Masopust—A Czech Tradition

Protivin - Celebrating tradition with style.

That’s what Protivin does every year with Masopust, the Czech-style Mardi Gras event of the year! The Pre-Lent Carnival  will be held on Saturday, March 2, at the Protivin Community Center.

Tickets are well-worth the $35 pre-sale price. The doors open at noon, with a traditional supper at 6 p.m. In between times, there is always something going on, including music, live and silent auctions, a skit, snacks, beverages and fellowship!

Litoradlice is the Coat of Arms for this year. Descendents from that Czechoslavakian town include Kuboushek, Novotny, Luzum and possibly others.

 

Music and more!

• Barefoot Becky & the Ivanhoe Dutchmen will start playing at 1 p.m. and off-and-on all afternoon.

• How can a person go to a Protivin event without picking up some kolaches? You can’t! Get there early to grab your favorites during the sale. There will be a variety of flavors from which to choose.

Besides the traditional pastry, there will be commemorative items for sale, which include the Coat of Arms for 2019.

• This year the featured adult beverage will be Pilsner Urquell. There will also be CzechVar, if available

• As always, visitors are encouraged to wear their ethnic costumes, Czech or otherwise. Masopust is a time to be proud of your heritage, so suit up and show your colors!

• All afternoon, guests can check out the live and silent auction items. One special item is the painted ostrich egg. Eileen Tlusty supplies the egg, and this year, Sara Neuzil of the Kuboushek clan will be the artist.

The live auction will begin around 4 p.m. Richard Shindelar is the auctioneer, assisted by his wife, Darlene, and Erica Tlusty.

• Door prizes will be given all afternoon. Guests can also participate in a 50/50 game of chance and a photo booth.

• Unfortunately, there will be no scholarship given this year, but it is hoped it will continue in 2020.

 

Skit

The ever-popular Czech skit will be performed around 2 p.m. Tlusty commented, “This one is funnier than [heck]! I’m going to be the maid, and I find a lover!”

The skit is a tried-and-true tradition of Masopust. Tlusty purchased several boxes of papers saved by the late Mary Hudecek. Inside were all sorts of plays and skits written in the Czech language.

“Between me and Joann Dostal, we translated the skits. Sometimes the dialogue needs to be adjusted since translating Czech to English is backwards. Keith Klimesh is the narrator and producer and helps clean it up,” Tlusty said.

Ken Zajicek added, “This year’s play is called ‘Pryc od Zen’ (Away from Women), and it is not politically correct!”

Those locals who are participating in the skit this year include Jim Zajicek as  Florian Kakabus, a wealthy, opinionated elder man; Audrey Novak as Milca, his adopted daughter; Gerald Busta as Jarka Stulik, First Lieutenant (Kakabus’s nephew);  Steve Klimesh as Alois Beranak, manservant;  Eileen Tlusty as Karolina, maid at the Kakabus’ home; and Gordy Pecinovsky as Spesny,  the lawyer/notary.

 

Special Guests

Part of the awesomeness of Masopust is how those not from Protivin, Iowa attend to feel closer to the “old country.” 

This year, Peter Vodenka, who wrote about his defection from Communist Czechoslovakia, will again be at the event. In addition, he will speak of his escape at South Winn School.

Also attending is Cecilia Rokusek, president and CEP of the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids. She began her job on Sept. 1, 2018.

 

Mmmmm . . . food

The traditional Czech meal of breaded pork, jaternice, dumplings, sauerkraut, parsley potatoes, dill gravy, tomato cucumber salad, rye bread, rohlicky, kolaches and poppy seed cake, will be the evening meal.

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

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

You don’t have to be Czech to enjoy the party! In fact, the people of Protivin may show you a thing or two about throwing a celebration! Czech it out on March 2!