Today, 28th October, is the 90th anniversary of formation of Czechoslovakia as an independent Republic. This occurred on 28 October 1918. This event separated this nation from the Austro-Hungarian Empire; a dual-monarchy with The Habsburg dynasty ruling as Emperors of Austria over the western and northern half of the country and where the Kings of Hungary ruled over the Eastern part as well as the Kingdom of Hungary which already enjoyed self-government at that time.
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who became a good friend of Woodrow Wilson's, was elected the country's first president in the 1920 elections and his guidance helped to hold the country together in its formative years. Masaryk presented the Declaration of Independence of the Czechoslovak Nation to Woodrow Wilson on Oct. 18, 1918, 10 days before the proclamation of the Czechoslovak Republic in Prague. Masaryk, is also considered this country’s founder.
At 1300 today, there will be quite a large parade here in Prague to commemorate and celebrate this 90th anniversary. It has been stated that there will be 1,692 participants (? - strange number) and almost 200 pieces of military hardware during the 2 hour parade down Everopska street in the area of Prague known as Dejvice. This should to be quite a spectacle. This will be the first really large military parade since the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the end of Communism.
http://www.oslavavyroci.cz/slavnostni-prehlidka
And of course, it is a National Holiday as well. Most people have a vacation day today, and I also have a day off from work as well. ;-) It is certainly nice to have a 4 day work week this week.
ASIDE: and per yesterday's course: I am now Certified to administer and proctor ETS TOEIC English Language exams anywhere in the Czech Republic. Vyborne!
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