Culture of the Czech Republic
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This article is about the Culture of the Czech Republic.
Contents |
[edit] Location
The Czech Republic is located in Europe, bordered by Poland to the north, Germany to the west, Slovakia to the east, and Austria to the south.
[edit] Attitudes
- Patriotism and opposition to foreign domination - Dark humor - Hospitable- give their guests the best of what they have to offer.
[edit] Festivities and Traditions
The Czechs celebrate Christmas every year, beginning with a dinner on December 24. The tables for this dinner can only be set for an even number of guests, because an odd number will bring bad luck. All of the lights in the house must be turned off until the first star comes out, and when it does, the dinner may commence. The first person to leave the table when the meal is finnished will be the first person to die that year- this is why everyone must stand up at the same time.
Easter, or "Velikonoce", meaning "great nights", is a very cheerful and lighthearted holiday in the Czech Republic. Red is a very commonly worn color during this time, because it symbolizes joy, health, happiness, and new life that comes with spring. Families elaborately decorate Easter eggs together, and a nationwide Easter egg contest is held in Prague and other Czech cities on Easter. Another Easter tradition is the whipping of one's legs with the pomlázka, or pussywillow twigs. Pussywillow twigs are braided and painted with bright colors and then are used by young boys to beat the back of girls legs. This longstanding tradition is thought to bring health and youth to young girls.
Another annual Czech custom is the "Burning of the Witches" (paleni carodejnic), which takes place on the evening of April 30. Huge bonfires are built on the hills in the more rural areas of the Czech Republic and everyone stays out late watching them burn. This stems from an ancient pagan tradition which was thought to symbolize and end to winter and a welcoming to the spring.
[edit] Food
- Main article Czech cuisine
A Czech diet usually consists of a lot of meat such as pork, beef, poultry, and a lot of organ meats like liver, kidneys and brains. The meat is frequently prepared with gravy and then eaten with dumplings or potatoes. Vegetables are consumed daily, like carrots, peas, and cabbage. They also really enjoy their sweets such as fruit dumplings, buchty (buns filled with jam), kolace (small poppy seed cakes), and apple strudel.
[edit] Customs
- Sitting in pubs and drinking lots of Czech beer such as Staropramen, Budvar and Gambrinus. - Czech people like to have lots of barbecues in the summer. - pointing with the index finger is rude - always take shoes off when entering a house (guests are offered "pantofle" which are house slippers) - in some parts of the Czech Republic, men do not cross their ankles over the knee
[edit] Music
Music is the most popular form of art in the Czech Republic and there is even a saying, "Co Cech, to muzikant", which means "Every Czech is a musician".
[edit] Literature
- Main article Czech literature
[edit] Architecture
Most houses are constructed of cinder blocks or bricks and the rooms tend to be quite small. They typically do not have closets.
[edit] Arts
- Drama - Ballet - Puppet shows - Paintings - Sculptures
[edit] See also
- Holidays in the Czech Republic, Flag days in the Czech Republic, Name days in the Czech Republic
- National anthem of the Czech Republic, Flag of the Czech Republic
- Heraldry of the Czech Republic
- Czech cuisine
- List of Czechs
[edit] External links
- Czech culture- Culture of the Czech Republic
