National traditions of Croatia. Habits, mentality and the way of living

For a long time, Croatia was a part of Yugoslavia. Today, it is a separate country. Local people, as a rule, react negatively if they are called Yugoslavs. The Croats are most susceptible to the influence of Western countries comparing to other peoples of the Balkan peninsula. Their mentality, especially in the coastal areas, is closer to Italian than to Slavic. Italy and Hungary played an important role in the history of these places. The dominant religion in Croatia is Catholicism; it is professed by more than 85% of the total population of the country. Regular Turkish raids formed the national self-consciousness of the people and their pride of the independence.

One of the main sources of income in Croatia, especially in coastal regions, is tourism. Local residents manage hostels and private hotels. Therefore, people are extremely polite with foreigners. Even the most unexpected or complex request is met with a consent and a smile. However, this does not mean that they immediately rush to work. On the contrary, Croats are very slow. They like to postpone everything for later and do not rush to do their job. They are pretty unpunctual, but utterly polite and correct. Although, politeness can often be insincere. In Croatia, it is customary to bargain and discuss the cost of goods or services, especially in shops and even cafes in coastal areas.

Women in Croatia are very emancipated, especially compared to other Yugoslav republics. Very often, they are the leaders in the family and make all decisions. They seek to build careers and are in no way inferior to men in the professional field. Croatian men are distinguished by wit and a great sense of humor; they take care of themselves and know how to appreciate the women's beauty. At the same time, they do not allow themselves anything extra, except admiring and compliments. Croats are very proud of their nation and celebrate all state holidays and rituals. When the girl marries, the relatives on the part of the groom take off her veil and put on a kerchief and an apron. Such a rite symbolizes changing the status for a married woman. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Croatian folk music is very beautiful and unique. It contains elements of cultures of different nationalities, including Serbs, Gypsies, and Italians. Music originates from Slavic folklore; its foundations were laid back in the 7th century. One of the most famous national musical instruments is a tambour, which is a kind of a mandolin. Songs about love and hard rural life are sung with such an accompaniment. A tambour or gypsy violins accompany kolo, which is a local dance. It looks spectacular when dancers wear bright national costumes of red and white colors. Despite the fact that traditional clothes were no longer worn since the 19th century, Croatians like to dress up in beautiful costumes on holidays to pay tribute to their history. Croatia is a quiet country. The rhythm of life is pretty calm. The locals, even in large cities, do not rush anywhere. The Croats are very hospitable. However, if tourists accidentally wander into the private property or touch upon a national question, Croats may behave aggressively and even bump a stranger. Croats like to go countryside with their family. As a rule, large companies gather there. The rest is accompanied by a noise and fun. Another distinguishing feature of the Croats is the Corzo event. Every evening, locals go for a walk along the main streets of the cities. People demonstrate their beautiful outfits and assess the appearance of other people.