Hody, půsty, masopusty – Skopová Kamila (2014)

The new edition of the out-of-print book by the popular artist and ethnographer Kamila Skopová (1944) titled Hody, půsty, masopusty loosely follows her previous publications, especially Rodinné stříbro, Vánoční svátky o století zpátky, and Rok na vsi. Here, too, she presents to the reader the events surrounding all the important holidays, customs, traditions, and celebrations of the Czech calendar year in her characteristic way. The individual sections of the book are organized by seasons and detail both the age-old superstitions, customs, and recipes, as well as forgotten children's games. More skilled readers will find inspiring instructions for making various toys and traditional items, while homemakers will appreciate recipes for preparing old Czech Lenten and festive dishes. A unique document that showcases the life and traditions of previous generations with their healthy simplicity, humility, and values that are often overlooked today. The book combines ethnographic documentary quality with clarity, practicality, and entertainment, making it a source of knowledge and fun for the widest spectrum of readers, from grandparents to grandchildren. – The text is richly supplemented not only with illustrations and instructive drawings but also with a number of color photographs.