Slovakia Forever

Slovakia Forever Slovakia is an ancient country located in Central Europe. In the Nineth Century it was a powerful empire (then known as Great Moravia). Mysteriously, the Empire was overrun in the early Tenth Century and Slovakia was under foreign control until the end of the Twentieeth Century when it became an idependent country, though much smaller than the Great Moravian Empire. Because of the foreign rule, Slovak culture was transfered from one generation to another in the form of folk legends, folk songs, and the world-renown Slovak proverbs. Slovakia Forever attempts to preserve as much of this tradition as possible, not just for the future generations of Slovaks, but for anyone interested. Slovak Proverbs No one really knows when which Slovak proverb was born, let alone who was the author of any of them. Each of them is a very brief pearl of wisdom, often told in a poetic form that is lost in any translation. Here we present Slovak proverbs in their original beauty as preserved throughout centuries. We also present the Red Prince English translations. The T-shirts, mugs, and other items presented in this section only contain the Slovak version. So, please make sure to memorize the translation so you can explian to your friends what they mean. Ako sa do lesa volá, tak sa z lesa ozýva. - As you call to the forest, so the forest echoes. Clovek is zvykne aj na šibenicu. - Man will even get used to the gallows. Co ta nepáli, nehas. - What does not burn you, do not extinguish. Kde sa dvaja bijú, tam tretí zvítazí. - Where two are fighting, there a third one wins. Ked dvaja robia to isté, nie je to to isté. - When two (people) are doing the same (thing), it (just) isn't the same (thing). Kto do teba kamenom, ty do neho chlebom. - He who to you with a stone, you to him with bread. Kto druhému jamu kope, sám do nej spadne. - Dig a ditch for someone else, fall in it yourself. Kto sa chce bit, palicu si nájde. - He who wants to fight will find his club. Lepší vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche. - Better (is) a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon on the roof. Pes, ktorý šteká, nehryzie. - The dog that barks does not bite. Povedz mi, co cítaš a ja ti poviem, kto si. - Tell me what you read, and I will tell you who you are. Sýty hladnému neverí. - He who has enough to eat does the hungry not believe. Topiaci sa aj slamky chytá. - He who is drowning will even grab hold of a straw. Zdochýnajúca kobyla najviac kope. - A dying mare kicks the hardest. ... and Their English Derivatives Proverbs tend to use a very poetic language whose subtlety is often lost in a literal translation. Here, then, are Red Prince's own free translations and derivatives of some of the Slovak proverbs: A dying mare kicks her share. He who hath enough to eat doeth the hungry not believe. You are what you read. And if you don't, you just aren't. Slovak Greetings Several different types of greeting exist in the Slovak language. Their use varies depending on the occasion, as well as on who is greeting whom. This is because in Slovak many expressions have a formal and an informal way of being said. Since T-shirts are by their nature informal, we use the informal expression whenever there is a choice. Dobrý den Good day. This is the most common formal greeting, however, it can also be used to greet people with whom you have an informal relationship. Ahoj! Hello! This is the most common informal greeting in Slovakia. If you want to get just one T-shirt with a Slovak greeting, this is the one you should get. Ako sa máš? How are you? This is, strictly speaking, not a greeting. At least not in the sense it is used in English (if you want the Slovak counterpart of the English how are you, get the Ahoj! shirt). This is a question one would usually ask right after saying Ahoj! Pochválený bud Ježiš Kristus Praised be Jesus Christ. A popular greeting among Slovak Catholics (also available in Latin as Laudetur Iesus Christus). Slovak Identity If you would like your T-shirt to identify you as a Slovak, get one that says Hello, I'm a Slovak. Because the Slovak language has a separate word for a male Slovak and a female Slovak, you need to choose from the following two: Ahoj! Ja som Slovák - this one is for the gentlemen. Ahoj! Ja som Slovenka - this one is for the ladies. Slovak Politics Slovakia is in the heart of Europe but is still not in the European Union. As a reminder that it belongs there, please wear the Slovakia is in Europe shirt. To get any of the above items, just click on it. Or see below for some Slovakia Forever items. Slovak History The greatest man in Slovak history was St. Rastislav the king of Great Moravia who invited Sts. Cyril and Methodius to arrive to Slovakia in 863 and to become teachers of the Slavic people educating them in their own language. We offer a a painting of Saint Rastislav as well as a drawing of him as a young prince. If you wish the Red Prince to create a specific design, you may post a special request.