· 8 min read
25 Strange Things Croatians Do (And Would NEVER Do)!
By Sarah & Ivan Ćosić, Royal Croatian Tours
Croatians definitely have their fair share of rules, habits, beliefs and superstitions, and I’m here to outline the ones I’ve noticed since first setting foot on Croatian soil back in 2007. Some of these I also now do, while others I remain a total outcast for in Croatia.
Don’t sit on concrete, cover your kidneys, eat with a spoon, use lard and liquor if you’re sick, blame the wind if you’re grumpy, and buy olive oil in recycled Coke bottles, are just a few. Read on to discover more rules, habits and superstitions Croatians take very seriously.
1. You do not sit directly on concrete. There must be a thin layer of something, anything, to separate your bottom from any concrete surface below when you sit down. Croatians get creative: I’ve seen people use newspapers, plastic shopping bags, gloves, scarves, even sitting on their hands if nothing else is available.
2. Undershirts - I don’t care who you are, you wear an undershirt. Babies, toddlers, children, teens, adults, retirees. And you must tuck it in. Why? Refer to #3.
3. You must keep your kidneys covered. Most Croatians tuck in their undershirts / shirts to avoid “showing their kidneys” (which means leaving the skin on their back exposed where their kidneys would be), which they believe somehow leads to kidney failure, or something along those lines.
4. You always wear slippers. Everyone must wear slippers, without exception. Socks are not enough. And barefoot? Basically a death sentence.
5. You avoid any cross-breeze. ”Propuh” (a lovely cross wind that blows through the house) is almost illegal in Croatia. You may not have any two windows / two doors / a window and a door open at the same time - because it could kill you.
6. Swearing. A lot of Croatians swear, and that includes sweet elderly ladies (say she forgot to buy something at the store - it would be normal for her to say a few curse words out loud, and then move on about her day).
7. You eat soup at the beginning of a big meal. Soup is never a meal in and of itself, but rather the first course of a meal to open your appetite and encourage you to eat more of the main course.
8. You must eat something “with a spoon” throughout the week (“na žlicu”). Usually at least one meal throughout the week is a stew, or something of that nature which is “eaten with a spoon,” as they believe this is good for their digestive tracts.
9. They almost all use toothpicks after a meaty meal. Everyone from teenagers to newly weds on their honeymoon, to the 80+ crowd, they all use them! I’ve never experienced so many people using toothpicks in my life. But you must cover your mouth with your other hand while using the toothpick to be polite.
10. You must blow dry your hair. Letting your hair dry naturally doesn’t exist in Croatia (except for maybe in the hottest week of the summer). Using a hair dryer is a must, even for men with short hair (I’m talking buzz cuts, too). This is a picture of my father in law, and yes, he blow dries his buzz cut.
11. You NEVER go outside immediately after you’ve washed your hair, even if you’ve blow dried it. I don’t know the exact number of hours you should wait, but there’s a rule about freshly washed hair and going outside, which could lead to a cough, cold or organ failure :)
12. They use a lot of tissues (maramice). Everyone carries around little individual packs of tissues in their purses / backpacks / bags / pockets etc. People of all ages are always prepared with tissues. It’s not because they’re constantly sick with a cold, but somehow their noses run more often than the average other person in the world.
13. I don’t know if this is just my inlaws, but a “vegetarian” meal to them, just means that it doesn’t have actual pieces of meat in it. When they make a “vegetarian” meal once in a while, they always cook it with bacon or another type of meat to give it flavor, and then take the meat out for a snack later on. Everything at my inlaws’ tastes a little bit like bacon.
If you are vegetarian, then read our post about how a Croatian breakfast also won't work for you!
14. They wear pantyhose all winter long, but not in the way pantyhose are intended to be worn. Most women wear pantyhose under their pants for an extra layer of warmth. This is basically the Croatian version of long-johns (although it's Croatia, not Canada - the temperature lately rarely drops below zero).
15. They believe rakija (liquor) fixes everything. Fever? Soak a cloth in rakija and put it on your hands and feet. Got a cut? Rakija will disinfect. Sore throat? Drink it, it will kill the bacteria.
16. Another home remedy: svinjska mast (which is just lard). Some Croatians use this for bronchitis - you just put a slab of fat on your chest and let it do the work? I’m not convinced.
17. Croatian men love to wear their fanny packs. They would seriously be lost without them. I asked Ivan about this when we first met. He replied to my question with another question, “Where else would I keep my keys / wallet / phone / tissues?” I have personally grown to love the fanny pack, Croatians wear them with confidence.
Head over to my Croatian fanny pack post to learn more about this cute habit.
18. Chairs must have cushions. Wooden or plastic chairs without cushions are a big no-no. Ivan ran out and got these cushions for our kids 5 seconds after we got our new bench for our kitchen table (I know, I know, I keep telling him he should have been an interior designer with such an eye for style).
19. Vegeta. They love Vegeta and put it in everything (it’s a veggie based seasoning for soups, chicken, vegetables, potatoes). If you don’t cook with Vegeta, you can’t call yourself a Croatian!
20. You don’t put your purse on the ground. Putting your purse on the ground means you won’t have any money. If you’re out at a cafe, keep it on the chair next to you, or in your lap, or on the table, or hang it somewhere, anywhere but the ground!
21. “South wind!” (Južina!) If you get a nice warm-front coming in from the south, watch out for some cranky Croatians! They believe the south wind makes them grumpy and irritable.
22. Air conditioning. Even in the middle of the summer when it’s 100 degrees, Croatians are extremely cautious when it comes to air conditioning. If the lovely cool air blows on a Croatian, they immediately start feeling a variety of symptoms including (but not limited to): ear pain, back pain, sore throat, fever, chills and a runny nose . I’m not quite sure why people even install them here, because they rarely turn them on.
23. Need to send a package to someone else in Croatia? Maybe you’re trying to send a whole lamb or a pig, because why not? Use the bus! Just bring your parcel (a box, bag or animal ready to be roasted) to the bus station, find the bus that’s going to the city you want your package to be delivered, then slip the driver a little cash, and voila!
The person on the receiving end waits for the bus and accepts the package. We’ve had lamb sent to us for special occasions using this method, plenty of times - it's like magic! I could never imagine doing the same thing back in Canada...
24. Pretty much any big occasion is celebrated by roasting a lamb or pig on a spit (which is often sent by the farmer directly, and delivered by bus like in #23). From weddings and baptisms, to big birthday celebrations and bachelor parties, if there’s a big group gathering, you can certainly expect a roasted animal.
Head over to my Croatian weddings post to see why they're better than the rest!
25. The best olive oil comes in used Coke bottles. Most Croatians have their own source of olive oil (a family member, a friend, or a friend of a friend who produce their own fresh from the grove, somewhere near the coast). It’s usually poured and delivered in used Coke or Fanta bottles, and it’s the best, purest, most delicious oil you’ll ever try!
This is just a short list of quirky things I’ve noticed Croatians do (and DON’T do), so if you find yourself in Croatia with wet hair, barefeet, exposed kidneys, sitting near the air conditioner without a cushion under your bottom, you’ll really stand out as a foreigner!
In short, Croatians are very concerned about body warmth, wind, air & meals, and if you don’t adhere to the following beliefs, you could seriously be putting your health at risk!
If you want to read some more on Croatian culture, follow this link to another recent article I wrote about Croatian Culture, Etiquette & Social Norms!
Sarah Cosic
Royal Croatian Tours - Specializing in custom made, luxury trips throughout Croatia. We offer exclusive experiences all over the country, and we’re passionate about providing you exceptional service that goes above and beyond for your tailor made vacation!
If you’re interested in reading a few of our other posts about Croatia:
- My Kids Don't Speak English: Raising Bilinguals is Tough!
- 15 Places in Croatia You've Probably Never Heard Of!
- 50 Insanely Spectacular Photos of Croatia: Start Packing!
- Croatia’s Best 20 Beaches: Sandy, Pebbly & Hidden Gems
- Is Croatia Safe? Read Our 20 Useful Safety Tips for Tourists
- 5 Reasons Croatian Grannies are Cuter than Kittens
- 8 Reasons You Should Never Swim in the Adriatic
- Top 10 Day Trips From Zagreb, Within 1hr Drive
- Croatian Money: KN or EURO, Exchanging $, and Daily Costs
- How I Learned to Speak Croatian as an Adult (in 7 Steps)
- Driving in Croatia (A Helpful Guide With Practical Tips)
- 38 Local Tips & Mistakes to Avoid When Traveling to Croatia
- Travel to Croatia With a Toddler or Baby (From Experience!)
- Tipping in Croatia: A Complete Guide With Suggested Amounts!
- Zagreb's Top Things to See & Do (With Costs & Working Hours)
About the authors
As a Canadian in Croatia, Sarah shares her favourite things to see and do, in hopes of helping others enjoy and explore this beautiful country.
Ivan is always searching for unique places and experiences to offer his guests, and shares some of his findings through the blog.
116 comments from readers
Made up bullshit.
Its not bull shit. It’s true and I don’t see nothing wrong with any of these?
Full of shit im feom Zagreb capital town and som tings are right but moust are bullshit
I’m 100% Croatian and I grew up knowing, witnessing, and living 20/25 of these. Definitely not bullshit. Tigray is a troll.
Except 25 all other you can tall for Serbian too.
True, all but one... "Temperatures rarely drops under 0"... In most of Croatia temperatures always falls under 0 in winter times. Last year my town was -22.
Nothing she said here is made up.
It is true, and they forgot some
it's 25/25 true. i was taught by this laws by my granma and my mother and my wife and i teach our kids this. if you aren't Dalmatian (coastal part of Croatia and most beautiful place on Earth) then you don't know it and not allowed to question this rules.
I live in Croatia and have now own familly, it' s all true!
Everything on this list is true! You are not croatian at all, you are some foreign spy.
Tigran you troll of trolls, practically everything is spot on. I personally love my air conditioner but the rest is absolutely true. One thing she forgot to mention and it might just quite deliberatly be so not to offend people like you is that many Croatians love to troll. So there you go Sarah, add this one to your list and you've got a complete one....or don't and ignore these clowns.
I'm from Pula, right now living in Zagreb, an all of these are true!
Ja sam sedma generacija koja zivi u Zagrebu sa tatine strane. I vecina je istina. Sa mamine strane smo Licani, plus u mixu je i nesto Samoborske krvi. I da. Nikad nemoj sjedit na betonu, jer ces dobit upalu mjehura.Jer si zensko. Nikako ne ides van, ako ti je kosa mokra, Moja baka se krizala svaki put. Posljedice su glavobolja ili upala .Da, kad ides u goste, poneses dar, jer je obicaj. Da , uvijek pokri bubrege, od svoje 14 pa do 25 godine sam se borila sa mamom oko toga. Propuh ubija...( moj buraz to nije trebao slusat ). Svaki freaking rockas koji sam imala do svoje 30 godine. Pajcek ili ovcica. Ipak imamo Licke krvi, niti jedan rodjendan nije prosao bez barem jednog od navedenih, naravno Zagrebacki odrezak je MUST HAVE..obiteljska tradicija. Btw, sto se tice pederusa, moj stari je jos uvijek nosi a on ima oko 60 godina. Normalna stvar, pa neces ruksak nosit kad ides u crkvu ili u goste. Lakse je novcanik, mobitel, sitnis i ostale stvari , ukljucujuci maramice , nosit u torbici. Duh...U garazi uvijek imamo veliku kutiju krumpira i luka. Lakse je otici na zelenu trznicu i kupit jeftinije nego u supermarket. Ulje smo uvijek kupovali od frendova, sa obale. U Coca cola bocama. Ne vidim zasto bi to bio problem. Pa kaj ne kupujes sir od bakica na placu? Ko je to vidio radit. Ili jaja. Zasto bi to bilo neugodno, ne shvacam. U Norveskoj na primjer se sve kupuje u Rema 1000 ili Kiwi ili bilo koji drugi veliki supermarket, od jaja , sira pa nadalje. Nema bakica koje prodaju stvari na trznici ili frendova koji ce ti prodat maslinovo ulje jer ga proizvode. I ajmo iskreno. Moja familja radi sama rakiju. Svake godine, brali smo sljive i grozdje i radili svoju.Tradicija. Dok nisu uveli penalizaciju. Sad nije vise tradicija. Tako da, svi ovi komentari koje vidim, koji nekako pokusavaju tradiciju pokrit kao da je taboo, ocigledno nisu zivjeli na ovaj nacin. I opet ponavljam, nista od gore navedenog u ovom blogu, nije sramota ili glupost ili taboo , kao sto neki ljudi pokusavaju prikazat u komentarima.
I Jos jedno sto je moja baka pa i mama stalno govorile. Kuća ti uvijek mora biti čista i moraš imati bar nekih keksa da poslužis uz kavu. Nedaj boze da ti netko iznenada dodje. Sramota !!!! Ja se portgala čišćenjem kuće.
Spot on Sarah! Anyone who disputes this just isn’t Croatian!
Yup i live in croatia my whole life and think like 11 thinks are bullshit
I know a woman who’s now ex-husband is a famous Croatian author. She said she was taking a bus and made the mistake of opening a window because it was sweltering hot. She said she thought the people were going to kill her and eventually closed the window.
Sadly, it is true. I've been here since 1984
Why sadly? Proud to be raised that way and being Croatian
I'm from Pennsylvania in the US and am here to say that 20/25 are EXACTLY how my Irish grandmother taught us. The only thing missing is that you never put shoes, on the table. I love the traditions.
I agree with Vera 👍
You forgot about wearing socks with sandals!!!! My tease my dad every summer! And when we go to Croatia, men wear the combo everywhere!!!
Hahah that's true!! That combo is pretty fashionable here! lol
Not true, tourists wear the combo. we make fun of them every summer
How about Canadians in winter wearing just shorts and sandals with winter jackets and hand gloves?
Actually that is not Croatian combo. Usually tourists from Czech Republic and Germany are wearing that combo. I am not saying there aren't such people in Croatia, but very few locals would ware something like that.
Oh no, that's German and Czech tradition, you've got it wrong
Yup, wearing socks with sandals is something which true Croatian will never do. That's Czech, Slovak and Polish thing. Also while in home we like to wear slippers, while at the beach we are barefoot. Tourists, foreigners always wear some sandals. Regarding type of Croatians, some specific Croats from Herzegowina (part of Bosnia and Herzegowina) likes to wear white socks with their black leather shoes, which ordinary Croatian finds tasteless and make fun of them. Those people in past drove only and only Mercedes type of car. Also we like to pay complete bill in restaurant, or bar, not checking who ate or drink what. In bar that's call 'runda' like 'ja plaćam rundu' or 'runda na mene'.
somebody said 90% of this is typical for Serbians, too I am agree with that, but being Croatians I like when this is referring solely on us. 🤟😎
SOOOO TRUE!!! Every word!!!
Ok all true, but I don’t see anything funny or strange?
Sounds like similar to Asian superstitions! (Chinese/ Korean/JaPanese)!
That's really interesting that many are similar!
I really love reading stuff like this, it always makes me laugh when people from other countries/cultures point out something I'm so used to that I dont even register its a quirky custom and how silly some things look :D
Great list.
Thanks for your comment Kiki!! Glad you enjoyed it :) I'm sure there are 100 things Canadians do that are quirky, but I don't even realize :D
There are some more things (instruction for the kids):
- never kill the frog if you do that your mom will die.
- never throw the bread, if you can't eat it put it on the fence. Somebody will find it.
Very true about the bread, Hrvoje! My husband said that his grandma always used to say to kiss the bread and leave it on the fence 😊... I also often see half loaves of bread around my neighborhood left out!
never heard of that - and I live in Croatia, Croat. Which part of Croatia is that?
Inland of Zadar is where my husband's gramma & mom are from, but we live in Zagreb and see bread left out from time to time!
This is so true, all of it. :))))
My little can not walk without slipers, undershirt too... :-D
Haha I even started wearing slippers!
It's all truth, Born and raisd in Croatia, proud to be Cratian. All of above been practicing especially those with liquor :) but how we say in Croatia, salu na stranu, ali sve je istina. Lijep pozdrav od slavonca iz Kanade
Also, you forgot to mention garlic against cold and flu, tomatos for any kind of (jebiga cireva), then bacon and onions in the winter time, potatos sliced and put on feet to lower down fever, sour cabbage and ribs, etc lots of good stuff. And who ever thinks this is funny, just comapare all others and their alergies and who knows what else and us. We are not perfect but still looking after ourselfs .
Yes! Love those examples! How could I forget garlic?! My in-laws swear by it!
Absolutely spot on!! The best is the olive oil in coke bottles!! 🤣 I’ll tell you when I brought my American/Italian husband for the first time to Croatia he was dying from the heat bc of no AC....he slept with ice filled plastic coke bottles!! What would Croatians do without their coke bottles?!!! 🤣🤣🤣
We have AC too now.....but my mom and uncle are always monitoring the temp.....can’t have it too cold!! That would be crazy! 🤣🤣
Well, if the bottle was made by Coca Cola company and screw cap is labeled by Fanta...there is high chance that rakija is inside!
Hahaha!
You forgot one.... They don't use ice..... It will kill you too. Lol😆
Haha! Yes! My family is always weirded about about no ice in drinks when they comes to visit!
Here’s a few more Cro House Rules:
Don't whistle indoors
-Don’t walk 6 inches past the front foyer in your outdoor shoes
-If you get a dog, your Croatian in-laws will never come in your house again (wait......)
-The house is fine at 20 degrees Celsius..but only in winter
-A four-foot long shoehorn at the front door is standard issue
-Every rug has an envelope of cash under it
-if the house doesn’t have 3 versions of The Last Supper on display somewhere, is it even Croatian?
-Doilies, doilies everywhere
-Garage must have two giant separate crates for onions and potatoes
-Short-wave radio in dining room for broadcasts from back home
Yes! Especially te shoe horn, the Last Supper and the onions and potatoes!!!
Yes! I couldn't believe she missed doillies.
Jesus man, what part of Croatian were you in?
Živim u Zagrebu 😊
Exactly!!! Lol
Yes, this is 100% true. Not only in Imotski.
I was born and raised in Croatia and every word is true
😊❤️
also, you don't have to be Croatian to know that natural fat is better than industry produced fat, and that many plants have antibacterial, anti inflammatory and/or immune boosting properties.
All so very true, and so funny! My partner is from Cakovec and I thought some of her idiosyncrasies were unique to her - but no! Love it Sarah, this had us both crying laughing :)
Aww, thanks so much! :) So happy you both enjoyed!!
Dajte (pojedini) glupani,proćitajte pažljivije komentare,90% ih nisu pisali hrvati,pratite im pravopis!!!!
Haha this made me laugh and brought back memories. I would like to add that everyone wears tracksuits. My husband jokes and calls it the national Croatian outfit.
LOL Yes! The tracksuits (for men) are a must!
I would find it a strange world where tracksuits wouldn't be a must for a man... No wonder Canadians are nowhere being mentioned in sports... :DDD
Haha! Just hockey :) Croatia is definitely a very sporty nation, and does very well.... I guess that explains the track suits!
Well, you described Dalmatia. Other parts of Croatia have their own life style.
You exaggerated this so much its not even real.I understand publicity and all but come on.If you are already writing something about someones country at least be legit.For example wearing undershirt in winter is normal.It gives people extra warmth.They are invented for a bloddy reason not just to sit on the store shelve...We sure do not wear it in summer.And no we dont think we will have kidney failure if we dont wear it.Jesus...Its more weird to go to Mc'Donalds order lots of shitty fat food and then order diet coke in order not to get fat."Logic"right there...Please do not disrespect our country with stupid, and way to exaggerated comments.
Sarah, Keep up the great work is what I read in martinas comment😜. Me and my fellow Croats here in Kanada loved every word...we grew up with these things here too...lol...will definitely reach out to you and Ivan before our trip this summer!
Martina, malo sale nije na odmet, plus toga to je sve istina i kod nas u Slavoniji, jos i dan danas ti "zakoni" vrijede. U Dalmaciji juzina "ubija", kod moje tetke klima "ubija" Ti se ljutila ili ne, dodi pa vidi
Super ste :)
relax!
Sara is bullshit artist but it's only my opinion!
Opinions are like assholes. Everybody has one and most of them stink.
100% true. You forgot that we do the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher!
So do Canadians! 😂😂😂
Dear Sarah, as a secretary of the Croatian-Canadian Academic Society, I'd be delighted to have you and your husband as members. For more info, Google us, and contact me.
All the best,
Niko
14. It ist not a true. Visit Slavonija at winter time...
čudna imena kad su u pitanju engleski komentari :o
If Sarah said she lived in Hercegovina or perhaps in Bosnia, I´d say those things were possible. But in civilized parts of Croatia majority of the items were forgotten even when I was a child. And I´m 50+. Of course, we have heard for all that she wrote, but even in sixties and seventies of the last century only uneducated people, people who lived in stranded, backward areas lived that way. In cities and developed areas - no way!
Part is true, part is not ..
In 90% of the older population, people live the way you described them.
You have to do a little research into why this is so, there is an explanation.
Some things on your list, though weird and funny to you, really hold water.
It's always fun to read how people from other parts of the world experience us Croats. Just don’t generalize….
Apsolutno nevjerojatno da autorica misli da očigledne i dokazane činjenice kao što je zdrava prehrana sa žlicom i mnoge druge njoj mora biti predmet sprdnje. Također Jugo i njegov utjecaj nije ničija izmišljotina nego čista fizika, promjena tlaka i temperature na osjetljivu osobu. I gdje onda autorica drži novčanik, ključeve i maramice ako ne nosi torbicu? I koja to ženska ne nosi torbicu, bilo gdje u svijetu? Mnoge stvari su točne, neke pretjerane, samo je problem njen stav prema tome. Evo, ovo diplomatski rečeno, inače bi bilo puno grublje da se služimo autoričinim stilom izražavanja (i razmišljanja). Ne pada mi napamet ovo prevoditi, autorica to već sigurno razumije, ali neke osnovne stvari ionako nikada shvatiti neće. Mislim recimo da bi bilo zdravo cijeli tjedan jesti suhu hranu???, svaki će stručnjak reći da svaki dan treba pojesti bar jedan kuhani obrok. Oni su prema ovoj gore sigurno less educated i less sophisticated. Znači, umjesto da se promovira zdrav pogled na život, on se isprdava. Hvala autorici.
Ne govori o ženama nego o muškima s torbicama...
I s tim se slažeš?
and that’s why canadians are american bosnians ;)
👍
You never buy olive oil from someone who packs it in a plastic bottle! Olive oil should only be bought in dark glass bottles. This is a first to me.
Olive oil in coke bottle cracked me up. I just had 1L delivered to Paris a month ago. It was from a friend of a friend, which knew a friend of my parents. Can't go wrong with that many friends :))
For the rest of the habits - yeah, mostly spot-on, perhaps with few twists of urban legend depending how old the story teller was.
For the Croatians... nothing to be ashamed of - quirky little habits that make you unique, not weird, so stop complaining.
Yessss!!! Love that you had it delivered all the way to Paris!
Sramotno je ovakvo "novinarstvo". Nisi ti ni novinarka, a Hrvatica pogotovo! Kladim se da neznas ni riječ Hrvatskog, a neke izjave su za zatvor! Loše, loše ti je ovo "novinarstvo".
Jeez, kako si nepismen... Ovo nisu novine nego blog... <facepalm>
Tako je... Hvala Dodo! 😊
Half of these things are not true.I know lot's of people who would not recognise them self here.You can find similar habits and behavior all around the globe so I think this is false.I know this is false.I live in Croatia.Perhaps in some regions.
Je li ovo sve točno ili ne, za mene osobno nije. Barem pola od svega navedenog na ovaj ili onaj način je neispravno. Za nekog drugog možda druga polovica svega navedenog, kako za koga. U svakom slučaju, ova očita influencerica (novinarka nikako, previše je očito da ne poznaje ni etički kodeks novinarstva, a ni osnove istog) mora prije svega naučiti cijeniti i poštovati drugo i drukčije, zatim da u jednom danu ne možeš naučiti sve o nekoj naciji, a tek onda se odlučiti pisati o ovakvim temama.
OK, all of it, but fanny-packs. Where have you seen those? I haven't seen them around since the ninties...
I'm a man. I have my rucksack for all I need... ;)
Ma daj, najezda pederusa vlada Hrvatskom, oko struka, preko ramena i td
This is so really stupid. I don’t know anyone who lives by these rules. What is this? A silly article to attract people to bite into your rant? You won’t attract anyone with these stupid generalizations, rather opposite. Good luck with you business...uzas.
it's all true, at least for the older people. the comments that say it's not, are probably city folk or younger people. Most of these don't apply to me, but they apply to my parents, grandparents, etc. it's how I grew up, but as i grew older, I stopped following these "rules" lol. traditions are very much alive in Croatia, and they can be applied to any Balkan country.
Samo predrasude i stereotipi. Vas blog je toksican. Ali i od toga neki ljudi zive. Zalosno
This is absolutely brilliant Sarah. My Croatian husband of 27 years has just laughed for 10 minutes as I read this to him. Each point made, he and I both agreed on. I would add to this list though: that Croatian ladies will always change out of a wet swimsuit/bikini as it is not healthy to sit in a wet item of clothing, despite being 40 degrees. I also have been told off for pointing out that events did not always happen as per his story telling! Croatians love to tell a good story and it is generally understood that the tale is embellished, exaggerated and a few fibs thrown on to ensure the story is the best it possibly can be.
:) Thanks Cath!! Yes, the point about the bathing suit is spot on!! I think I'll have to do a follow up post / part 2 including some of the things I missed!! :)
Koji dobar blog, jos i krades price koje su lazi! Znaci ono, svaka cast "blogerico". 😆
I think you got it all mixed up here
Sarah, you forgot the two most infuriating things, taking 45 minutes to say goodbye and coming to a dead stop in every doorway they pass through :p
Hahaha! Yes! It always seems to take a while to leave somewhere!
24. Pretty much any big occasion is celebrated by roasting a lamb or pig on a spit (which is often sent by the farmer directly, and delivered by bus like in #23). From weddings and baptisms, to big birthday celebrations and bachelor parties, if there’s a big group gathering, you can certainly expect a roasted animal.
This do only people how come from Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's part of their tradition, especially in part of Croatia where I live. They come over here from B&H and they are called Croatians no matter's that most of they didn't born here, but they just live here and doing what they love. Everybody has they own traditions and I don't really see the problem with that. They just want to show theirs kids what are parts of their tradition. You need a little better resources.
I'd like to add to this list...
26. In comfortable situations, they will walk on top of the backs of their shoes, basically turning a regular shoe into a slipper. Which I guess is part of #4
27. Neck ties are worn shorter than usual (as the birthplace of the necktie, Croatia is allowed to wear them any way they like).
28. The best Prošek is also best served in a recycled Coke bottle.
Haha, nice additions Julia :) Thanks for your comment!
i hate how true this is
Hahaha :)
These are all true. My personal best was when my mother's aunt had chickens and turkeys at home. After killing and cleaning it,it would go in the freezer. In a orange KRAŠ NAPOLITANKE bag.
LOL Yes!!! I've definitely seen the Napolitanke bag used for holding a wide variety of things! Love the poultry though! :D
One thing that is not mentioned was really big when I was growing up and that wa a big no no - to play with food, particulrly to throw bread on the floor. We, kids would immediately get beat up if we did that, even by my old grandparents who almost never raised a hand on us kids. I got to understand it is because they went through very tough times when food was scarce (probably they also got raised that way, for the same reasons). They treated bread as sacred. It took me a few years to get over throwing away food I didn't eat (yes, bread as well) because I was getting fat eating all the leftovers. I am always trying to plan my shopping so that no food goes to waste.
Haha, true, I had a good laugh, but it is like this in Croatia. Have fun folks, Enjoy the country and ALL of us.. Well, most of us .. 😀
Croats have their own tradition, which is most often the result of historical memory, which is confirmed by science. If you’re standing on a “propuh” you’ll most likely end up with a headache or a stiff back or neck. It is known that there are extensions of all organs in the feet, so hypothermia of the feet leads to inflammation of the bladder that does not hurt because the bladder has no nerve endings (we only feel osim if the inflammation is extremely large) - resulting in pain in the knees, shoulders and forehead ... This is the same tradition as in Japan based on eastern tradition of natural meficine
It's sad to see that all of your experience comes between Omiš, Zadar and Imotski. I can undarstand that it's satire but it's way over the top. Except swearing, olive oil and the bus everything else is generalising and over the top for laughs but it's not particularly funny.
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