Beneath the Caps with Falcon Feathers: Visual Symbolism and National Identity in Czech and Polish Sokol Ceremonial Costumes
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Peer-reviewed scientific article |
| Magazine / Source | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HISTORY OF SPORT |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09523367.2026.2659759 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2026.2659759 |
| Keywords | Sokol; national identity; Czech Republic; Poland; costume history |
| Description | In the nineteenth century, as modern nations began to take shape, the Sokol gymnastic movement was founded in Prague. The association, strongly linked to the nation-building efforts of that time, used ceremonial costumes to promote its ideals and identity and soon expanded to other Slavic countries, including Poland. Although Czech and Polish Sokol shared common roots, the visual symbols in their costumes diverge significantly, shaped by distinct historical experiences and cultural contexts. The design of the Czech Sokol costume – influenced by Miroslav Tyrš, a co-founder of the association, and the prominent national painter Josef Mánes – combined various Slavic motifs with the ancient Greek ideal of beauty. By comparison, the Polish Sokol costume focused exclusively on historical references, military accomplishments, and themes of national martyrdom, drawing inspiration from figures such as the Polish patriot Tadeusz Kościuszko and the works of artist Artur Grottger. The clothing elements, symbolism, and development of these costumes demonstrate how visual culture was used to articulate competing visions of national identity and historical memory within a shared, yet increasingly divergent, gymnastic movement in Central Europe. |