The Bohemian Crystal Restaurant in Westmont was the setting for our very successful December CSAGSI meeting and program. 120 members and guests gathered for a very festive luncheon of traditional Czech fare....roast pork, chicken, knedlicky(dumplings), zeli(sauerkraut), and kolacky, etc... Candy cane favors created by Hospitality Chairman, Louise Rokos, decorated the tables.
After a short meeting, our very special program speaker, Lillian Kasparik Chorvat, was introduced. Her topic was Christmas Customs of Old Czechoslovakia. Lillian is well known to the Czech and Slovak community of Chicago for her many years of active participation in Czech musical and drama programs. She is an active member of the United Moravian Societies and the original curator and librarian of the Czechoslovak Heritage Museum from 1974 to 1992. Currently she is active as a Czech Eulogist.
Lillian, appropriately attired in a kroj reminiscent to the Valaske region of Moravia, covered many of the Christmas traditions followed by Czechs and Slovaks from the early days of December with St. Barbara and St. Nicholas Days through the early days of January with the celebration of the Three Kings on January 6th.
Family games, typical food served during the holiday season, religious observances, and songs of the period were shared. The audience participated with the sharing of the Oplatka wafers, and in a fun rendition of a Moravian carol about bagpipes. Lillian led the group in several songs.
Doorprizes of poinsettia plants, Czech and Slovak style Christmas greeting cards, and Czech lanquage and tradition books were part of the afternoon's festivities.
Besides the 120 at the luncheon, 17 more joined in for the program bringing our
attendance to a near capacity crowd for the banquet room of the Bohemian Crystal.
