Czechs of Croatia

Czechs are one of recognised minorities in Croatia. According to census in 2001 there were 10,512 Czechs in Croatia comprimising 0,24% of total population. They are also called by their non-Czech neighbours Pemci.

Geographic represantation

Most of Croatian Czechs live in Western Slavonia especially around cities Daruvar and Grubišno Polje. They compromise 5,33% population of Bjelovar-Bilogora county and 0,9% of Požega-Slavonia county. They compromise relative majority in Končanica municipality and in villages like Veliki Zdenci, Mali Zdenci, Golubinjak etc. They can be also found in almost all major towns in Croatia.

History

After Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699 Slavonia changed hands from Ottomans to Habsburgs and Muslim population fled leaving great areas vacant and Hasburgs started to colonize new lands with people from all parts of Empire. The first Czechs arrived in Slavonia around 1750's and were settled Western Slavonia through all 19th century. In Croatia they could buy from ten or more acres of arable land for price of one acre they sold in Czechia. Czechs also settled other parts of Croatia like Gorski kotar and bigger cities were they were praised as skilled workers and clerks but were assimilated in two or three generations. On of these urban Czech was August Šenoa, Croatian writer and mayor of Zagreb. Czechs soon found the need to culturally organise themselfes and in 1874 first Česka Beseda (Czech word) was found in Zagreb, organization that promotes Czech language and culture in Croatia and organised first theater play in Czech language same year. In time Česke besede were founded all across Croatia and open Czech libraries and Sport societies (Sokol). In 1911 the first Czech newspaper started printing in Zagreb.

New state, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was very amicable to minority mostly cause of cordial relations with Czechoslovakia and joint Slavic roots. The first Czech school was open in 1922 in Daruvar and first kindergarten in 1926 also in Daruvar. Czechs organized themselfs politicly and formed Czech party but was active only in first years of Kingdom. From 1922 in Daruvar was starting priniting Jugoslavšti Čechoslovácí (Yugoslav Czechoslovaks) newspaper.

In Socialist Yugoslavia Czechs enjoyed even bigger rights and more schools were open. After break-up of Yugoslavia Czech areas were found near war operations and many Czech participated in Croatian army. They are guaranteed by law to have one joint Czech and Slovak representative in parliament. Current Czech and Slovak representative is Zdenka Čunhil from Croatian Peasant Party.

Culture

The Czechs are organised in 24 Česka Beseda's all across Croatia that form Czech Union of Croatia, organization that promotes Czech language and culture in Croatia. Folk dance, poetry, singing and Czech courses are main activities of Beseda's. Some Beseda's even have theater groups and Czech Union prints their weekly magazine calles Jenota (Unity). They organize festivals of theater groups, festival of Czech children song, Naše Jaro-festival of schoolchildren cultural activities, Vanočka- festival of younger folkdance groups and biennal manifestation Dožinky in Daruvar celebrating end of harvest works. There are dozens of Czech primary schools and kindergartens and High School in Daruvar has one Czech department.

There are also two industrial brands associated with Croatian Czechs; Zdenka cheese, produced in factory in Veliki Zdenci dominatly Czech village and Staročeško (Old-Czech) beer produced by brewery in Daruvar.