The tradition of carnival festivities visited the campus of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague for the first time this year and, it seems, took root there immediately. The enthusiasm accompanying the parade of masquerades on the campus and at the stops at the individual faculties was endless. We can inscribe Fat Thursday in the university events calendar.
As befits a masquerade, they did not miss a single opportunity to entertain and cheer up everyone around them. Whether they were random passers-by, in this case, students and academics or faculty staff, who, in return for spreading good cheer, prepared a warm welcome and carnival treats for them.
But the main thing was yet to come. When the procession arrived at the central square by the sundial, the rector of the university, Petr Sklenička, gave it its audience, and a moment of tense anticipation came:
“Esteemed Mr. Rector, the Old Bohemian masquerade has come to greet you warmly and to ask your grace to grant an official permission to visit the Czech University of Life Sciences, which is your kingdom, from your power. In return, the masquerade can promise you that it will behave decently, will not tease virgins and girls too much, and will not harm the property of the neighbors. It will only dance and play music, maybe even drink a little. We wish everyone a good time; it signifies good health!”
It would be challenging to respond negatively to such a request. “Esteemed Old Bohemian masquerade, I will grant your request; I will allow the carnival. Whistle and jump very high so that this year, there will be a rich harvest. To that end, I am lending you the symbolic key to our university. But only for today!”
With these words, the rector of CZU, Petr Sklenička, kicked off the carnival festivities, which inevitably included good food and drink. The amateur theater group Komedianti from the Prague-Suchdol Children's and Youth Center also provided good entertainment with demonstrations of authentic Moravian carnival.
The day-long program offered a unique combination of tradition, entertainment, tastes, and smells. We could watch demonstrations of traditional crafts, the slaughter of a pig, and other carnival rituals. Fresh slaughter specialties from the kitchen of the Food Pavilion and the CZU Canteen were on the menu throughout the event. Products from local artists, calendars of forgotten traditions, notebooks of forgotten traditions, ceramics, and even a ceramic bazaar were available for viewing and purchase.
„We were happy to take the opportunity to bring this beautiful old Bohemian tradition to our campus. I see it as a great opportunity to connect the richness of national traditions with the unique atmosphere of the academic environment. I am extremely grateful to everyone who participated in the preparations for the carnival premiere. According to the response from students, academics, and university employees, it was a success. So next year on Fat Thursday, we will be happy to repeat it,” says Alena Vlková, the main organizer of the CZU carnival and the head of the Poníček Children's Group.
