In order to understand the différences culturalhabits of my new country I going to try to present my welcoming country.

• Symbols         

   Czech Flag: the first official symbol representing the Czech Republic is the Czech flag. A white-red-and-blue flag in a simple geometric pattern, was created in 1920, shortly after the founding of the first independent Czechoslovak state.

The white, red, and blue colours are both symbolic and historic.

White is the traditional colour of Bohemia and represents the sky. Moravia is symbolized by the colour red which also represents the blood shed for the freedom of the state. Blue is the traditional colour of Slovakia.

When Czechoslovakia split into two independent states in January 1993, the Czech Republic kept this flag as its own. While the blue triangle no longer represents Slovakia, it does remain a symbol of impartiality and sovereignty.  

The Large National Coat of Arms: The large coat of arms is the most frequently used symbol of the state. It is used to represent the country externally. it can be found on all public buildings, city halls and offices. It symbolizes the state authority. 
   

The State Anthem: The state anthem is the first verse of the song "Where is my home" (“Kde domov můj“) composed by František Škroup to the lyrics by Josef Kajetán Tyl. 

Brno Flag                                                      Brno Coat of Arms

•  National  célébrations

1st January: New Year’s Day and Restoration of the Czech Independance Day: In November 1992, the federal parliament of Czechoslovakia voted to dissolve the country on December 31, 1992. It's why the 1st January is a national holiday. The date marks the division of Czechoslovakia.

6th April: Easter Monday

1st May: Labor Day/ May Day

8th Day: Victory in Europe Day

5th July: Saints Cyril and Methodius

6th July: Jan Hus Day 

28th September: St Wenceslas Day : Patron of the Czech lands, a martyr, a figure whose tradition played a very important role during emancipation of the Czech state and the Premyslid Dynasty within the terms of Christian Europe

28th October: Independant Czechoslovak State Day : Austria-Hungary’s defeat in the First World War offered the Czechs and Slovaks the opportunity to declare their independence, which they did on 28 October 1918 as the new state of Czechoslovakia. So each year Czech Republic celerate he independence of a state that no longer exist !

17th November: struggle for freedm and democraty Day

24th December: Christmas Eve

25th December: Christmas Event

26th December: Stephen’s Day 

• Events and Customs

I would like to speak about events and customs that i could see:

   Easter: Fun timein Czech Republic. Many traditions are still observed and practiced. Different regions may have their own Easter traditions and customs. For example a nationwide Easter egg contest is held in Prague and other Czech cities around Easter time.

 There are many Czech Easter symbols who are related to spring. Some of the best known are: 

- Easter Egg: hand-painted. Girls decorate Easter eggs to give them to boys on Easter Monday.

- Pussywillow and pomlázka: an Easter pomlázka  is a braided whip made from pussywillow twigs. Pussywillow twigs are thought to bring health and youth to anyone who is whipped with them.

 Its original purpose is to chase away illness, bad spirits and to bring health and youth for the rest of the year to everyone who is whipped with the young pussywillow twigs.

 The idea is that boys would whip girls lightly on the legs. An Easter carol would be recited by the boy while whipping. The girl could then reward the boy with a painted egg or candy and tie a ribbon around his pomlázka.

30th April: Burning of the Witches: This custom takes place on the evening of April 30th. Czechs population build bonfires and create an effigy of the legendary witch.

The custom would able to finish the winter saison. The old belief was that witches' powers diminished as the weather warmed. So this practice could eradicated more quickly the cold weather.

 During the night,  people does  roast sausages, play musical instruments and sing folk songs. After nightfall, the effigy would be burn on the fire.  As the witch burns up, so does the chill of the winter.   

In some villages, this becomes a sort of competition to see who can build the largest bonfire. 

    1st May: Day for love: The celebration of May is a Czech tradition for centuries. There is a spread custom of kissing your love under a blooming cherry tree or birch. Legend says that a girl who is not kissed would  die in twelve months. There are village balls, while students in cities organise Majáles (a celebration of student life).

• Family Habits

Eating Habits: Traditional Czech food tends to be rather heavy: roast pork, cabbage and dumplings is one of the most popular meals. Soups are very common and are often served before the main course.  Czech food emphase on meat, potatoes, and dumplings and the use of substantial amounts of animal fats, butter, and cream. In the picture you can see dumplings (like bread) and sauce like a soup with onions.

Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption in the world. Czech beer is like water to many citizens - it's just a basic way of life.

Czech Society: family is a key element of Czech Republic culture and is generally placed ahead of work. Czechs are private people until they get to know you. They are formal and reserved.

Most greetings include a handshake, direct eye contact, and the appropriate greeting for the time of day.

•  Cultural habits

In Czech Republic there are lot of nationality: Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991) and religions: Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%, atheist 39.8%.
 

Currency: the national currency in the Czech Republic is the crown (czk). One crown is equal to about 27.2 euros.

Food here is incredibly cheap! Of course it depends products. For example, in Brno it difficult to find meal like other that chicken ! Otherwise it more expensive than in France.

Everything else that you may want to shop for clothes, souvenirs,... is relatively the same price as back home. But having food that is much less expensive has definitely been helpful when you are student.

Public Transportation: in Brno there are tram during the day and bus during the night. The Brno’s center is only for bus, tram or taxi. If you have a car you can’t cross the city center. There are lot of parkings around.

Public transportation is cheaper than in France like food. In France I pay 30€ for one month and here I pay 25€ for 3 months !

Etiquette: in Czech Republic foreigners are not greet with pleasure and particular when you are students. In the street, it is not normal to smile and say hello to strangers. It little bit complicated when you want to ask someone about your destination or anything because very little of Czech people speak English. I am lucky because my roomate speak English but in my dormitory it is very difficult to be an Erasmus who want or ask about somethings !

Of course when my parents visited me it was differents because my parents speak only French and little it German and there are tourists ! Old people speak Germain but no English !

To conclude, Czechs are in love about soccer and hockey. The national teams for both sports are well respected worldwide and always have a huge following locally. Each sport also has popular domestic leagues. My next article should talk about the World Championship of Hockey who happen in Czech Republic !

Average Czechs enjoy lots of outdoor activities and sports. On the other hand, Czech Republic culture is filled with arts and cultural events.

The national pastime of Czech Republic is "Mushrooming". Czechs cross  the forests for free mushrooms every year.