While I was looking through a drawer full of family heirlooms, I found my mom’s tricolore from 35 years ago. It was a symbol of the supporters of the Velvet Revolution. I was surprised how well preserved it was.
A tricolore is a small piece of ribbon in the national colors of Czechia (from the right: white, red and blue; it has to be in the correct order for it to be the Czech tricolore). When the socialist regime was ending, a lot of people were proudly wearing one – so was my mom. During the span of the Velvet Revolution, people also rang their keys as a symbol of unlocking the doors of democracy.
Keys in the colors of the tricolore given to participants of the commemorative event 30 years after the Velvet Revolution (Photo: Private).
Exactly 30 years after the Velvet Revolution (17th November 2019) in the exact same avenue (Národní třída) there was a commemorative event taking place. This event is held every year, however that year it was larger than usual. The whole street was packed with people who went to celebrate this fête of democracy. Participants were also given keys in the color of the tricolore to ring. Before going to this mass event, I remembered my mom’s tricolore which was sadly looking at me from our family drawer. When I came to the event itself it was quite moving to see everyone was wearing one as well. I felt a very special sense of national pride at that moment.
In the life of many Czechs (or Czechoslovaks at the time) the Velvet Revolution was undoubtedly a life changing event. It was during the Velvet Revolution that Czechs gained their freedom from the Socialist regime they were living under. It played a key role in the fall of this regime in Czechoslovakia.
Nowadays, many university students attend these commemorative events. I believe that since students were the main initiators of both the events of 1939 and 1989, students nowadays still feel the need to preserve the legacy of their predecessors.
A Student Manifestation
On 17 November 1989, the peaceful demonstration took place to celebrate the International student’s day. It was supposed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragic events of 1939. It was mainly students protesting against the occupation by the Nazi regime. This led to an open fire, where the Nazis mortally wounded a student named Jan Opletal. His funeral resulted in another demonstration against the Nazi rule over the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. After the funeral, nine student leaders of demonstrations were murdered, 1,200 were sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and all of this led to the closure of Czech universities until the end of WWII. The November revolution commemorating this in 1989 drastically influenced the events in Czechoslovakia.
Thanks to that, we can study at a school which corresponds to our knowledge and abilities not based on our conformity and support to the regime. We can also travel freely and last but not least – live in a democratic society.
The Roots
17 November was not the main reason for the change of powers in Czechoslovakia. Its spark was ignited during the Jan Palach week in January 1989 which were demonstrations commemorating the 20th anniversary of the self-immolation of this young student. The situation was not sustainable for a longer time.
The Velvet Revolution started on 17 November 1989 as a peaceful manifestation of students to commemorate the International day of students and the events that took place 50 years prior. However, it soon turned into a confrontation with the StB (Státní bezpečnost; the regime’s police). Some people even came to harm and some were taken to jail. Otherwise it was a very peaceful demonstration.
A revolution is a reflection of society, the civilians. Without them it wouldn’t take place. That is why you can find some stories about people who were directly affected by the Velvet Revolution below.
The Velvet Revolution Through the Eyes of Direct eye-Witnesses:
Zina Hamon Freundová (1950): Zina signed a document called Charter 77 which was against the regime. In the year 1981 she was attacked by the StB in her home with the goal to make her emigrate. She decided to leave the country after that. After living in England she was very happy to get home on the 14th of December 1989 while the revolution was taking place. She couldn’t believe her own eyes when she saw: „Havel na Hrad” everywhere. (Václav Havel was one of the most famous dissidents, Hrad is the Prague Castle. So the meaning is: Havel for President.)
Pavel Štaffl (1963): Pavel emigrated to Canada and returned after the Revolution. The StB sent his mother to Austria while I was on the run and this was the last time he has ever seen her. After the Velvet Revolution he was happy to be back.
Dita Nymburská (1968): Dita was a student of Egyptology at that time. Since her brother emigrated she could not study university right away. When she could, it was only possible for her to attend lectures, take exams but she couldn’t receive a diploma, only a certificate of participation. During the Velvet Revolution, she was rewriting illegal posters about strikes. She was taking a train when one of the StB agents asked to look through her bag. She hid all of the papers beneath underwear.
Leo Marian Vodička (1950): Leo was working at the National Theatre of Brno during the General Strike which took place after the Velvet Revolution. They didn’t play any plays, people came to talk to them and listen to information about what was happening. However, they were supposed to play Nabucco from Giuseppe Verdi and the theater in Brno refused not to perform that night. Leo called Prague and said that they were ignoring the strike. He was then asked to resign.
Personal Takeaway
I personally believe that it is very important to remember these November events and to commemorate them in such a way that society doesn’t forget the regime the Czech nation was living under. My parents would not have met if the regime was still in power which is the reason why this event is of great significance to me.
