Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the Spring of 2004 ...
Slovakia aka the Slovak Republic was originally the eastern portion of Czechoslovakia. It is a small landlocked republic in Central Europe bordering the Czech Republic and Austria in the west, Poland in the north, Ukraine in the east and Hungary in the south. With a population of over five million, Slovakia is a member of the European Union. The capital is Bratislava.
In this lens I hope to give you a good overview of everything Slovakia including the history, steps to freedom, politics, people, and geography. Since I first created this lens, I've found so many excellent YouTube videos which I've selected to showcase to give you a better feel for The Slovak Republic. Some videos that really "touched" me include the "Hidden History" of Slovakia and many showing the Roma or gypsies. I hope you enjoy what I've presented here!
Slovakia, The Slovak Republic, at a glance
The Slovak Republic (short form: Slovakia ; Slovak: , long form ) is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia borders the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is its capital, Bratislava. Slovakia is a member state of the European Union, NATO, UN, OECD, WTO, UNESCO and other international organizations.
The Slavs arrived in the territory of present Slovakia between the fifth and sixth centuries AD during the Migration Period. In the course of history, various parts of today's Slovakia belonged to Samo's Empire (the first known political unit of Slavs), Great Moravia, Kingdom of Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian Empire or Habsburg Empire, and Czechoslovakia. An independent Slovak state was created for a brief period during World War II, during which Slovakia was a dependency of Nazi Germany 1939?1944. From 1945 Slovakia once again became a part of Czechoslovakia.
The present-day Slovakia became an independent state on January 1, 1993 after the dissolution of its federation with the Czech Republic.
Slovakia is a high-income advanced economyWorld Bank Country Classification, 2007Advanced economies - IMF with the fastest growth rates in the EU and OECD. It joined the European Union in 2004 and joined the Eurozone on the 1st of January, 2009.
Slovakia Steps to Freedom
Without freedom there would be NO Slovak Superstar!
- In 1918, the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia.
- Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe.
- In 1989, Soviet influence collapsed and Czechoslovakia once more became free.
- On January 1, 1993, the Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully.
- In the Spring of 2004, Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU.
Hidden History of Slovakia 1942 - Part I
The Slovak Republic Flag
The Slovak Republic flag has three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side. Slovakia videos
Politics of Slovakia
Politics of Slovakia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system. Legislative power is vested in the parliament and it can be exerced in some cases also by the government or directly by citizens. Executive power is exercised by the government led by the Prime Minister. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The President is the head of the state.
Slavic People
The Slovak language
The Slovak language ('', sloven?ina , not to be confused with sloven??ina, or Slovenian''), is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages (together with Czech, Polish, Silesian, Kashubian, and Sorbian).
Slovak is spoken in Slovakia (by 5 million people), the United States (500,000), the Czech Republic (320,000), Serbia (60,000),
Ireland (30,000), Romania (22,000), Hungary (20,000), Poland (20,000), Canada (20,000), Croatia (5,000), Australia, Austria, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
Slovakia Facts
- Land Area: Total: 48,845 sq km; land: 48,800; sq km; water: 45 sq km. About twice the size of New Hampshire.
- Borders: Total: 1,524 km. Border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km.
- Population: 5,439,448 (July 2006 est.)
- Ethnic Groups: Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census).
- Languages: Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census).
- Religions: Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census).
- Government: Parliamentary democracy.
- Independence: January 1, 1993 -- Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia [Slovak Republic].
- Capital: Bratislava.
- Agriculture: Grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products.
- Natural Resources: Brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land.
- GDP (purchasing power parity): $85.56 billion (2005 est.).
- Industries: Metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products.
Made in Slovakia ~ many designer labels
Some of the designer brands "made in Slovakia" include Armani, Dries Van Noten, Ecco, Ermengildo Zegna, Georg Roth, J.D. Christopher, Lacoste, Lowa, Mexx, Puma, Ralph Lauren Polo, and Tailors Row.The "made in Slovakia" [Slovacchia] label shown here is from an item recently spotted on eBay. It's an EMPORIO ARMANI Sweater (with a small Emporio Armani sign on the chest). Purchased at an Emporio Armani Store in Switzerland. Comes with shopping bag. Retail: 255 USD. Reserve is less than 80 USD. Condition: New. Never worn and never washed. Fabric: 100% Virgin Wool. Handwash only. It was being sold by a seller located in Allschwil, Switzerland. BTW, I've also written a lens on Giorgio Armani, so I found this particular designer item of interest as I've also seen Armani "made in Poland."
My "Made in" Eastern European Lenses
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Made in Bulgaria -- Francesco Biasia, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste and Perry Ellis?
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It is amazing the calibre of designers who have their goods produced in Bulgaria. You may have already heard about Lalo Orna artisan jewelry, but did you realize that such designers as Karl Lagerfeld and Perry Ellis would have their designs made in B...
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Made in Hungary -- Not JUST Goulash!
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As you may have guessed from the title, this lens is about anything that is "made in Hungary." I personally wasn't "made in Hungary" or born there, but my grandfather was. In May 2004, I had the once-in-a-lifetime...
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Made in Czech Republic -- Bohemia Crystal, Puma, and Royal Dux!
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I have been interested in my eastern European ancestry and have been fascinated with the many items that are made in Eastern European countries -- particularly in the Czech Republic. Our last European vacation was to Prague and the Czech Republic cou...
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Made in Romania -- Dolce & Gabbana, Roberto Cavalli, Armani, BCBG and Valentino?
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Yes, there are many well-known designer labels that are "made in Romania." I was actually "blown away" when I started to assemble my list of designer brands bearing the label of "made in Romania" or "made in R...
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Made in Poland -- Marc Jacobs, Cambio Jeans, Sophia Kokosalaki and Vera Wang?
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When I was growing up in Northeastern Ohio, I remember all the "made in Japan" or "made in Taiwan" items that were prevalent in our house. I really don't remember so much of "made in China" like you see today, nor...
Made in Slovakia men's clothing
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Made in Slovakia women's clothing
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byMade in Slovakia women's shoes
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byFilmed in Slovakia: Zelary is a 2003 Czech/Slovak film
Matt Procter from the SLOVAK-ROOTS Yahoo Group recently announced that this movie was playing on the HDnet movie channel.
It's a 'Cold Mountain/The Piano' type movie with the plot set in WWII Czechoslovakia but it's actually shot in the Mala Fatra mountains in Northwest Slovak Republic.
That happens to be near where my ancestral village is (Stiavnik) and where many of your home villages may be as well. If you have been to that region before you will revel in seeing scene after scene shot in the gorgeous lush green capped rolling mountains of the Mala Fatra.
If you have not been to the region, this movie gives you an incredible window into the natural beauty of this area of our Motherland. While the High Tatras grace most of the Slovak postcards, this region has its own striking beauty that anyone who loves our homeland will enjoy seeing.
You can view a trailer of the movie at: Trailer for Zelary.
?elary is a 2003 Czech/Slovak film directed by Ond?ej Trojan, starring Anna Geislerová. The movie received a 2004 Academy Award nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category. It was produced by Barrandov Studios in Prague.
Check out this award-nominated/winning Slovak film!
In 2004, it also won the Undine Award for Best Young Actress in the New European Union Countries.
In 2005, it won the Golden Kinnaree Award for Best Actress Anna Geislerova tieing with Annette Bening for Being Julia. And, in the same year it was nominated for the Golden Kinnaree Award Best Film.
Zelary
Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 11/14/2009) 
Slovakia Gravestone Inscriptions Project
What a wonderful project !!!
The aim of this project, which has been managed by the SGHS since 1991, is to collect gravestone inscriptions from all of the cemeteries from the territory of Slovakia, create a computer database from these data and this way make them more accessible to researchers.Those, who take part in the project, are volunteers. Thanks to more than 30 volunteers the SGHS was able to collect transcripts from following, more than 70 cemeteries.
Slovakia Cemetery Headstone
Kovács Gyula
Kovács Gyula cemetery headstone courtesy of Cemetaries of Slovakia.dátum pohrebu-kremácie: 01.03.1908
miesto pochovania: Kosice - Verejný cintorín
Slovakia Cemetary
Kovacs Listings
Kosice - Verejný cintorín:
Kovács Anna 0 yrs. - June 22, 1916
Kovács Anna 0 yrs. - September 16, 1890
Kovács Anna 20 yrs. - May 24, 1903
Kovács Anna 33 yrs. - September 4, 1916
Kovács Béla 1 yrs. - October 2, 1897
Kovács Gusztáv 1 yrs. - October 12, 1894
Kovács Gyula 0 yrs. - May 1, 1893
Kovács Julia 22 yrs. - November 6, 1904
Kovács Júlia 0 yrs. - January 7, 1897
Kovács Júlia 0 yrs. - September 14, 1895
Kovács Júlia 1 yrs. - January 3, 1920
Kovács Margit 0 yrs. - September 20, 1895
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - August 10, 1892
Kovács Mihály 1 yrs. - November 12, 1890
Kovács Mihály 2 yrs. - June 29, 1900
Kovács Mihály 12 yrs. - September 6, 1897
Kovács Mihály 22 yrs. - May 10, 1941
Kovács Mihály 30 yrs. - February 22, 1890
Kovács Mihály 42 yrs. - December 29, 1943
Kosice - Vojenský cintorín
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - October 9, 1914
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - November 7, 1914
Kovács Mihály 0 yrs. - October 30, 1916
Slovakia items from Amazon
A History of Slovakia: The Struggle for Survival
Amazon Price: $15.56 (as of 11/14/2009)
Slovakia: A Photographic Odyssey
Amazon Price: (as of 11/14/2009)
A Christmas in Slovakia
Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 11/14/2009)
Blue Guide The Czech & Slovak Republics (Second Edition) (Blue Guides)
Amazon Price: $24.95 (as of 11/14/2009)
Slovakia items found on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byBratislava, Slovakia video ...
Fly into Bratislava, Slovakia. Book it Dano!
Slovakia Pictures on Flickr
Sulky Slowcoach
The Breakfast!
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Pop
Bratislava
Sq.
Slovakia in the news
- Report: Slovakia vs United States - International Friendly
- BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- Marek Hamsik converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute, and Slovakia...
- US awaits Slovakia in World Cup warmup
- BRATISLAVA, Slovakia ? The US soccer team gets to see what life is like without scoring leader Lan...
- Slovakia posts official 1.6% quarterly growth
- BRATISLAVA: Slovakia's crisis-hit economy continued to rebound in the third quarter of the year,...
- Donovan, Howard missing for US against Slovakia
- CHICAGO (AP) ? Forward Landon Donovan will be among those missing when the United States plays Slo...
Slovakia Info Links
- Slovak Republic
- Guide to the Slovak Republic. Has a good chronology of the major events in Slovakia's history.
- Slovak Pictures
- Bill Tarkulich amassed over 800 pictures of his trip to various Slovak villages.
- Yahoo Groups: Slovak Roots
- A great group to join for genealogy research, queries and assistance in locating information on ancestors who were from areas of the former Austria-Hungary.
- Slovensko.com
- Another guide with helpful information about what you need to know to visit.
- Slovak Republic Government Office
- The official website of the Slovak Republic Government Office.
- National Bank of Slovakia
- Lots of interesting financial information from the NBS.
- Slovak Republic Statistics
- Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic provides some good detailed information.
Slovak Genealogy Links
- Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International
- Promoting Czechoslovak genealogical research and interest among people with ancestry in the Czechoslovak region as it was in 1918.
- Slovak Genealogical-Heraldic Society
- The SGHS consists of more than 500 members from Slovakia (mainly), Czech Republic and other countries (Hungary, USA, France).
- Slovenian Genealogy
- A great compilation of resources and links for Slovenian genealogy.
- Eastern Slovakia Genealogy Research
- Bill Tarkulich, a wizard in Slovakian genealogy research, created this "Toolbox" web page.
- Slovak Settlement Names
- Download a 31-page PDF of Slovak Settlement names.
- CentroConsult Home Page
- Genealogical research in Slovakia.
- CentroConsult - Land
- Genealogical research with land plots.
- Slovak Roots
- A Yahoo group for genealogy research, queries and assistance in locating information on ancestors who were from areas of the former Austria-Hungary.
- It's All Relative
- The It's All Relative Genealogical Research Pages offers tools, resources, and information to help you search your Czech, Bohemian, Moravian, Slovak, Lemko, or Carpatho-Rusyn family history and ancestry.
- Kataster Portal
- According to Peter Nagy: The plot register is the largest free public database in Slovakia. Any owner of a real estate (plot, house, flat) is registered there with his date of birth and address. It is a perfect tool for looking for lost relatives in Slovakia. He plans to develop an English guide in the future.
Drop me a note -- What do you know about Slovakia?
Have you visited Slovakia? Are you of Slovakian heritage? Are you into genealogy?
We were so close to crossing into Slovakia from the Czech Republic, but that particular day was a wine-tasting day--so we thought we'd better stay off the country roads!
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Reply
- Christee Kee (Bodick) Christee Kee (Bodick) May 20, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
- I am of Slovak Heritage. My great grandfather, John Badics came to the US from Slovakia. I wish I knew more about where he came from. His wife was Elizabeth Pavarnic. Email me at Christeekee@yahoo.com if you have any info about finding more out.
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P.S. Check out A Slovak's Night before Christmas!
A Slovak's Night Before Vianoce [Christmas]
By an Anonymous Slovak author
Twas the night before Vianoce, and all through the house
The Slovaks had gathered To eat sauerkraut.
The kolach was nestled all snug in its dish.
Bobalki was cooking, and so was some fish.
Babushkaed women and men in their caps
Had all settled down with food in their laps.
When out in the lawn there arose such a clatter
We all went to see what was the matter.
Away to the window Baba flew like a flash,
Screaming "Lock all the doors and hide all the cash".
When what to our wondering eyes should appear
But a pagach shaped sleigh complete with reindeer.
With a little old Slovak so lively and quick,
We knew in a moment it was Janosik.
Faster than Novenas his reindeer all came
As he shouted "On Stefan" and each reindeer's name.
"On Stefan, on Boris, on Janos, and Olga,
On Jasko, on Cyril, on Sandor and Volga".
Then out to the smokehouse the reindeer all flew
With a sleigh full of Kolbasa and Janosik too.
Into the smoke vent he lept with a bound,
Dancing the czardas and twirling around.
He did a quick polka, then went to his work.
He gave us Oplatki then turned with a jerk.
We gave him Kapusta and Dzedo's old clothes,
Then sang Ticha Noc as up the vent he rose.
But we heard him exclaim as we took off our coats,
"Vesele Vianoce to all and to all dobre noc". --iarelative.com.
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Do Squidoo, But Don't Plagiarize ...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work ... it is just NOT cool so don't do it!
by JaguarJulie
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