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Sts Cyril and Methodius Day

Posted by Margarete on Jul 01

July 5 is a public holiday in Slovakia (and Czechia). It is Sviatok svätého Cyrila a Metoda, the day to commemorate Saints Cyril and Methodius. These two saints are significant in Slavic lands and indeed are called the “Apostles to the Slavs”. As far as I know, in Slovakia it’s not celebrated any specific way aside from the church that honors them. Still, they are vastly important.

Why are they so special to the Slavic people and what specific connection does Slovakia play?

As Mighty as Corgon

Posted by Margarete on May 26

In the first Kde je…? I chose the statue of Corgoň. Who is he and why is he of significance?

First of all, the statue is located in the town where his legend was born: Nitra. Corgoň is carved into the corner of Kluch Palace (Kluchov palác), located in the upper town on castle hill. It was carved in 1820 by Slovak sculptor Vavrinec Dunajský.

The French Roots of Slovak Champagne

Posted by Margarete on Feb 04

Like in many parts of the world, if you are in Slovakia and are going to be celebrating some momentous occasion, it’s likely that you would break open a bottle of bubbly. Though there are many kinds of champagne available in Slovakia, the most popular and locally made champagne is Hubert.

Almost everyone knows that the French have the best reputation for making quality wines and champagnes in Europe. What I didn’t know was that the generic word “champagne” is trademarked and only used to mean a champagne from the region in “Champagne” France. The more correct term for champagne is “sparkling wine” (also called “sekt” from the German).

The "Pressburg 'Robinson' "

Posted by Margarete on Jan 07

Ondrejský cintorín – Ondrej cemetery is located fairly close to the main bus station in Bratislava. It’s actually a pretty neat cemetery because to me, it’s a “Pressburg” cemetery. What I mean by “Pressburg” is that the people who are buried in Ondrejský cintorín reflect the population of Pressburg (the town name of Bratislava before 1918) from the 18th to 20th centuries. If you walk through Ondrejský cintorín, you will see grave stones in three languages, with names of people from three ethnicities: German, Hungarian, and Slovak.

In the section of the cemetery on the left side of the church, there is a pamiatnik – monument to the “Pressburg ‘Robinson’ ”, Karl Jetting. Who was Karl Jetting and why is there a monument to him?