Czech Republic

The Czech Republic was created from the splitting of Czechoslovakia in 1992 into the Czech Republic, with its capital Prague, and Slovakia. The region has been wealthy since medieval times and as a result there have been many forms of play. Good King Wenceslas, from the Christmas carol of the same name, was based on the Czech king Vaclav, who was murdered in 929 b.c.e. During the Middle Ages, great tournaments were held in Prague, which included jousting and other tests of strength and military prowess.

Boys from wealthier families spent their time as pages, with many working to master heraldry. Descriptions of fairs from the late Middle Ages mention juggling, fire-breathing, bear-baiting, fortunetelling, the sale of “lucky” potions, and other forms of entertainment. [Page 166]Puppets—both hand puppets and string puppets (or marionettes)—were also common throughout the region then known as Bohemia. Festivals such as the Fastnacht are celebrated each year before the Christian period of Lent, with folk-dancing in the streets, fancy dress parades, and general merriment.

Because of the wealth of Prague, from the 16th century on, many games such as those involving playing cards became common among the wealthier people, and an increase in schooling led to the start of school-organized sporting events including rowing. In spite of the devastation of the region during the Thirty Years' War (1618–8), the region recovered economically, and as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until World War I, Bohemia became the center for much of the culture of central Europe, including music, theatrical performances, and the manufacture of toys such as dolls for girls and mechanical items, which came to interest generations of boys. Chess in particular was a popular pastime, with many Chess pieces in Bohemia made with “Crows-nests”—raised thick platforms. From the 1930s, some of the Czech Grandmasters were internationally recognized as being among the best in the world. The Sachovy Svaz Ceske Republiky still oversees the playing of Chess in the Czech Republic.

The country—as Czechoslovakia—was an independent country after World War I, and from after World War II until 1990, it was controlled by a Communist government. During the years of independence, there was a heavy emphasis on school sports and pastimes, with soccer becoming popular, as well as tennis, golf, hockey, and other recreational sports. Hiking and cycling also attracted many people, and the Sokol movement organized gymnastic performances.

During the Communist period, there were close ties with the Soviet Union, and it became hard to get Western games in the country, although circuses and dancing remained popular, and there were a number of iceskating rinks built in the country. The situation changed completely in 1990, and many Western European-style amusement arcades were established, as well as there being an increase in ice-hockey stadiums, 10-pin-bowling alleys, and a Grand Prix circuit built in the city of Brno.

During the Communist period, children were encouraged to play with electrical circuit boards at schools, and there has long been an interest in robotic toys, remote-controlled cars, and airplanes, which has continued to the present day. There was a Czech version of the board game Monopoly, with the streets all depicting Prague. However, board games lost their popularity during the 1990s, with many children taking to computer games. Wargaming for the events of the Hussite Wars, the Thirty Years' War, and the Seven Years' War has long been popular, and there are now many computer games that refer to that conflict and others involving the Czech Republic.

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