The Cottage began in Balboa Park in 1935 as part of the California Pacific International Exhibition as a member of the House of Pacific Relations Organization. The Cottage originally was at another house and location in the Park. After WWII, members obtained possession of our present location and shared the Cottage with Hungary who has since built their own cottage.

Membership Meetings
The House of Czech and Slovak Republics monthly meetings take place every second Saturday of the month at 12 noon in the Hall of Nations. There are no meetings in June, July, and August. A lite lunch and homemade Czech pastries are served. Our meetings include cottage business and educational and entertaining programs.

Open House
The Cottage is open every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 12 noon to 5 pm. Members of the cottage take alternate hosting duties each Sunday. Plates of sample bakery, coffee, and lemonade are available for tasting.

Lawn Program
The members celebrate the October 1918 founding of the Country of Czechoslovakia on the third Sunday in October with a Lawn Program of singing, dancing and music as well as offering Czech/Slovak food and bakery for sale to Park visitors.

Ethnic Food Fair
Our members participate in the annual Food Fair in the Park on the last Sunday in May, serving their ethnic foods, bakery, and drinks.

December Nights
Cottage members also participate in the annual International Christmas Festival during the Balboa Park December Nites festivities sponsored by the City of San Diego on the first Friday/Saturday in December. Ethnic food, bakery and drinks are offered for sale to thousands of San Diegans who attend.

Social Events
The Czechs and Slovaks like to have fun. In December we have our annual Christmas Party at the Marriott Hotel in Mission Valley featuring our great accordian players. in June we enjoy a Family Picnic in the Park with food, fun, and games.

Czech/Slovak movies are enjoyed by the members and shown in the Hall of Nations during the year.

Scholarship Program:
The members of the cottage contribute every year to the Cultural Music Program at San Diego State University.

The Maserak Foundation is also funded by the Czech/Slovak Cottage.

Outside Contributions
Members participate by invitation in various fairs and school programs by providing information about our Czech and Slovak heritage.

Czech Republic & Slovakia
Slovakia was ruled for a millennium by Hungary.  In 1918 they united with Czechoslovakia, and for 74 years they were a Union.
In 1989 with the collapse of the Soviet Authority, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom.

On January 1, 1993 the country underwent a separation into its two national components as we know it today.  The Czech Republic and Slovakia.  Both countries are now members of NATO, and are integrated into the world markets.

Czech Customs to predict the future:
Fortune telling and predicting the future has obsessed mankind for ages, and at Christmastime there are traditions that are still practiced today.

Walnut shells are cut in half and a candle is placed in it.  The shell is floated on a bowl of water, if it makes it across the bowl, the person will live a healthy long life.  If it sinks it will bring bad luck.

Young girls always want to know if they are getting married in the year to come.  This is the way to find out. On Barbora’s Day, December 4th, a maiden will cut a branch of a cherry tree and place it in water. If the branch blooms by Christmas Eve, she will get married within a year.
She can also throw a shoe over her shoulder aiming at the door. If the toe of the shoe points toward the door, she will be a bride within a year.

If a goat is given apples to eat on Christmas eve, the milk will be sweet.

If hens are fed poppyseeds, peas wheat and barley, they will lay lots of eggs the following year.

A Cookbook is Coming
All the fantastic cooks of the Czech and Slovak House are in the process to publish a cookbook. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to prepare some of their authentic dishes.

To enhance the cookbook, a dessert cooking class is in the planning stage.

Czech Republic
Land Area: 78,886 sq km                               
Population:  10,228,744 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Prague                                         
Language:  Czech 94.9%, Slovak 2%, other 2.3%, unidentified 0.8% (2001 census)
Religion:  Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)
Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Economy:The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-05 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment.
Export: machinery and transport equipment 52%, chemicals 5%, raw materials and fuel 9% (2003)

Slovakia
Land Area: 49,630 sq km                              
Population:  5,447,502 (July 2007 est.)
Capital City: Bratislava      
Language:  Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)
Religion:  Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)
Form of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Economy: Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business friendly policies such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax.
Export: vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)

Click map for larger view

Source: The World Factbook - Czech Republic and Slovakia