The Czech Ball

Well, just when I was beginning to think, I knew the Czechs, they surprise us with another new tradition. They have a custom of having balls in the winter months. Feb or March are the most popular and everyone has one. The University, each
department at the university, grade schools for the teachers and parents, factories, and even towns will have these giant balls. People get all dressed up and bands are hired and of course there is eating and drinking. Anyone can go to any ball they want and you could go to a different one every weekend from about the middle of January until the end of March. We decided to go to the University ball for the cultural experience and it certainly was one!!. I dug out my old dinner dress and made a few alterations. Ken went to the local re-sale shop and got a sports jacket. They were having 5 CZK day ( about 30 cents) and Ken got this great, double breasted, wide lapel shark-skin suit,..very retro (or maybe an original!). We met with our friends Eva and Jaromir and Dasa and Jiri and planned a night of it. The party started at 7:00 and when we left at 2:00 am it was still going strong. They had the main ballroom with a big band and famous Praha singers. They also had a second dance floor with a folk band. There must have been 1000-1500 people there. Students, faculty, staff, all dancing, drinking and having a great time. Even Ken danced a couple of dances,..amazing. Of course the food was traditional Czech food,..big legs of smoked pork that they would slice off some pieces and give you that with rye bread and mustard,...There was also bottles of red and white Czech wine on every table and little open faced sandwiches. Naturally there was lots of beer on tap and other drinks. Throughout the evening they had guest professional dancers that did dancing displays and there was a big raffle at midnight. When we left, all of the women were handed a long stemmed rose.
It was so much fun and everyone was just enjoying themselves. The weather was mild that night,..50F so it was a totally beautiful evening. We kept wondering if there
was anything comparable in the US and we don't really think so. Maybe factory Christmas parties or University Homecoming Dances. But somehow they are different. Maybe it is because it is done in the middle of winter and everyone really gets excited about getting out, dressing up and doing something. Maybe it is the almost innocent air about the participants carefree dancing. I don't know,...it sure was fun and another great Czech experience!