Culture of the Czech Republic

Czech culture has been shaped by its geographical position in the middle of Europe. Influences from its neighbours, political and social changes, wars and times of peace all left its mark on the Czech culture. Prague's significance as a European cultural center rose and fell throughout history, but the Czech culture remains distinct to this day.

Part of a series on the
Culture of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic portal

There are 14 cultural sites listed among the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO,[1] six Czechs have been awarded a Nobel Prize[2] and 173 have been nominated.[3]

Festivities and traditions

Czech people celebrate Christmas every year, beginning with a dinner on December 24. The table is set for exactly how many people are going to dine, but there is also a tradition, that you should set one more place, in case a stranger arrives. - this is why everyone must stand up at the same time. The traditional dinner usually includes a potato salad and a carp (fish), but many people replace it with a chicken or pork snitzel.

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 decorate Easter eggs elaborately together. Another Easter tradition is the whipping of other's legs with the pomlázka, which is a willow switch. Willow twigs are braided together and then are used by young boys to whip the girls' bottom usually 4x. This long-standing tradition is thought to bring health and youth to girls and women. The switch is called pomlázka meaning "rejuvenator", implying that a female struck by a pomlázka will become younger and prettier.

1 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 6 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 the boys write K + B + M (or K + M + B) above the doorways on houses, where people donate money for charity. This 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.[4]

Food
Main article: Czech cuisine

A Czech diet usually consists of much meat such as pork, beef, poultry, and many organ meats such as liver and kidneys. The meat is frequently prepared with gravy and then eaten with dumplings, cabbage or potatoes. Vegetables such as carrots, peas, and cabbage are consumed daily. 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.

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
Main article: Czech 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 collectors value glass made by master Czech glass blowers in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.[5] One of the best Czech painters and decorative artists was Alphonse Mucha, mainly known for his cycle of 20 large canvases named The Slav Epic, which depicts the history of Czechs and other Slavic peoples.

Architecture
Main article: Czech architecture

See also

References
  1. "World Heritage List". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. "All Nobel Prizes". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  3. "Nomination Archive". NobelPrize.org. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  4. "Czech Slovak Heritage Tours Holiday and Traditions Page". Czechheritage.net. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  5. "Crystal Collection - Hardscapes, Landscaper, & Nursery in Birmingham, AL". Crystalcollection.com. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.