The majority of Czechs (40 percent) are Roman Catholic with a smaller number (4 percent) adhering to Protestant denominations. Czech is the official language. Community festivals such as polka celebrations and hourby (mushroom) hunting contest continue to play a prominent role in Czech American culture. Around the church some celebration took place by early immigrants. At box supper fund raisers, women baked their fanciest dinners and put them into boxes decorated with crepe paper, hearts, and ribbons to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Customs frequently were derived from old pagan traditions. On Palm Sunday, children created an effigy of Smrt (death), a life size straw doll that might be dressed in rags and have a necklace of eggs.
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Czech superstitions include the belief that a bird that flies into a house is an omen of death. A dream about a body of water could also mean that a death would occur. Pebbles were placed inside eggshell rattles made for children, to drive away evil spirits. A garnet that dimmed while worn on the body was thought to be a sign of melancholy. Most Americans are familiar with polka, but few of them know that is a Czech courtship dance. The Polka originated in Prague in 1837. Derived from the Czech word for half, as it is dance with a half step. Another popular dance is the beseda, a collection of mazurkas, polkas, and waltzes arranged accordingly to local tradition and performed at festivals. And melodies like the koledy, dudy and tamburash, sung at Christmas, New Year, and Eastern. Czech Americans celebrate Christmas on December 24 with a ceremonial dinner. Domestic culture revolves around the family and this takes precedence over social life. Roles are clearly defined, men as the breadwinner and practical tasks, while women are expected to prioritize childcare over work. There is a state generous maternity benefits of up to four years of maternity leave. They tend to be reserved and appear distant until
Czech superstitions include the belief that a bird that flies into a house is an omen of death. A dream about a body of water could also mean that a death would occur. Pebbles were placed inside eggshell rattles made for children, to drive away evil spirits. A garnet that dimmed while worn on the body was thought to be a sign of melancholy. Most Americans are familiar with polka, but few of them know that is a Czech courtship dance. The Polka originated in Prague in 1837. Derived from the Czech word for half, as it is dance with a half step. Another popular dance is the beseda, a collection of mazurkas, polkas, and waltzes arranged accordingly to local tradition and performed at festivals. And melodies like the koledy, dudy and tamburash, sung at Christmas, New Year, and Eastern. Czech Americans celebrate Christmas on December 24 with a ceremonial dinner. Domestic culture revolves around the family and this takes precedence over social life. Roles are clearly defined, men as the breadwinner and practical tasks, while women are expected to prioritize childcare over work. There is a state generous maternity benefits of up to four years of maternity leave. They tend to be reserved and appear distant until