Czech Tramping
Encyclopedia
Czech tramping or in Czech
, simply, tramping, is a movement that combines a trajectory towards nature (and away from the city) with imaginative play based on ideas of "Amerika." It manifests itself in distinctive clothing style and weekend and vacation trips, and even musical performance.
Czech interest in "Amerika" dates to the nineteenth century, when Bohemia
and Moravia
(and most of Central Europe
) were provinces of the Austrian Empire
. Writings about the United States
to Czechs through journalistic and monographic reports by Jan Náprstek and others highlighted to exotic degrees the natural and cultural richness of "Amerika" (to use the word that Praguer Franz Kafka
used as the title of his 1927 novel).
The introduction of the worldwide scouting
movement to the region coincided roughly with the beginnings of the popularity of "western" novelist Karl May
, a German, and the formation of the first Czechoslovak Republic
. The economic successes of the new nation and its many political and social links to the US (the first Czech President, Tomáš Masaryk
, for example was married to Charlotte Garrigue
, scion of a prominent American family, and part of the reason for Masaryk's success in convincing Woodrow Wilson
to support the inception of Czechoslovakia) meant that Czechs' interest in things American continued in earnest. Films starring Tom Mix
and the "modernistic" strains of the latest foxtrots and tango
s were some of the many cultural imports.
Tramping, not to be confused with simple hiking
, is a pastime that was born out of the interwar period's pressures and opportunities. Saturated with idyllic images of the American West and seeking respite from the pressures of modernizing urban life, many Czechs hightailed it off into the woods. Tramp settlements with names like "Hudson," "Little Bighorn," and "Swanee" soon became the temporary homes for scores of Czechs impersonating cowboy
s, "Red Indians," forty-niners
, and other American characters.
What began as a weekend pastime gained serious import during World War II
, when forays into the woods became as illegal as they were culturally and socially necessary. Americanist musical expressions such as those that had enlivened interwar tramps' campfire gatherings became more politically potent as well as more uniquely Czech. After 1948's Communist takeover, tramping's rebellious streak continued. Interestingly, the sort of Americanist music that thrived as part of this movement was not ever seriously repressed. The sentimental nature of much of the repertory of "tramp songs" made it much less objectionable than rock and roll
and jazz
.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
, simply, tramping, is a movement that combines a trajectory towards nature (and away from the city) with imaginative play based on ideas of "Amerika." It manifests itself in distinctive clothing style and weekend and vacation trips, and even musical performance.
Czech interest in "Amerika" dates to the nineteenth century, when Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
and Moravia
Moravia
Moravia is a historical region in Central Europe in the east of the Czech Republic, and one of the former Czech lands, together with Bohemia and Silesia. It takes its name from the Morava River which rises in the northwest of the region...
(and most of Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
) were provinces of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. Writings about the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Czechs through journalistic and monographic reports by Jan Náprstek and others highlighted to exotic degrees the natural and cultural richness of "Amerika" (to use the word that Praguer Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
used as the title of his 1927 novel).
The introduction of the worldwide scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
movement to the region coincided roughly with the beginnings of the popularity of "western" novelist Karl May
Karl May
Karl Friedrich May was a popular German writer, noted mainly for adventure novels set in the American Old West, and similar books set in the Orient and Middle East . In addition, he wrote stories set in his native Germany, in China and in South America...
, a German, and the formation of the first Czechoslovak Republic
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. The economic successes of the new nation and its many political and social links to the US (the first Czech President, Tomáš Masaryk
Tomáš Masaryk
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk , sometimes called Thomas Masaryk in English, was an Austro-Hungarian and Czechoslovak politician, sociologist and philosopher, who as an eager advocate of Czechoslovak independence during World War I became the founder and first President of Czechoslovakia, also was...
, for example was married to Charlotte Garrigue
Charlotte Garrigue
Charlotte Garrigue Masaryk was the wife of the Czechoslovak philosopher, sociologist, politician and president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia....
, scion of a prominent American family, and part of the reason for Masaryk's success in convincing Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to support the inception of Czechoslovakia) meant that Czechs' interest in things American continued in earnest. Films starring Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
and the "modernistic" strains of the latest foxtrots and tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
s were some of the many cultural imports.
Tramping, not to be confused with simple hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, is a pastime that was born out of the interwar period's pressures and opportunities. Saturated with idyllic images of the American West and seeking respite from the pressures of modernizing urban life, many Czechs hightailed it off into the woods. Tramp settlements with names like "Hudson," "Little Bighorn," and "Swanee" soon became the temporary homes for scores of Czechs impersonating cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s, "Red Indians," forty-niners
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, and other American characters.
What began as a weekend pastime gained serious import during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when forays into the woods became as illegal as they were culturally and socially necessary. Americanist musical expressions such as those that had enlivened interwar tramps' campfire gatherings became more politically potent as well as more uniquely Czech. After 1948's Communist takeover, tramping's rebellious streak continued. Interestingly, the sort of Americanist music that thrived as part of this movement was not ever seriously repressed. The sentimental nature of much of the repertory of "tramp songs" made it much less objectionable than rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
.