Masopust— A Czech Tradition

CRESCO - With Snowfest under our belts it is time to look forward to local celebrations and events. Masopust is next up. The traditional Czech celebration. The Pre-Lent Carnival and Czech-style Mardi Gras celebration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Protivin Community Center.

The celebration, chaired by Audrey Novak and co-chaired by Ken and Lois Zajicek, has been put together to bring an afternoon of music, dance and fun.

 

On the Plate, 

Refreshments

“We will have the traditional Czech meal as in the past for this event,” said Lois Zajicek. “Breaded pork, jaternice, dumplings, sauerkraut, parsley potatoes, dill gravy, tomato cucumber salad, rye bread, rohlicky, rye bread, kolaches and poppy seed cake.”

Catering will be done by Val’s Catering and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.

Additionally, there will be kolaches available for sale throughout the celebration until they are sold out.

“Last year we had a huge request for the reds,” said Novak. “The kolaches, for sale by the dozen will be cherry, strawberry, raspberry and poppy seed. This is in contrast to the meal which will have the more traditional kolaches of prune, apricot and poppy seed.”

Not food, but almost as important to the cooking process is the Czech pastry feathers.

“We have a dozen pastry feathers that will be for sale as well,” said Novak. “These pastry feathers will be the last of the last as the gentleman who made them, Larry Vilda, has passed.”

This year the featured adult beverage will be Pilsner Urquell. There will also be CzechVar.

 

Entertainment, Music

Malek’s Fisherman band will be performing, starting when the doors open at 1 p.m. But that’s not the end of the entertainment and music. 

The ever-popular skit will be part of the day’s festivities. Bozena will once again grace the stage in “Bozena’s Fortune.” The cast includes Audrey Novak (Bozena), Vosek (Gerald Busta), Kosek (Michael Klimesh), Draveck (Jim Zajicek), Jarslov (Ken Zajicek) and Terezie (Eileen Tlusty).

“This play works off last year’s play with the same characters,” said Ken Zajicek. “Bozena is again being pursued by several suitors. There is a villain, a protective father, a gentleman who is over his head financially, and of course there has to be blackmailing involved in the skit.”

There will also be 50/50 and poker available, if guests like games of chance, and a photo booth.

 

V.I.P Guest

“This year we have a special guest coming to Masopust,” said Novak. “Borek Lize, Ph.D., The Consulate: General of the Czech Republic in Chicago will be with us as well. That is unless he gets called away.”

Also on hand with be a return guest, Peter Vodenka from Minneapolis. He will have his book, “Journey for Freedom,” available for sale.

 

Scholarship

The presentation to the recipient of the Joseph J. and Martha M. Pecinovsky Scholarship will also take place at Masopust. The $750 scholarship is awarded to a senior of Czech and/or Slovak descent. Last year’s winner was Sarah Schoeberl of Cresco.

If you haven’t already gotten your ticket(s) you may want to move fast. There were 225 tickets available and there are roughly 25 left. Tickets will not be available at the door. Get those tickets from any Czech Heritage Partnership Board member or call Audrey Novak at 563-419-4100 or Gene Kovarik at 563-569-8463. Everyone welcome. Vitame Vas!