Culture of the Czech Republic Information & Culture of the Czech Republic Links at HealthHaven.com

This article is about the Culture of the Czech Republic.

[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] 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 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 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 pussy willow twigs. Pussy willow 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 a medieval custom that women that seemed crazy were qualified as witches and then burned to death.

[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.also

[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

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".

[edit] Theatre

Main article Theatre of the Czech Republic

[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

Main article Czech art

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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

Contents