Our Story
Honoring our past. Celebrating our present. Preserving our future.
Our History
The United Moravian Societies (UMS) was founded on September 24, 1939, when 41 delegates representing 22 Czechoslovak clubs and societies came together in Chicago to preserve and celebrate their shared heritage. That same day, the first Moravian Day Festival was held at Pilsen Park, featuring a grand parade of traditional Moravian costumes, bands, floats, and horses that drew thousands of spectators. Established during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, UMS became a vital connection to the homeland for Czech and Moravian communities in America.
In the years following 1955, UMS purchased the Moravian House, establishing a permanent home for its growing community. Younger board members later founded Omladina, a youth group dedicated to preserving Czech and Moravian traditions through folk dance. That legacy continues today through four dance groups: Besídka, Mladost, Omladina, and Moravské Kolo, showcasing a distinctive “Chicago-Czech” style that blends authentic Moravian traditions with local influences.
Today, UMS proudly continues its annual Moravian Day Festival, a tradition spanning more than eight decades, celebrating Czech and Moravian culture through traditional kroje (folk costumes), brass bands from the Czech Republic, authentic cuisine, music, and community gatherings.
Our Mission
At United Moravian Societies (UMS), our mission is to preserve, celebrate, and share the rich cultural heritage of the Czech and Moravian people. Through traditional folk dance, music, festivals, and community gatherings, we strive to keep our customs alive while creating meaningful connections across generations.
Our vision is to build a welcoming and vibrant community where people of all ages and backgrounds can experience the beauty of Czech and Moravian traditions, celebrate their roots, and create lasting memories. By honoring our past and embracing future generations, we ensure that our culture continues to thrive for years to come.