It all started at the end of the 19th century, specifically in 1882, when 700 men gathered in Střelecký Island under the leadership of Miroslav Tyrš. They could not have known then that 66 years later, in the turbulent times of 1948, a record half a million of Sokol members would be exercising at the Strahov stadium, and that their sisters and brothers would continue the tradition as late as in 2024.
Although the Slets have taken place across three centuries, they have never got stuck in the past - the gymnastic compositions and the Slet programs have always resonated with the contemporary situation and the life of the society. One of the most brilliant Slet performances was the “Oath to the Republic” presented at the pre-war Slet in 1938, in which Sokols expressed their support to Edvard Beneš. This is also one of the reasons why Slets appeal to modern society and to the current generations. In addition to mass gymnastic performances, Slets also feature various sports competitions, stage performances and a rich cultural program.
Take a look at the gallery for unique photos:
Ist All-Sokol Slet in 1882
700 men gathered on Střelecký Island in Prague under the leadership of Chief Miroslav Tyrš. Over 1500 costumed Sokols with dozens of banners marched in the parade. All this happened with great interest and enthusiasm of the Prague citizens.
IInd All-Sokol Slet in 1891
At the second Slet, 2400 gymnasts presented themselves at the Royal Game Reserve in Prague, performing floor exercise in front of 7000 spectators. More than 5000 Sokol members including those from the United States of America marched in the parade.
IIIrd All-Sokol Slet in 1895
This Slet was held for the first time in the Letná Plain. 5000 Sokols participated and 30 000 spectators watched the program. For the first time in the history of Slets, the participants could see a gala performance of Smetana’s opera The Bartered Bride.
IVth All-Sokol Slet in 1901
For the first time, women also took part in the Slet performances, and nearly a thousand of them presented a gymnastic routine with clubs. A total of 9000 gymnasts performed. At that time, competitions were a regular part of the gatherings. At the IVth Slet, athletics was added to gymnastics (interestingly, including on a live horse). All 18 of the compositions were captured on camera by Jan Kříženecký, a pioneer of Czech cinematography, but the film has not survived to present.
Vth All-Sokol Slet in 1907
Considered the first “large-scale” Slet, the gathering lasted four weeks. It was attended by 12 900 gymnasts and seen by almost a quarter of a million spectators. Many Sokols from abroad participated in here, from countries such as Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Russia, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Holland, Luxembourg and the United States. The song “Victory March” (Vítězný pochod) was composed for the Vth All-Sokol Slet by the bandleader and member of the Kolín Sokol organization, František Kmoch. For the first time, the program included a Slet scene, featuring a chess tournament, which was symbolically representing the victory of the Hussites over Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg.
VIth All-Sokol Slet in 1912
The sixth Slet lasted even one week longer than the fifth one - five weeks altogether. More than 30 000 Sokols performed and competed there under the slogan “Every Czech is a Sokol”, watched by 300 000 spectators. The Slet was also a celebration of Sokol 50th anniversary and was recorded in an hour-long film, which was subsequently screened in cinemas. The choreographically and organizationally extremely demanding “Marathon” scene took a special place in the Sokol commemoration and was partially paraphrased in the 1932 Sokol scene. This Slet was the last one before the outbreak of the World War I. During the war years, the Sokols were instrumental in the formation of the Czechoslovak legions and took active part in the birth of the First Czechoslovak Republic.
VIIth All-Sokol Slet in 1920
The first Slet in independent Czechoslovakia was amongst others attended by president T. G. Masaryk. It was held in the Letná Plain for the last time. The number of participants reached 100 000 and the number of spectators was over half a million, which was the reason why it later moved to Strahov. This Slet lasted several weeks, with almost 80 000 Sokols marching in the parade. Josef Suk’s march “Into a New Life” was introduced here for the first time. During the Slet scene, the Sokols erected a living monumental statue in front of the spectators, symbolizing the nation’s newly won freedom.
VIIIth All-Sokol Slet in 1926
This was the first Slet to be held in Strahov. 14 000 people could perform on the ground at the same time. A total of 145 000 gymnasts performed here, watched by 800 000 spectators. Various accompanying events of this Slet included ski races in the Krkonoše Mountains or swimming races in the Vltava River. T. G. Masaryk attended the Slet once again, and on 5 July 1926 handed over a banner to the Sokol members at Prague Castle. This Slet neither went unnoticed by great artists of the time: Leoš Janáček composed the world-famous orchestral work Sinfonietta for the gathering. Other leading Czech artists contributed to the “Where My Home Is” (Kde domov můj) scene, praising the beauty of the Czech homeland.
IXth All-Sokol Slet in 1932
The Slet was attended by T. G. Masaryk for the third time. The Slet was a celebration of 100 years since the birth of Miroslav Tyrš and 70 years since the founding of Sokol organization. The number of gymnasts reached almost 200 000 and the number of spectators exceeded one million. Three parades were held in Prague with 100 000 people marching in. The Slet poster was designed by Max Švabinský. For the first time, the Czech radio broadcasting engaged in the Slet preparations, carrying out so-called radio rehearsals. The gathering featured an abundant cultural program including the Slet scene, which came out as a glorious apotheosis of Miroslav Tyrš.
Xth All-Sokol Slet in 1938
The gathering took place at the time of the fascist threat and became one of the most important Slets ever. The famous floor exercise “Oath to the Republic” was performed by 30 000 men at once, and an equal number of women performed the original whirl as the first “grand choreography”. The “Build and Defend” Slet scene was of great importance too. Tens of thousands of people poured through Prague in marches, expressing their opposition to fascism and the upcoming war. 350 000 Sokols showed their composition in Strahov, watched by some two million spectators. President Edvard Beneš presented the Sokol organization with a banner, which was later decorated with the War Cross. The gymnastic area was of such a size that 24 loudspeakers had to be used to ensure better sound.
XIth All-Sokol Slet in 1948
The Sokols started preparing the eleventh Slet right after the organization’s activity was resumed after the war in 1946. During the two years of preparation, political situation in the country significantly changed and culminated in the Communist coup in February 1948. Despite adversity, Sokols succeeded in organizing the Slet, though it was the last one for a long time. The song “We Will Remain Faithful” accompanying the men’s floor exercise commemorated the Sokols tortured to death during the war, and the women’s composition with clubs had to be repeated by the drenched gymnasts for huge success. With 500 000 Sokols performing, the Slet was a record one in terms of the number of gymnasts! Jana Horáková, the daughter of Milada Horáková, was among the junior Sokol gymnasts performing at the Slet. During the parades, demonstrations against the regime and against president Gottwald occurred. The photos of the event are more than eloquent. The Sokols had to pay a heavy price for such behavior: over 11 thousand members were persecuted and, a few years later, the communists banned the organization altogether.
XIIth All-Sokol Slet in 1994
Though it took nearly 50 years since the last one, Sokols managed to revive the tradition of Slets. Some 23 000 of them, including 1800 from abroad, performed at Strahov stadium in the presence of president Václav Havel in 1994. Besides various sports competitions, cultural and social events, there was the gathering of foreign Sokols full of emotions at the performance of The Bartered Bride staged at the National Theatre. At the beginning of the performance, the Prague bells and Suk’s march “Into a New Life” were heard. The grand choreography adapted in an interesting way to the smaller number of performing gymnasts. The Slet was the proof that Sokol rose from the ashes again.
XIIIth All-Sokol Slet in 2000
The Slet was part of the “National Days of Sport and Culture” organized within the scope of the Prague - European City of Culture 2000 project. President Václav Havel inaugurated the Slet and attended it on both of the main days when the mass performances took place. Around 25 000 gymnasts presented 12 mass performances at the Evžen Rošický Stadium in Strahov. The all-Sokol gathering was preceded by Slets of Sokol district organizations held in 35 locations throughout the Czech Republic.
XIVth All-Sokol Slet in 2006
Sokols gathered at the Evžen Rošický Stadium in Strahov once again. Over 15 000 gymnasts performed 16 mass compositions, this time in the presence of president Václav Klaus. Sokol Gala - a show of the best of Sokol high-level sports (athletes who compete under the banner of Sokol units) was featured for the first time in the Slet week program.
XVth All-Sokol Slet in 2012
The gathering moved to Prague’s Eden stadium of Slavia Prague Football Club. 11 000 gymnasts presented themselves in 12 mass performances. Slovak Sokols staged their composition “We and Us” (My a my). The Slet was for the first time officially launched with the performance of The Bartered Bride staged in the National Theatre by the Sokol cultural ensembles - the theatre companies of Sokol Pyšely and Sokol Lázně Toušeň, the Formani folklore and ethnographic company of Sokol Slatiňany and the Gaudium choir of Sokol Královské Vinohrady.
XVIth All-Sokol Slet in 2018
Besides other things, the Slet commemorated the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia. Sokols prepared 10 mass performances for this gathering, which they performed in the Prague Eden stadium in presence of the Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The eleventh composition was a joint Czech-Slovak work symbolically named “Together”. Other two compositions were prepared by guests from the Czech Republic and abroad. The Czech Sokol Community (ČOS) successfully built on the partnership with prominent artists. On the occasion of the Slet, a unique collection of paintings and prints by Michal Cihlář, Stanislav Diviš, Ivan Komárek, Zdeněk Netopil, Pavel Roučka, Jakub Špaňhel and Jakub Spurný was compiled.
