One of the amazing sites the city of Prague has to offer/Photo credit: 99travetips.com
Every country in the world has specific characteristics that are entirely typical of it, in addition to its history. The habits and customs of the inhabitants of this country, however, may startle and seem unusual for someone of a different nationality who visits, since their lifestyle and customs are so distinct. What is so unique about the Czech that it frequently seems strange to others?
The Czech Republic, sometimes referred to as Czechia, is a country in Central Europe that shares borders with Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east, Germany to the west, and Poland to the north. Prague, the nation's capital, is located in the center of the country and is landlocked, meaning it lacks any coastlines. Since 2004, Czechia has been a part of the EU. In the past, some linguists believed that Czech and Slovak were dialects of the same language because of their similarities.
The languages, however, continued to evolve independently after Czechoslovakia broke up in 1993, making it increasingly challenging for speakers of the two languages to communicate with one another. The Czech Republic has a well-established educational system that allows foreigners who speak Czech to attend public universities for free and on an equal basis with locals. The capital, Prague, is also home to international corporations and offers a wealth of career opportunities.
According to an
interesting history of the nation, on May 28, 1618, 27 Czech aristocrats
overran the Old Royal Palace in Prague Castle and hurled two imperial governors
and their scribe out of a window. The victims landed in a pile of manure, which
was a huge embarrassment, but they managed to escape with just minor injuries.
This act of
defenestration (which means "throwing out of a window" in Latin) set
Protestant Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) against the Catholic invader,
Austria, and precipitated the Thirty Years' War. The Habsburgs, the governing
dynasty, exacted retribution on the Czechs after they lost the war. Germans
held every important position in the government.
Prague became a dilapidated town after the majority of the Czech nobility and intelligentsia were compelled to flee the nation. Czech was outlawed and subsequently reduced to a dialect, while German was proclaimed the official language. Had it not been for the dolls, it would have vanished entirely.
As a matter of fact, the legislation only permitted the use of Czech at street fairs when traveling actors and their puppets performed in Czech. Crowds of people gathered to watch them because they were so popular. It is believed that the puppeteers and their wooden puppets contributed to the language's preservation in this way.
About the Czech people
The Czech people take great pride in their national beverage, beer, which is a staple of the local cuisine. Beer is consumed every day by many individuals of both sexes, especially at meals, and in hot weather, multiple times a day. The average Czech, according to some estimates, drinks more beer than their neighbor, Germany, with an annual consumption of about 143 liters. The Czechs are thought to have the highest beer consumption per capita in the world.
Like many other Eastern European nations, the Czech Republic has some circumstances where you must say "no" rather than "yes" or do the opposite. For instance, it is considered rude to enter a house with shoes on, even if the host has advised you not to remove them, and it is not customary for locals to accept a gift on the first occasion. When someone asks, "How are you doing?" It's unlikely that you'll say "I'm great!" right away, as that can be perceived as an attempt to impress. Rather, you ought to state that you're doing well while simultaneously admitting that you could do better.
Another peculiar aspect of the Czech way of life is their belief that blowing your nose should be done with vigor. For instance, blowing your nose loudly and noisily in public is a common practice in the Czech Republic. The Czechs have no qualms about carrying out these customs in the most unsuitable settings, including theaters, churches, lectures, and even dining establishments. However, sniffing is regarded as being completely wrong.
Although fashion is always changing, some habits are hard to break. For instance, during the hot season, some men wear sandals and socks, which surprises tourists. Large travel backpacks are carried by women in dresses, and during the winter, they pair their handbags with athletic jackets. It is important to note, though, that younger and more contemporary Czechs frequently make fun of these "fashions" and work to counter them.
The Czechs, who are passionate dog lovers, place a great value on the image of a dog. They take their pet friends with them to restaurants, zoos, cafes, and even places of worship. Additionally, no one looks down on a customer who brings a dog to a restaurant; instead, they all smile and say, "We have a dog too," and every waitress rushes over to pet the shaggy customer, making sure to bring him a bowl of water.
Best tourist destinations
There are many fascinating tourist attractions in the Czech Republic that are well-known for their natural beauty, architecture, and historical significance. Aside from Prague, the capital, which is renowned for its magnificent architecture, including the historic Charles Bridge and the Gothic-style St. Vitus Cathedral. The Astronomical Clock and lively street life may be found in the Old Town Square.
The magnificent Český Krumlov Castle and its well-preserved medieval architecture make Český Krumlov a UNESCO World Heritage site. The village offers beautiful views from its location along the Vltava River. Karlovy Vary is well-known for its hot springs and spa culture, and tourists from all over the world come to see it every year for the International Film Festival.
The second-largest
city, Brno, has a thriving cultural scene with lots of museums and galleries, and is renowned for its modernist architecture, which includes the
UNESCO-listed Villa Tugendhat. Another UNESCO World Heritage site is Kutná
Hora, which is well-known for the Sedlec Ossuary, commonly called the Bone
Church. The town's main attraction is the Gothic St. Barbara's Church.
Pilsner Urquell
Brewery is open for tours; Pilsen is the birthplace of Pilsner beer. The city
is home to the Great Synagogue, one of the biggest in Europe, and lovely
squares. Třeboň is renowned for its charming fishponds and lakes that are
perfect for outdoor recreation. The town is well-known for its spa services and
boasts a picturesque historical core.
Beautiful limestone
formations, caverns, and gorges can be found in the protected Moravian Karst. A
well-liked destination for hiking and exploring is the Macocha Abyss. These
locations showcase the Czech Republic's stunning natural surroundings and rich
cultural legacy, making for a varied vacation experience.
The Czechs' lovely foods
There are many filling and tasty
dishes in Czech cuisine. These are a few of the most well-liked ones:
Svíčková: A marinated beef dish with a creamy sauce made from root vegetables, frequently served with bread dumplings. Usually served with bread or dumplings, goulash is a hearty stew cooked with meat, onions, and spices. Knedlo zelo Vepřo: A mainstay of Czech cuisine, roast pork is eaten with bread dumplings and sauerkraut.
Česnečka: A potato-based garlic soup that occasionally has cheese or croutons on top. Knedlíky are flour or potato dumplings that are used as a side dish with a variety of dishes, and kulajda is a creamy dill soup with potatoes, mushrooms, and frequently an egg.
Czech food: Knedlo Zelo Vepřo, photo credit: nomadparadise.com
Bagels are the Czechs' culinary nemesis: as they say, "a lifetime on the hips, hours in the stomach, and seconds in the mouth." The most popular bakery item in the nation is bagels, which have a dubious flavor.
The traditional Czechs still prefer their bagels even if stores are now stocked with a wide variety of delectable breads. They purchase packs of ten to fifteen of these oblong white bread rolls, which they eat within a week.
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