Upcoming Events
The credos ” tužit se ” and “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body” became guiding principles of the movement, the objective of which was to prepare individuals for life through physical, moral, and intellectual training, and to strengthen their national conscience. Sokol offered fitness training, as well as educational and cultural programs, and group outings. Within its first year, the Sokol movement expanded beyond Prague to Moravia and soon to other regions of Europe populated by Slavs. Though officially non-political, the Sokol movement played a significant part in the development of Slavic nationalism. Mass gatherings called Slety (Slet in singular) – the Czech word for “a flocking of birds” – were opportunities not only to demonstrate physical fitness and mental discipline through elaborate mass calisthenics displays and individual competitions but also forums for the exchange of ideas. The first Sokol Slet was held in Prague in 1882.