Czech Republic Culture: Exploring the Czech Republic

Exploring Czech Republic Culture

The Czech Republic is renowned for its support of writers, artists, and the bohemian lifestyle. Outside of the historic capital of Prague is a countryside filled with farms, forests, villages and castles. The beautiful mountain ranges, rivers, vineyards, and farmlands coupled with cities and fairytale villages make for a unique intercultural experience of self-discovery.

Study abroad in the Czech Republic Host a Czech student in the U.S.

Family Dynamic

In Czech Republic culture, families are warm, friendly, and welcoming. They rarely have more than two children and it’s common for extended family members to live together, especially grandparents. In small towns, people live in apartment blocks but enjoy visiting their country cottages during the weekend. It is increasingly common to live in a small house with a garden outside the city and to go to the city just for work, study, or special afternoon activities.

The model of a Czech traditional family (where the father was the sole person responsible for the family’s income and the mother took care of the children and household) has changed a lot in recent years. Both parents take part in important decisions, if possible they also ask the opinion of their children.

Teenage Life in the Czech Republic

Czech teenagers are generally shy at first. Most of them have just a small group of schoolmates they speak with. Once they open up, they’re quite friendly and enthusiastic! They enjoy spending their free time outdoors by hiking, cycling, and swimming in the summer or skiing in the winter. They also like to visit historic sites, go to the theater and art galleries, and participate in cultural events. In addition, they participate in after-school activities, including sports, drama, and computer sciences. Czech teens will generally not go out later than 8PM, and often return home as early as 6PM.

Holidays in the Czech Republic

National Day (public holiday): This is connected with the tradition of Christianity and the tradition of Saint Wenceslas. On that day, Saint Wenceslas, the monarch and future patron of the Bohemian nation, was murdered by his brother Boleslav in Stará Boleslav.

Saint Nicholas Day: The charming tradition of St. Nicholas falls on the eve of St. Nicholas Day, December 5th. If you find yourself walking the streets that evening, you may run into a group of three characters: St. Nicholas (Mikuláš), the Angel (Anděl) who represents Good, and the Devil (Čert) representing Evil. All wear costumes. Three characters walk the streets, stopping children and asking them if they were good in the past year. Most kids say “yes” and sing a song or recite a short poem. They are then rewarded with sweets, candies or other treats, which are handed out by the Angel.

Official Language

The official language of the Czech Republic is Czech, one of the Slavonic languages. Many people are quite proficient in English, Slovak, Polish, German, or Russian.

Czech Communication Styles

Czech people can be perceived as reserved at first. However, once they get to know new people, they are incredibly warm. In Czech Republic culture, people openly share their feelings and thoughts, especially with friends. Generally, the Czech are comfortable with expressing their emotions. They are modest people who find it difficult to talk about their personal success. On the other hand, Czech people enjoy celebrating the success of their closest friends and relatives!

Czech people value direct communication, friendliness, and modesty. People say hello and goodbye to strangers in various situations, such as small shops, elevators, or train compartments. For example, when entering or leaving a shop, it’s polite to say Dobrý den (Good day) or Na shledanou (Goodbye) respectively. A little insider’s tip: people usually remove their shoes before entering Czech homes!

When it comes to physical contact, there are two types of greeting in Czech Republic culture – formal and informal. The informal, Ahoj/Čau (Hello) is said to friends and family members. The formal, Dobré ráno/Dobrý den/Dobrý večer (Good morning/ afternoon/ evening) is said to strangers, teachers, and other authorities.

Czech Traditional Meal - Dumplings with Souce and Beef.

The Czech Diet

Czech people enjoy their cuisine, which is a mix of German, Hungarian, and Polish influences. Dumplings, meat, potatoes, and rice are very popular. Most dishes are topped with a thick sauce and vegetables or sauerkraut. Caraway seeds, bacon, and lots of salt are common flavorings. While meat is a big part of the Czech diet, vegetarianism is also widely accepted.

Typical Czech dishes are rather heavy and include Baked pork and cabbage (knedlo-vepřo-zelo), Czech pancakes (Lívance), Cream sauce and cranberries (Svíčková s brusinkami), which is a tasty piece of beef covered in a delicious cream sauce, garnished with cranberries and served with bread dumplings.