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Easy Croaan (rev. 47b) / 89 Customs and Tradions 488 / 600

89 Customs and Traditions

This chapter will give a brief overview of words and expressions used in some

Croatian traditions.

There are two verb pairs for marry: one is from the female perspective, another

from the male perspective:

female: udavati (udaje) se² ~ udati se²

male: ženiti se² ~ o- («)

You would use the first verb if the subject is a woman, and the second verb if the

subject is a man.

However, if the subject is a couple, the male version is used:

Oženit će se. They will get married.

Such reciprocal use of this verb pair is very common, but some Standard Croatian

manuals don’t accept it, and suggest using another, gender-neutral verb pair (which

is a bit archaic, and seldom used in speech):

vjenčavati («) se² ~ vjenčati se² marry (Std; rare in speech)

It’s possible, but slightly old-fashioned to use both verb pairs without the se²: then

the subjects are parents, while one who gets married is the object – again, if your

daughter gets married, you would use the first verb, if your son gets married, the

second one.

The most important holidays in Croatia are:

Božić Christmas

Uskrs Easter

Nova godina New Year

Svi sveti All Saints’ Day

All except Nova godina New Year are Christian holidays. As most people in Croatia

are Catholics, they are celebrated on the same dates as in most West European and

North American countries ®. It’s a custom to give presents (esp. to children) for

Christmas. The day before Christmas, when preparations are made, has a special

name, but it’s not an official holiday (many people, if they are able to, will take a day

of vacation, but others will work):

Badnjak Christmas Eve

All these days, except the All Saint’s Day, will have specially prepared meals (e.g.

Badnjak will have fish). On the All Saint’s Day, many people will visit family graves

(since great crowds gather at that day, many people will visit graves few days earlier

or a day later).

Another holiday of some importance is:

Prvi maj (colloq.) May 1st

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