About Slovakia

EDUCATION IN SLOVAKIA

The educational system in Slovakia has been reformed for several times. Our school system comprises four main grades,namely ,the pre – school stage, the basic ( elementary or primary ) grade, the secondary and higher education, including the university.
Nowadays there are a lot of private nursery, primary secondary schools and a few universities. The first of those – the pre – school grade provides appropriate care for the youngest group of children and is not compulsory. There are not many nurseries or creches for infants from the age of three months to three years these days. Kids from the age of three to six attend kindergartens.
School attendance is compulsory for all children from the age of six to sixteen.. At the basic schools they learn, Slovak, foreign languages – usually English, German, French, Russian,then history, geography, chemistry, biology,physics,maths, physical training, art, civics, music.
Boys and girls over 15 are given secondary education at secondary schools like grammar schools, technical schools, trade schools, vocational schools and art schools .
Those who want to attend general secondary or vocational schools must study hard to pass an entrance exam. At secondary schools they learn general school subjects and the ones typical for their branch of study. For vocational schools it is necessary to practise their theoretical knowledge at special training centres where the students are being prepared for future professions They finish the school with a skill certificate and the report from their school leaving exam at the age of 18.
This qualifies them to university studies if they finish the secondary school successfully , of course. University education includes the study at Universities, Technical Universities, Economical Universities and Colleges, Art Acamemy where students take various academic degrees – Bachelor, Master, PhD,..The largest and oldest university is Commenius University in Bratislava.
Some young Slovaks decide to study at foreign universities in neighbouring countries , most of all in the Czech Republic ( Prague, Brno, .. ) , Austria ( Vienna). Studying abroad is extremely useful for them because they can improve language skills, try to live independently and rely on themselves. This usually makes them become more confident and along with professional experience and skills they can be more prepared for a labour market.

 

FOLKLORE

Slovakia is rich in folklore which includes folk songs, dances, musical Instruments , folk costumes and a lot of customs and traditions keeping all the year round.  Christianity was the  base for our ancestors  to show, humility ,gratitude and respect  to God in the form of singing, dancing, playing the musical Instruments  and keeping  social rules , manners and behaviour.

In the past sheep breeding  was widespread in our country . That´s why a typical Slovak musical instrument is connected with shepherds who liked spending time  playng the shepherd´s pipe.  You hardly ever find a similar instrument in other countries. It is unique, valuable and often given as a Slovak souvenir to foreign visitors.

Next musical Instruments are a double bass, violin, stumblebum,pipes,cymbalo.

Nowadays a folk costume  is used   only for special occasions  , in folklore ensambles during their performances  and for representing  of Slovakia . In this map you can see a wide variety of folk costumes . All of them are rich in embroideries, laces, ribbons  of different colours and patterns – according to regions.

Lendak is  situated in the north of Slovakia , near the Slovak- Polish border.This   village is known for  wearing folk costumes and keeping traditions even these days , Folk costumes are used  for special occasions, Christmas, Easter , going to church . All the family members have own folk costumes and  they are proud of wearing them.

Dancing folk dances , singing folk songs and playing traditional music is possible to learn in many folklore ensambles.From small children at the age of three up to pensioners – all of them enjoy spending time there and their common performances.

The most famous ensambles are Lúčnica, Sľuk,  and in our town – Považská Bystrica -popular ensambles are Považan  and Bystričan.

 

HISTORY OF SLOVAKIA

Slovakia is attractive for foreign visitors also because of its history, valuable historical sights, fairytale castles, old cities, towns and villages as well.

They can trace the history from the first important point – the Great Moravian Empire. In 863 two Byzantine missionaries  Constantine and Methodius were called to Great Moravia . Their mission was enormously important for the people of the country because they created the Slavonic script and brought  Christianity to the region. Liturgical speech   was easy to understand also  for common people.

When the Great Moravian Empire disintegrated in the 10th century, the territory of Slovakia became a part of an early feudal  Hungarian state and later the most industrial part of the Austrian – Hungarian Monarchy . Under the reign of  Maria Theresa  a lot of Slovaks lived and worked on the Court and helped develop  the country ( e,g. Adam František Kollár, Matej Bell).

In 1918 the World War I ended and the Austrian – Hungarian Monarchy was divided into 7 independent states . Slovakia and  the Czech Republic created one common state – Czechoslovakia along with Ruthenia  in the eastern part of Slovakia. Czechoslovakia was famous for industry, culture,sport and transport.

In 1945 after the World War II the period of socialism started  and lasted  till  November 1989 when the  Velvet Revolution opened a new era of democracy.

In January 1993 Czechoslovakia was divided into two independent countries  – the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic with all the state symbols – a flag, sign, currency, government , president…Michal Kováč was the first president of the Slovak Republic. Since then our country has been developing  engineering industry – especially car industry, agriculture and also tourism. Slovakia offers lots of interesting and attractive opportunities for spending your holidays and relax.

People all over the world can  recognize our country and show their interest when our  famous sportsmen and sportswomen ( Dominika Cibulková, Peter Sagan, Veronika Velez Zuzulová, Škandárovci and others) win important tournaments, races or championships.

In 2004 Slovakia became a member of the European Union. It means new opportunities for the Slovaks to travel , to study, to work and spend holidays abroad , to get to know new people, their culture and way of life . Nowadays travelling is much easier, you need just ID card, you don´t have to exchange money , because all the members of the EU use common currency –EURO.

 

SPRING TRADITIONS IN SLOVAKIA

Spring traditions belong to the ones  which are kept  at present, more in villages than in towns or cities. They are Shrovetide and Easter.

Shrovetide was the time of weddings, fun , entertainment  ,  food and drinks in abundance.

In the past it was the time when there was nothing to do on the fields and in the gardens , that´s why they enjoyed it very much. This period was shorter or longer – it was given according to the date of Easter. People could afford enough food , traditional dougnuts, cakes meat and products from their domestic animals .

Here you can see procession wit the figure of Morena, which is symbol of winter , ilnes and death. Morena is usually thrown to the river because people want to get rid of all the evil .

Ash Wednesday is the special day . It is the end of Shrovertide  and begining of the Lent.  One day before  Ash Wednesday people put on fancy costumes , play   folk music , sing folk songs and dance with people they meet in the streets and in villages go from house to house , they get  some food , doughnuts, bacon, eggs, and so on. There are a lot of  balls and parties and finally they bury a double bass as a symbol of the end of  the time of entertainment and preparation for the 40-day-long Lent . It is the time for eating simple food , giving up some enjoyments, meditations, tidying in your soul and your homes.The main reason is to prepare yourself for  celebration of Easter.

You can see keeping traditions in our school.

Easter is a festival that occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon in spring.In Christian countries Easter is a religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

At the beginning of The Great Holy Week is Palm Sunday  to commemorate Jesus triumphal entry to Jerusalem.  He was greeted by crowds of people  waving branches of palm trees . We don´t have palm trees   so on Palm Sunday we consecrated so called lambs´- tails – they are the branches of willow like you can see int his slide. And why willow ? Because  these lambs´- tails are still the same all the year round  and our life should be characteristic by our stability in belief and doing good acts. They also serve like a protection against evil and illnesses.

This slide shows typical dyed Easter eggs which are a symbol of a new life  usually given to male visitors  on Easter Monday . Boys and men  whip girls and women  and water them to stay beautiful and healthy. Whips are made of willow branches  and are decorated with ribbons getting from girls .

This shocking slide shows  extremely terrible traditions keeping easpecially in the eastern parts of Slovakia . The boys and men are not very gentle because they use buckets of cold water  to splash the girl. Maybe that´s  why the girls from eastern Skovakia are supposed to be the most beautiful  women not only in our country.