I’ve been living in the Czech Republic for a few years now. Before arriving, I had a picturesque image of fairytale castles and cobblestone streets in my mind. Little did I know that there were many surprising nuances to Czech life that would weave themselves into the fabric of my daily experiences.
1. The obsession with mushroom picking
Mushroom picking is the Czech national sport. The ‘season’ runs from May to September, and during this time my Facebook feed becomes a virtual mushroom gallery. Conversations go like this: Me: “Wanna grab a drink?” Czech: “Can’t, busy sharpening knives for mushroom picking tomorrow.” ‘Mushrooming’ is deeply rooted in Czech history. Long ago, mushrooms were known as ‘the meat of the poor’ and people picked them out of necessity, whereas today it’s merely a national obsession.
2. The drinking culture
In the Czech Republic, some pubs stay open all night, and there are countless local breweries. It’s normal to see Czechs having beer at lunch and going back to work. I once told a Czech friend that if I had beers at lunch, I’d be asleep in the afternoon. He just shrugged, “We’ve been honing this skill our entire lives.”
3. The small-talk
The English response to ‘how are you” is “I’m fine thank you.” Ask a Czech the same question and you’d better buckle yourself in. They’ll reply that everything is ‘terrible’ and reel off a list of things to prove it. “I have problems at work,” “The price of butter has gone up,” “My pet lizard died last night.” For the most part I find this refreshing, but at times it feels like I’m just strolling around gathering complaints.
4. The power of tvaroh
Czechs believe that eating tvaroh (a variety of curd cheese) can cure different illnesses. A Czech doctor once told me to rub tvaroh on my leg for pain relief. I joked, “Should I eat it too for faster healing?” He replied seriously, “As you wish.”
5. The Prague divide
There are two kinds of people living in the Czech Republic: “Praguers” and everyone else. Praguers often look down on folks from smaller cities, considering them country bumpkins. On the other hand, these ‘bumpkins’ view Praguers as rude and arrogant. If someone behaves poorly, you might hear them say, “He’s probably from Prague.”
6. Mountains or sea?
Czechs often ask the rather odd question, “Do you prefer the mountains or the sea?” I’m tolf this is because these are the two main types of holiday. When responding, it’s best to choose one over the other. (I used to say ‘both’ and always got a frown in return.)
7. Czech drivers
Driving in the Czech Republic is considered one of the riskier experiences. Czech drivers tailgate on highways, often ignore pedestrian crossings, and drive too fast on smaller roads. Just this morning, I witnessed a truck speeding through the high street at over forty miles an hour. The driver was likely from Prague…
8. The attitude to Czech products
Another surprising aspect of living in the Czech Republic is the locals often believe their products are inferior to other countries. I’m frequently asked, “Why do you have a Czech bike when the quality here is so low?” I always say it’s a great bike, and I never have any issues with it. They then confess they used to have the same bike and really liked it. I’m not sure why they whisper this admission— as if praising Czech products is punishable by public execution.
9. The cottage culture
Most Czechs head to their countryside cottages at the weekends, a tradition dating back to the 19th century when lower classes spent their time exploring the countryside. Over time, they transitioned from tents to building wooden cabins. After WWII, abandoned houses from the German expulsions were taken over by Czechs. As young people moved to cities in the 1960s and 1970s, they inherited these buildings as weekend houses. Consequently, Czech cities can feel like ghost towns on weekends. Last Sunday, České Budějovice was so empty I could hear people talking from a hundred meters away (pretty sure they were discussing the inferior quality of Czech bikes…).
10. A frightening christmas tradition
On December 5th, St. Nicholas asks local children if they’ve been good this year. Most kids say yes, sing a song, and get a gift. But there’s also a devil at the event, and he looks so scary that it’s a wonder the children ever sleep again. Supposedly, naughty kids end up in his sack and are sent to hell. Maybe the real reason for this tradition is to ensure a steady market for Czech therapists.
*Interested in living in the Czech Republic? Check out these articles.