Countries Archives: Czechia

Lesson 8: Czech Republic

This week we travel to the Czech Republic — now also known as Czechia — which is somewhere you should find a way to go one of these days in real life. The Czech capital, Prague is an extraordinarily vibrant city, but the Czech Republic has even more to offer than that. Historically, you’ll enjoy a thousand years of churches and still-medieval towns and villages. Musically, you’ll find everything from early Moravian polka to klezmer/neo-folk to raucous Romani hip hop. So why wait? Ditch class this week and go to the Czech Republic now!

— OVERVIEW: Over a millennium of history the Czech people have ruled and been ruled, acting as a constant force in the ebb and flow of Central Europe.

— MUSIC: Though there has always been an interplay in Czech music between classical “high culture” and traditional folk, more recently Czech musicians have embraced international genres to forge new territory.

— LANGUAGE: At more than a thousand years old, the Czech language connects today’s Czechs with centuries of generations past.

— WHEN YOU GO THERE: Prague is phenomenal, but when you visit make sure to meet Czechs in the countryside.

— POLKA: Though associated internationally with Poland, this crowd-pleasing dance originated in the Bohemian region of Czechia.

Tancuj Tancuj

COUNTRY: Czech Republic/Moravia
LANGUAGE: Czech

“Tancuj Tancuj” is popular Czech/Slovakian polka that you’ll certainly hear if you’re lucky enough to go to a Czech or Slovak wedding. This lively polka implores dancers to dance and spin with abandon — “Tancuj tancuj” means “dance, dance” and the next words of the original, “vykrúcaj vykrúcaj,” mean “spin around, spin around” — but, as this translation provided by Mama Lisa’s World tells us, one must be careful! “Just don’t make my stove fall down, fall down…A stove is good in the winter, winter…not everyone has a down comforter, comforter.”

Lyrics of All Around This World version:

Tancuj tancuj, turn around turn around
Dance and dance and soon you will leave the ground
Fly and fly then land in my arms
Winter’s cold but I’ll keep you warm.

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Mela Babka

COUNTRY: Czech Republic
LANGUAGE: Czech

“Mela Babka” is a Czech chlidren’s song sung to the rhythm of a Polish folk dance called the mazurka. A mazurka is a lively dance in 3/4 time — there are three beats per measure, like a waltz.

The mazurka was first associated with inhabitants of Mazovia, near Warsaw, who are known as Mazurs. In the early 18th century this dancing became a favorite of the Polish King. When Poland lost its independence to neighbors Russia, Austria and Prussia, Polish elites found homes in countries like France and England, spreading the dance. The mazurka became increasingly associated with the Polish quest for independence, especially in 1797 after becoming ingrained in the Polish national anthem. Today versions of the mazurka appear in genres of folk music from around the world.

Lyrics of All Around This World version:

Měla babka čtyři jabka a dědoušek jen dvĕ,
Měla babka čtyři jabka a dědoušek jen dvĕ,
Grandma had four apples, grandpa had two,
Please give me an apple grandma, any one will do.[/wpspoiler]

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Countries Archives: Czechia