during Christmas. No wonder that come the beginning of January, many of us are happy to get back to work! Glossary to put up (= erect): postavit to light up / lit up: osvětlit /rozsvítit se packed (with people): full of people to stock up on (goods): to buy things to keep for later use frenzy: period of intense activity / šílenství festive season: Christmas period festive spirit: Christmas mood / atmosphere to take up (time): zabrat hassle: bother / potíž to wrap up / unwrap (a present): zabalit / rozbalit to hide (sth) away: skrýt to pryč loved-ones: people you love stockings: punčochy fireplace: krb gifts: presents naughty: nezbedný / rozpustilý lump of coal: piece of coal / uhlí spick and span: perfectly clean nothing goes unchecked: nothing is left out die out: become less common / stop existing advent wreath: adventní věnec mistletoe: jmelí Christmas star: Vánoční hvězda fir / spruce / pine (tree): jedle / smrk / borovice (shiny) baubles: (lesklý) tinsel: řetěz twigs: větvičky artificial: umělý needles: jehly merry: happy to gorge on (food): to eat too much / overeat stuffing: nádivka mince pies: small sweet pies with dried fruit and brandy filling Christmas pudding: a rich dessert with lots of fruit and alcohol bloated: feeling very full to pass out: to lose consciousness / fall asleep (in this context) New Year's resolution: Novoroční předsevzetí to get fit: to become healthy by exercising modest: skromný carp: kapr salmon: losos bread crumbs: strouhaná houska on hand: ready / available icing: cukrová poleva to stomache: to be able to eat something unpleasant to dine on sth (formal): to eat (a meal) (fish) scales: rybí šupiny mulled wine: svařené víno to catch / caught on: to become popular tipple (informal, old fashioned): alcholic drink to spread the Christmas cheer: to spread good / positive feelings of christmas tipsy (old fashioned): drunk / opilý (bossy) mother-in-law: (panovačná) tchyně to have sth your way: to do sth in your way (and not how other people might want) spoilt: rozmazlený cause havoc: způsobit katastrofu strained (converation): difficult and slow (conversation) to rear its ugly head: when something unpleasant appears / reappears On December 5th, you may run into a group of strange characters wearing costumes and wandering the streets looking for children. They will be St. Nicholas, accompanied by an angel and the devil. The angel normally wears a pair of white wings, a halo and carries a basket full of treats. She represents all that is good. The devil, representing evil, is dressed in black and wears something furry, has a pair of horns, a tail and normally carries a chain. St. Nicholas is dressed up as a bishop (based on the real bishop St. Nicholas) and wears a white robe, a long white beard and carries a long stick.
Together they walk the streets, stopping children and asking them if they have been good in the past year. Of course most kids say yes and sing a song or recite a short poem to St. Nicholas. They are then rewarded with sweets or other treats, which are handed out by the angel. If they have been naughty, the devil takes them away to hell in his sack (of course that doesn't really happen!). Most likely, the kids will just get a potato or a lump of coal. The devil's main role is just to intimidate the kids and scare them into being good. Parents also leave small treats in stockings at home for their children to find. In Britain, we don't celebrate St. Nicholas Day, but we do have a similar tradition a few weeks later. On Christmas Eve, Father Christmas (also based on St. Nicholas) comes down the chimney when the children are sleeping and puts little presents in the children's stockings left hanging by the fireplace or at the end of their beds. If they've been bad then they also just get a lump of coal or a potato! Last year, I took my son on the special St. Nicholas steam train trip around Prague, organised by Czech Railways, which was a lot of fun. St. Nicholas, the devil and an angel were there too visiting all the children on board. When we went through a tunnel, the devil ran up and down the aisles, rattling his chain and scaring the toddlers! Glossary run into sb: narazit na někoho characters: postavy costumes: kostýmy wander: bloumat accompany: doprovázet angel: anděl devil: ďábel / čert wings: křídla halo: svatozář basket: košík treats: dobroty evil: zlo furry: chlupatý / kožešinový horns: růžky tail: ocas chain: řetěz dressed up as: oblečená jako bishop: biskup robe: roucho beard: vousy stick: hůl kids (informal): children recite a poem: recitovat básničku reward: odměnit se hand out: rozdávat naughty: nezbedný / zlobivý hell: peklo sack: pytel lump of coal: kus uhlí intimidate: zastrašit scare sb into (being good): vyděsit někoho (aby byl hodný) Christmas Eve: Štědrý večer chimney: komín fireplace: krb steam train: parní vlak Czech Railways: České dráhy on board: na palubě aisles: uličky rattle: chrastit toddlers: very young children Mushroom picking (or foraging for wild fungi) is a hugely popular pastime for many people in the Czech Republic and for some people the hobby borders on an obsession. This article is written especially for all you mushroom pickers out there. Wild mushrooms normally appear in forests at this time of year The mushroom season starts in May and peaks in early autumn. They normally appear in abundance after warm wet weather as mushrooms thrive in damp conditions. There are several factors involved in successful mushroom picking. The key thing is to be able to distinguish the edible varieties of wild mushrooms from the inedible or poisonous ones. Popular Czech humour has it that all mushrooms are edible, but some only once! The list of edible wild mushrooms is endless: click here to see some names (in English) and pictures of common varieties found in the Czech Republic. Another trick is to be familiar with mushroom hotspots in your local woods or forest; preferably places off the beaten track and unknown to competing mushroom pickers. Then you need to be prepared to get up in the early hours of the morning to get a head start. Obviously you also need to have a good eye to spot the mushrooms you are looking for. Most can be identified by the size and colour of their cap and by looking underneath at their gills. In general, if the mushroom doesn't have gills then it's probably edible. When you find your mushroom, simply take it by the stem, pull it from the ground, clean it off a little with a small knife and place it in your bag or wicker basket. If you have a mushroom with no gills and are not sure if it's edible or not, simply place a piece on your tongue and if it has a bitter taste it means it's not good to eat. Finally, you need to have a lot of patience. You may be lucky one day and find plenty and then the next find nothing at all! Mushroom pickers should also follow the general code of conduct (eg. don't take too many at once), which will probably be similar to the one listed here for British mushroom pickers. There are many household recipes across the Czech Republic on how to cook them. A quick, popular method is to cut them up and stir fry them with onions, garlic and eggs. Another one is to slice them up and fry them in breadcrumbs. You can also slice them up, dry them out and store them in a jar or simply freeze them for later use.
Many Czechs grow up mushroom picking and learn the necessary skills and knowledge from their parents, grandparents or other members of their family. In the U.K. mushroom picking is not as popular as it is over here. However, recently more Brits have taken up mushroom picking and foraging for wild food in general. However, they also face stiff competition from the large numbers of more experienced Polish people living across the U.K. who often 'beat them to it'. It seems that the Poles also have mushroom picking in their blood just like the Czechs do! Glossary go mushroom picking: jit na houby to forage (for food): to search for food fungi: mushrooms (latin word) pastime: hobby to border on an obsession: posedlost mushroom pickers: houbaři to peak: reach the highest point in abundance: in large numbers to thrive: prospívat in damp conditions: ve vlhkých podmínkách to distinguish: rozlišovat edible/inedible: jedlé/nejedlé poisonous: jedovatý hotspots: best places off the beaten track: away from other people (doing the same activity) competing: konkurenční to get a head start: to start before other people (doing the same activity) to spot: to identify a cap: klobouk gills: lupeny a stem: třen (noha houby) a wicker basket: proutěný koš bitter: hořký code of conduct: nepsaná pravidla chování / dodré mravy to stir fry: to mix and fry together to slice up: rozkrájet breadcrumbs: strouhanka a jar: zavírací sklenice to take up (a hobby): to begin or start a hobby (to face) stiff competition: (to deal with) strong competition to beat sb to it: to be the first to do something (before other competing people) to have something in your blood: to be naturally good at something Some time ago, I made a trip to Brno to see the famous Tugendhat villa. It was my second overnight stay in the city and during my time there I managed to take in most of the main sights and places of interest.
Many people in Prague look down on Brno. They say it’s a boring, provincial city and there‘s not much to do there. It may lag behind Prague in terms of cultural events and evening entertainment, but I think that’s true of most comparisons between capital and provincial cities. Personally, I find Brno to be quite a charming place. Like Prague, it’s nestled among rolling hills with a river running through the middle. Its dominating castle and cathedral also make an attractive landmark. There are many fine stately buildings and attractive architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Apart from the Tugendhat villa, there are many fine examples of functionalist buildings dotted around the city’s districts. The historic heart of the city is noticeably free of the tourist hoards you can find in Prague, which also means there are very few souvenir shops selling tourist tat. Brno does not have the range of international restaurants that Prague has, but is does have some lively pubs and some unique cafés and restaurants. My favourite is the Air café, which can be found just below the cathedral. It’s a themed café full of photos and memorabilia dedicated to the Czech pilots who served in the R.A.F during World War 2. Another favourite is café Falk, which has fine wooden furnishings, a laidback atmosphere and a wide selection of freshly baked cakes and baguettes. Like Prague, Brno has an efficient public transport system. There is an extensive tram and trolley bus network so getting around the city is easy. One tram takes you all the way to a huge dam and reservoir on the outskirts, which is a great place to get away from it all. The bus and train stations are conveniently located near the centre. However, it has to be said that the area around the train station is quite run-down and in need of redevelopment! Glossary to take in the sights: to see or visit the main tourist attractions to look down on: to have a low opinion of someone or something to lag behind: to be slower than / not as good as capital (city): hlavní (město) charming: okouzlující nestled: situated among (hills) rolling hills: attractive looking hills landmark: orientační bod v terénu stately: majestátní dotted around: situated in various parts districts: neighbourhoods / čtvrtě noticeably: zjevně tourist hoards: large numbers of tourists tourist tat: cheap, poor quality souveniers made for tourists lively: full of people and energy / plný života themed cafe: a cafe with a theme memorabilia: objects collected from a certain period in time furnishings: zařízení / nábytek laidback: relaxed efficient: working well / efektivní extensive: covering a wide area / rozsáhlý getting around: travelling from place to place reservoir: artificial lake dam: přehrada on the outskirts: on the edge of (a town, city) / na předměstí get away from it all: to travel away from the stress of everyday life conveniently located: located in an ideal area run-down: neglected / zanedbaný redevelopment: přestavba městské části The summer holiday season is approaching and many of us are thinking about getting away from it all. With the recent easing of lockdowns across Europe, borders between European Union countries have begun opening again. Czechia has adopted a traffic light system whereby the three traffic light colours denote three categories of risk. Most EU countries are now green, which means there is a low risk of contagion from Covid-19. Citizens and permanent residents from these countries can now travel freely without needing to prove they are not infected by the Covid-19 virus. Countries of amber (orange) colour are medium risk and the red colour denotes high risk. At the time of writing, Sweden is one of the few European countries still coloured red. Travel to and from medium and high-risk countries is discouraged and restrictions are still in place. Citizens leaving and entering these countries need to provide a negative test for Covid-19 or undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival or departure. For example, Swedish tourists are not allowed to enter Czechia, but business travel or study visits from Sweden are allowed on condition that the traveller provides a negative test for Covid-19. Czech travellers are free to enter Sweden, but on returning they must provide a negative test for Covid-19 or undergo a 14-day quarantine. The multiple arrangements and conditions between European countries are changing by the day, so it's important to keep up to date! There are many different ways to book a holiday. Some people prefer booking last-minute deals with a travel agency because a lot of bargains can be found, especially if you're flexible with time and choice of destination. Shopping around for deals and booking holidays online has become increasingly popular over the years. Many people prefer to book accommodation independently (i.e. not with a travel agency) and make their own travel arrangements to their holiday destination. Others prefer to book all-inclusive package holidays months in advance, which is especially convenient if you are holidaying with children. Popular summer holiday destinations for Czech holidaymakers include countries such as Croatia, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Many of my students drive to Italy or Croatia and return to the same beach resort year after year. Popular domestic holiday destinations include the mountain resorts of Krkonoše and Jizerké hory, where hiking and mountain biking are popular activities. This year many Czech tourists are choosing to have their holidays within the country because of the risks and restrictions with the coronavirus pandemic. Holidaying within your country is sometimes called a staycation, which is a new term in English. Some people had booked holidays abroad before the pandemic which were later cancelled. Many travellers have received a refund or a voucher to use at a later date. However, some flights are non-refundable and many airlines prefer passengers to rebook their flights. When it comes to accommodation, we can choose from hotels (full or half board), family-run guest houses, self-catering flats and campsites. Camping and campervanning are very popular holidays in Britain, in spite of the unreliable weather. Some people prefer staying in large hotel resorts, others prefer locations off the beaten track so they can avoid the tourist hordes. Students and other travellers on a low budget are prepared to rough it. They may choose to go backpacking and stay in hostels with kitchens so they can prepare their own meals and save money. Hitchhiking and using public transport is another way to stretch the budget. As for me, one of my best beach holidays was in south Croatia, where I rented a self-catering flat with a balcony in a small beach resort called Gradec. I love the small bays, clear waters and pebbly beaches there. One of my favourite holiday activities was getting up early at 7am for a morning swim in the sea, then returning to the flat for a shower and a breakfast of local bread, cheese, tomatoes and olives. After that, I returned to the beach to swim, snorkel and sunbathe. In the evening, I enjoyed going for a stroll around the harbour and watching the sunset over the sea. After that I found a local restaurant where I ate seafood and drank wine. My perfect holiday! Glossary to get away from it all: go on holiday to escape the daily stress of life easing of lockdowns: uvolňování karantény borders: hranice traffic light: semafor contagion: nákaza citizens: občané permanent residents: osoby s trvalým pobytem infected: nakažený to discourage: odradit restrictions are in place: omezení trvají to undergo: podstoupit mandatory: povinné quarantine: karanténa to keep up to date: sledovat, jaká je aktuální situace to book (a holiday, flight,etc): to reserve / pay for (a holiday, flight, etc) (last-minute) deals: nabídky travel agents: cestovní kanceláře bargains: výhodná koupě to shop around: to compare prices of goods or services from different companies, shops, etc (all-inclusive) package holiday: zájezd convenient: výhodný holidaymakers: people on holiday, especially a package holiday Croatia: Chorvatsko coastal/beach resort: přímořské letovisko domestic (holiday): domácí hiking: walking in hills or mountains / pěší turistika mountain biking: jízda na horském kole a staycation: a holiday at home (derived from combining 'stay' and 'vacation') to cancel: zrušit a refund: money given back voucher: poukázka non-refundable: refunds can't be given airlines: letecká společnost rebook: změnit termín / přebukovat full/half board: plná penze / polopenze (family-run) guest house: rodinný penzion self-catering (flat): vlastní stravování campsites: kempy camping: kempování campervanning: autokempink off the beaten track: away from all the other tourists tourist hordes: a lot of tourists together in one place on a low budget: with not much money to rough it: to live in simple, basic conditions to go backpacking: to travel with a backpack / cestovat s batohem (to go) hitchhiking: stopování / jet autostopem to stretch the budget: to find ways to make your money last longer bay: záliv pebbly (beach): beach with pebbles (small stones) / oblázková (pláž) snorkel: šnorchlovat sunbathe: opalovat se go for a stroll: go for a walk (for pleasure) harbour: přístav sunset: západ slunce seafood: plody moře The global Covid-19 pandemic brought much of the world to a standstill earlier this year. The highly contagious virus originated in China and spread into Czechia in the beginning of March. Although many infected people are asymptomatic or show only mild symptoms, some people suffer from more severe symptoms such as fever, persistent coughing, muscle aches, fatigue and respiratory problems. The most severe cases can result in pneumonia and death.
Many countries went into lockdown and restricted the movement of their citizens. In Czechia, a state of emergency was declared in the middle of March after just a few cases and before there were any recorded deaths from the illness. The Czech government responded swiftly by imposing several restrictions on their citizens. Schools and universities closed down and pupils and students had to study from home and attend online lessons and lectures. Non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants were forced to close and suspend their business and many companies required their employees to work from home. Government institutions, such as the Czech National Bank, managed to set up home office for their entire workforce of over a thousand people in a matter of days. Supermarkets and food stores reserved the early morning hours for senior citizens only. International travel was also limited and all borders were closed to both Czech and foreign travellers. Airlines were forced to ground their planes and very few flights left the country. The wearing of face masks or face coverings was made compulsory for all Czech citizens and residents whenever they left home. Disposable surgical masks were in short supply, so many Czechs sewed their own masks and some also made masks for their family and friends. In the beginning, people had to wear masks at all times as well as practise social distancing by maintaining a distance of two metres from others. Many small shops only allowed two customers inside at once. People who tested positive for the virus or who came into contact with an infected person were ordered to self-isolate and spend two weeks in quarantine. Because of these restrictions, the numbers of infections were contained and the health care services have not been overstretched. In fact, so far Czechia has coped with the pandemic a lot better than many European countries such as Spain, whose death toll is in the thousands. Now restrictions are being eased and life is slowly getting back to normal. Nevertheless, the virus is still among us and a vaccination is still a long way off. Many epidemiologists warn of a second wave, which will lead to more disruptions in the coming months. The economic impact is huge and many companies, especially in the tourism sector, have been forced to make pay cuts or lay off staff, and many small businesses have gone bankrupt. As a deep recession looms across Europe, the social and economic impact of Covid-19 will be felt for years to come. But on the plus side, many people have experienced positive changes in their lives, such as spending more time with their family, having more time to take up a new hobby (I took up tennis) or do things at home they have been putting off due to their hectic life style. Personally, in spite of a loss of income, I’m enjoying the slower pace of life and spending more time at home. I spend my days teaching online, writing, cycling with my son and exploring the environment around my home town of Úvaly. I’ve discovered new cycle paths and I’ve noticed that the bread tastes better from my local baker than from the supermarket. And, sorry Pilsner Urquell, but you are no longer in first place. Now my favourite beer is from my local microbrewery 😊 Glossary bring sth to a standstill: cause sth to stop (infrastructure, etc) highly contagious: velmi nakažlivé infected people: nakažení lidé asymptomatic: showing no symptoms mild / severe symptoms: mírné / závažné příznaky fever: horečka coughing: kašel muscle aches: bolesti svalů fatigue: únava respiratory problems: dýchací potíže pneumonia: zápal plic go into lockdown: jít do karantény (celá země) restrict: omezit a state of emergency: nouzový stav impose restrictions on sb: uvalit omezení na lidi non-essential (shops): nepotřebné suspend (a service): pozastavit službu senior citizens: senioři limit: omezit ground (planes): force planes to stay on the ground face masks: roušky (face) coverings: pokrývky compulsory: povinné disposable surgical masks: jednorázové chirurgické roušky in short supply: nedostatkové zboží sew: šít social distancing: people keeping distance from each other self-isolate: be in quarantine in quarantine: v karanténě contain (infections): limit the spread health care services: zdravotnické služby overstretch: put too much demand on (a system or service) death toll: počet obětí ease (restrictions): uvolnit (omezení) vaccination: očkování epidemiologists: epidemiologové disruptions: omezení lay off (staff): propouštět go bankrupt: zbankrotovat a deep recession looms: velká recese se blíží take up (a hobby): začít se věnovat nějakému koníčku put off: odkládat pace of life: životní tempo Easter is upon us so now is a good time to look at different Easter traditions in both the Czech Republic and the U.K.
The period of lent begins on Ash Wednesday in the U.K. The day before, Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Tuesday as it’s often called in English speaking countries, is the day when many families eat pancakes. Traditionally, lent is the period of fasting during the 40 days before Easter. Making pancakes was a way of using up ingredients (such as flour, eggs and sugar) which were considered to be unsuitable to eat during lent. All across Britain, many schools and communities organise pancake races, in which participants run a set distance tossing pancakes in a frying pan as they run. The Easter weekend begins on Good Friday, the day when Christ was crucified. Good Friday finally become a bank holiday in the Czech Republic last year like in the U.K. and most other European countries. Easter Sunday, the day when Christ ascended into heaven, is the big day for celebrations. Christians across the world go to church where they attend a special service. In England people bake hot cross buns, which is a sweet bread with a cross on top symbolising the crucifix. British people also bake Easter biscuits made with currants and cinnamon. Many British people eat lamb on Easter Sunday and Czech families bake the ‘Easter ram’, a tradition started by families who couldn’t afford lamb (or didn't want to eat it) at Easter so instead they baked a cake in the form of a little ram. Czech families also bake sweet bread with raisins and Easter stuffing made with bread, herbs, eggs and ham. Families in both countries paint eggs and display them as decorations. Other Easter decorations include chicks and bunnies as they are also symbols of birth and a new start in life. Children receive chocolate eggs, but this is a lot more commercialised in Britain and supermarkets are stocked full of chocolate eggs of all shapes and sizes in the weeks before Easter. Just go to Marks and Spenser to see an example of this! Easter Monday is a bank holiday in both countries, but the festivities are a lot more exciting over here. Czech males make (or buy) whips out of willow sticks which are woven together with a ribbon tied on top. The invigorating spring energy of the willow plant is then transferred to all the women folk through whipping, which should keep them youthful. On the morning of Easter Monday, they use it to whip (or we should say gently tap) the behinds of all the women in their vicinity, starting with the women in their home. They then move out into the streets and call on all the women they know in their neighbourhood. In return for the whipping the men receive an egg or a shot of alcohol, but all this should happen before midday or they can expect a bucket of cold water thrown over them. This tradition is certainly an interesting way to bring the community together! In the village where my in-laws live, the local tradition is that when it’s a leap year, the women get to whip the men for a change. I’ve experienced this personally - not many English men can say that they have been whipped by their mother-in-law! Glossary upon us: coming soon lent: velikonoční půst Ash Wednesday: Popeleční středa Shrove Tuesday: Masopustní úterý Pancake (Tuesday): palačinka fasting: půst tossing/to toss: přehazovat frying pan: pánev na smažení crucified/to crucify: ukřižovat ascended/to ascend: to go up buns: sweet bread rolls / houska cinnamon: skořice currants: small raisins lamb: jehněčí /jehně ram: beran raisins: rozinky stuffing: nádivka herbs: bylinky chicks: kuřátka commercialised/to commercialise: stocked/to stock: festivities: celebrations a whip/to whip: pomlázka / šlehat willow: vrba woven/to weave: tkaný ribbon: stuha invigorating: osvěžující folk: people youthful: young behinds: buttocks / zadek vicinity: the surrounding area to call on sb: to visit sb bucket: kyblík in-laws: the parents and family of your husband or wife leap year: přestupný rok |
Englishman in PragueThis blog is especially for Czech learners of English. Each article features a Czech tradition or a popular Czech pastime. You'll find lots of vocabulary in each article: useful phrases are in bold and translated in the glossary below. |
eng4biz@email.cz
|
Telephone732 119 460
|