Being half-Croatian and having traveled to Croatia many times, I know a lot about Croatian customs, traditions and beliefs. Here’s a list of 15 unique statements that I feel accurately describe the village life over there.
1. Saltwater and rakija solve everything and anything.
If you cut your foot on a rock, then just jump in the Adriatic Sea. If you have a fever, then put some rakija on your forehead or stomach. Saltwater and rakija are the natural remedies to nearly any injury or ailment one acquires.
2. You have to have Vegeta (a spice) and olive oil in practically everything that you cook.
If you don’t use at least one of these ingredients in any given meal, then are you really Croatian?
3. Speaking about food, there is absolutely no way that a Croatian can accept you as a vegetarian.
Let’s just say that my dad’s been a vegetarian for nearly 10 years already and my grandparents still offer him meat… and get offended every time he declines it.
4. Once one person knows something, everyone (and trust me, I mean everyone) finds out.
On a little village, you can’t even have an upset stomach without people gossiping about it.
5. Not only does everyone know everything, but also everyone knows everyone.
You can’t go anywhere, even if it’s a different island, without running into someone you know.
6. You have to come home at exactly 12 p.m. everyday for lunch.
If you’re just 10 minutes late, then a lecture from your grandparents will be waiting for you.
7. In the eyes of the elderly, propuh (draft from the wind) will kill you.
Having one window cracked open is already risky enough; so don’t even dare thinking about opening two.
8. At a fešta (a village festival), be prepared to pop a squat in a bush when nature calls.
No bathroom? No problem!
9. Coming home at 5 a.m. is just not acceptable.
However, on the plus side, you get to say hello to all of the fisherman as they go on their boats.
10. If you run out of potatoes, no biggie.
Every person in the village has a whole basement full of them.
11. When walking home, you have to avoid running into a much older person…
…unless you want to be interrogated for 20 minutes.
12. If you are seen talking to a boy your age, then it is assumed that you guys are dating.
Just know that the locals are probably already planning your wedding.
13. However, if you’re seen talking to several different guys, then you are automatically looked down upon.
14. No matter how full you are your nana will never stop feeding you food.
Your grandma could literally just have watched you eat a full-course meal and she’ll still tell you that you should eat more.
15. Thankfully, none of the older people in villages have Facebook…
...or else they’d be praying after reading all of this!
