CROATIA LANGUAGE CULTURE CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE NATIONALISTS

CROATIA: LANGUAGE, CULTURE, CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

NATIONALISTS Croats are extremely proud of their heritage and culture and are thus staunch nationalists.

A FAMILY ORIENTATED PEOPLE The family is still the basis of the social structure. The extended family is the norm and relatives remain quite close with both the mother and the father’s sides.

CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE IN CROATIA MEETING AND GREETING. Address people with their honorific titles plus surname (doctor, professor, lady, sir, mrs).

. Only close friends and family members tend to use first names. . Close friends may greet each other with an embrace and a kiss on each cheek. . At social gatherings hosts introduce guests.

GIFT GIVING ETIQUETTE . If invited to someone’s house, bring need to bring gifts. . Do not give chrysanthemums. . Gifts are generally opened when received.

DINING ETIQUETTE. Wait to be shown where to sit. . Do not begin eating until the host signals to begin. . Refusing second helpings initially is polite. . Leaving a small amount of food on your plate indicates that you are finished eating.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE IN CROATIA INITIAL MEETINGS. Wait for a woman to extend her hand first. . Use professional business titles (inspector, director, consultant e. g. ). Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual

BUSINESS MEETINGS. Be prepared for lengthy meetings. . There may be some small talk at the beginning of meetings. . Building the relationship is more important initially and should be focused upon.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS. people from distant parts of Croatia cannot understand each other . Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia . the White House was built using stones from Croatia’s island

. neckties come from Croatia . Dalmatian dogs got their name after Dalmatia a south coastal region in Croatia. the smallest town in the world according to Guiness World records is Croatia`s Hum.

. Croatia is the homeland of the famous merchant traveler Marco Polo . Croats had their own alphabet called “glagoljica” that was in everyday use until the 18 th century . the most successful skier in the history of winter Olympic games is the Croatian skier Janica Kostelić