Rumcajs facts for kids
Rumcajs is a brave robber from fairy tales. He lives with his wife, Manka, and their son, Cipísek. These characters became very famous from two animated TV shows. The shows were part of a program called Večerníček in Czechoslovakia. They aired from 1967 to 1984 and had 52 episodes. Czech writer Václav Čtvrtek created the stories. Artist Radek Pilař designed the characters. You can also find these adventures in books.
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Rumcajs's Story and His World
Rumcajs used to be a shoemaker in the town of Jičín. One day, he had to make shoes for Mayor Humpál. The mayor was very proud of his big feet. But Rumcajs said he had seen even bigger feet! This made the mayor very angry. He sent Rumcajs away to the Řáholec forest. The mayor said it was "for insulting his foot." So, Rumcajs became a kind of Robin Hood-like hero. He helped people from the forest.
Rumcajs made a cave in the forest his home. He got his special look there. He wears a tall red hat. He has a beard that looks like a bee swarm. His pistol shoots acorns instead of bullets! Rumcajs often faces challenges from the mayor, a prince, a princess, and even the Emperor. But he always has help. His family, forest animals, and even spirits of the forest and water help him. The stories don't say exactly when they happen. But some clues suggest it might be around the mid-1800s.
Rumcajs's Popularity and Legacy
Rumcajs and his family are very important in Czech culture. Many people remember them fondly.
The Řáholec Forest Connection
From 1969 to 1996, a small part of a forest near Jičín was actually called Řáholec. This was a fun inside joke among local foresters. But soon, everyone knew about it. It showed how much people loved the stories.
Jičín: The Fairy Tale City
The city of Jičín is very proud of its link to Rumcajs. The main square and a bookstore are named after Václav Čtvrtek. There is even a pub called "At Rumsajs'". In 1975, Václav Čtvrtek became an honorary citizen of Jičín. This was a year before he passed away. In 2011, children in Jičín planted a small forest. They named it "Cipískův Řáholeček," which means "Cipisek's Little Řáholec."
Jičín Fairy Tale Festival
Every year since 1991, Jičín hosts a festival. It is called "Jičín – město pohádky," or "Jičín is the City of the Fairy Tale." At first, the festival did not focus much on Rumcajs. The organizers wanted to include many fairy tales. But by 2011, Rumcajs and his creators, Čtvrtek and Pilař, became a big part of the festival.
The Rumcajs Walk
Since 1967, a group called the Czech Tourist Club has organized a yearly walk. It goes through the beautiful Bohemian Paradise area. The walk is called "Pochod za Rumcajsem," or "Pilgrimage after Rumcajs." Many people join this walk. In 1982, over 10,000 people took part! Even after a drop in numbers, interest has grown again. In 2019, nearly 9,000 "pilgrims" walked.
Worldwide Fame and Collectibles
Rumcajs stories became popular in many countries. These include places in Europe, Morocco, and Chile. In the mid-1970s, Rumcajs toys and other items were very popular. People compared their popularity to famous characters like Soldier Švejk or even some Disney characters. In Poland, a baby detergent was even named after Cipísek!
On April 4, 2011, Rumcajs and Cipísek appeared on the Google Doodle for the Czech Google page. This was to celebrate Václav Čtvrtek's 100th birthday.
A character similar to Rumcajs also appeared in a video game. He was in "Blood and Wine," an expansion for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In 2017, the Czech Mint made special coins. This was to celebrate 50 years of the Rumcajs TV series. The coins show Rumcajs, Manka, or Cipísek. They also feature symbols of the island country of Niue. This country gave permission for the coins to be made.
