Some elements of Czech culture

in collaboration with Aurore BEURON

Character :

- First, the Czechs can appear cold especially merchants and restaurateurs. They are naturally distant with tourists or foreigners. We mustn’t be perturbed if the Czechs are not extremly demonstrative : there are no big or warm embrace. We shake our hands soberly. At the beginning, Czechs are often reserved but if you make the effort to learn a few words in Czech, the smiles come and face take only few minutes to loosen up.

- When we are invited to someone's home, it is the custom to take off shoes at the entrance to use slippers made especially for us.

Food and drink :

- The meals are taken extremly early. In some hostels, bars or restaurants, a waiter can tell you that there is no place even if several tables are not busy: these tables are reserved for regulars who order a lot of drinks. This is what restaurateurs call "the private".

- Beer is the preferred drink. We can drink Beer at any time of the meal: even for dessert! Moreover, the "cheese" part that we find in French meals (between the main course and the dessert) does not exist there. Indeed, if you find cheese in the Czech Republic, you do not eat it cut into slices. It is mixed with mustard, onions, paprika and beer.

- In bars, there is a difference in beer labeling. The percentage indicated on the bottle does not correspond with the degree of alcohol, but to the sugar content in the must: for example: 10% of sugar in the must corresponds to 4 ° of alcohol in the beer. The price of beer is impressive : about 50 cents for a pint of beer in a bar.

Celebration :

- Finally, a tradition at Easter is that boys whip girls with wicker sticks and girls offer painted eggs in exchange. As we will be in the Czech Republic at the time of Easter, it is important to know this tradition to minimize surprise or cultural shock. You can found more informations about this event in Joseline's article.