Culture of the Czech Republic

This article is about the culture of the Czech Republic.

Festivities and traditions

Czech people celebrate Christmas every year, beginning with a dinner on 24 December. 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 finished 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 colour during this time, because it symbolizes joy, health, happiness, and new life that comes with spring. Families decorate Easter eggs elaborately together. Another Easter tradition is the whipping of other's legs with the pomlázka, or pussy willow twigs. Pussy willow twigs are braided and painted with bright colours and then are used by young boys to beat the back of girls' legs. This long-standing tradition is thought to bring health and youth to young girls.

1st January is holiday New Year. After a late morning start the main meal of the day is prepared which should include pork for good luck and lentils for prosperity in the new year. It’s bad luck to eat fish, your luck could swim away or poultry, your luck could fly away.

January 6th is the Feast of the Three Kings. In many Czech and Slovak villages, boys dress up as the three wise men “Kaspar, Balthazar and Melchior”. With a piece of chalk blessed by the village priest the boys write K + B + M above the doorways on a home. Which brings blessings on that home and its family for a year. The chalk letters should never be cleaned off, but only replaced the next year. This is also usually the day the Christmas tree is taken down.^[1]

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, also tung. The meat is frequently prepared with gravy and then eaten with dumplings, cabbage 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 or chocolate/pudding), koláče (small poppy seed cakes), and apple strudel.

Customs

• Sitting in pubs and drinking Czech beer such as Starobrno, Budvar and Gambrinus.
• Czech people like to have barbecues in the summer.
• Pointing at someone with their index finger is considered rude.
• Often take shoes off when entering a house (guests are offered "pantofle" which are house slippers)
• Playing ice hockey.

Music

Main article Music of the Czech Republic

Music is the most popular form of art in the Czech Republic and there is even a saying, "Co Čech, to muzikant", which means "Every Czech is a musician".

Theatre

Main article Theatre of the Czech Republic

Literature

Main article Czech literature

Art

The Czech Republic is known worldwide for their outstanding art glass and crystal. Each piece is individually made, mouth blown and decorated. Art glass collector’s value glass made by master Czech glass blowers in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.^[2]

Architecture

Most houses are constructed of cinder blocks or bricks and the rooms tend to be quite large.

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

References

1. ^ http://www.czechheritage.net/nameday.html
2. ^ http://www.crystalcollection.com/

External links

• Czech culture- Culture of the Czech Republic
• Current Czech events abroad