If you would rather not be taken for a madman, avoid walking the streets of Croatia with wet hair and never drink wine with your fish. Swearing out loud and picking your teeth with a toothpick, on the other hand, are perfectly fine. The truth is that, despite plenty of differences, we have a lot in common with the people of Zagreb or Split. See for yourself and discover 20 of the quirkiest Croatian customs.
Rakija cures everything
This is the traditional Croatian spirit, regarded as a remedy for every ailment under the sun. Got a sore stomach or a headache? You probably haven't had enough rakija, so it's time to catch up. Cut yourself? Disinfect the wound with rakija. Running a fever? Soak a towel in rakija and wear it like a turban.
Where you come from matters
In Croatia, family comes first. Children live with their parents until they marry, and most never leave their hometown. "Who are your parents?" is one of the most common questions a Croatian will ask you.
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Vegeta by the kilo
Vegeta is the all-purpose seasoning Croatians adore. It's a blend of sweet paprika, salt, dried vegetables and pepper, and Croatians add it to just about every dish. Curiously, you'll even find it in the finest restaurants.
Slippers for everyone
Croatians believe that walking barefoot around the house is basically signing your own death warrant. "You don't have slippers? You'll get sick!" they thunder in unison. Every home keeps several pairs of slippers on hand for guests to choose from.
Never drink water with fish
Croatians believe fish should be bathed three times: once in the sea, again in oil and a third time in wine. Even children are given wine, because after water "their tummy hurts."
A dislike of air conditioning
A Croatian sitting in a closed car at 32 degrees C? Totally normal. What's more, he probably hasn't switched on the air conditioning at all. Croatians' aversion to air conditioning comes down to a fear of "catching a cold," and they use it very sparingly.
No meat on Fridays
Most Croatians are Catholic. Before eating they usually say a prayer of thanks, and on Fridays they go without meat, swapping it for fish or seafood. If you don't want Croatians to think you a barbarian, you'd better adapt to this custom.
Nothing goes to waste
Croatian cuisine is wonderfully varied and built entirely on fresh produce, and Croatians hate to see anything wasted. What would be thrown out elsewhere can be turned here into something useful and delicious. An example? Goat ovaries.
Swearing is part of daily life
In Croatia there's nothing unusual about cursing at little old ladies, and not only at home but in shops and offices too. Most of the swearing happens along the coast. It's worth noting, though, that you must never take the name of God in vain.
Drying your hair is mandatory
You'll find hairdryers even in the shabbiest hotels. Try stepping out with wet hair and a delegation of dry-hair defenders will be on your heels in an instant. Try skipping the hairdryer on your child and the grandmothers will tell you that you're a bad mother. This is one of the Croatians' greatest obsessions.
Vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean vegan
Croatian food is built around fish and meat dishes. For people in the Balkans a vegetarian diet is something new and strange, so it's best not to rely on their claims that something is vegetarian. No chunks of meat floating in your lunch? Then it's vegan! Never mind that it was cooked in lard.
Toothpicks after every meal
A Croatian picking his teeth with a toothpick is a familiar sight. You'll find toothpicks on the tables of most restaurants, and using them isn't considered rude. Toothpicks are also standard issue in many hotels.
Greeting with kisses
Croatians are very generous when it comes to showing affection. When they greet one another, they do it warmly and with a smile. This custom holds for both men and women, and it's perfectly normal to see men greet each other with a kiss on the cheek.
Being urged to eat
The idea that you can't turn down food is something Poles and Croatians share. On the Adriatic, just like at grandma's, it's wise not to eat a huge portion right away so you can pace yourself for the several more to come. In this respect Croatians are extraordinarily hospitable and love a good feast.
The best olive oil comes in Coca-Cola bottles
Have you spotted olive oil sold in a Coca-Cola bottle at a roadside stall and thought it looked suspicious? If you didn't buy it, you made a terrible mistake. Many households make genuine Croatian olive oil at home and sell it in Coca-Cola bottles.
Lard is the best cure for a cold
Mast svinjska (Croatian pork lard) is yet another Croatian cure-all, right after rakija. Balkan folk eat it by the spoonful for a sore throat, and when they have a fever they rub it on the chest and back. No one has yet found the courage to question the effectiveness of this "ointment."
Smoking is allowed.
Sadly. Smoking is a popular habit in Croatia. Every attempt to ban smoking in public places has come to nothing. Croatians love their cigarettes. Just step out for a beer in Dubrovnik and you'll catch the smell of an ashtray.
Always wear a shirt
"Cover your kidneys or you'll fall ill" is one of the phrases Croatian housewives repeat most often. For Croatians it's unthinkable to put a shirt or blouse on over bare skin. That's a straight road to sickness and the grave!
Never sit on concrete
Croatians are remarkably inventive when it comes to finding something to shield their behind from concrete. They use newspapers, cardboard boxes, scarves and, if all else fails, sit on their own hands. All of this to avoid catching "the wolf."
Fear of the wind
Croatians believe drafts are behind most illnesses, so you must never keep two windows or doors open at the same time. When the wind blows in Croatia, people would rather stay indoors.
This is just a short rundown of the rules that apply in Croatia. Of course, younger people take them far less strictly than their elders, but remember one thing: if you walk out of your hotel with wet hair, you'll be pegged as a foreigner every time!
