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CultureGrams
Kids Edition
(Slovak Republic)
2014
Slovakia
Slovenská Republika
Families often go to their cottages in the country on weekends and in the summertime to garden and go
mushroom hunting.
Slovakia was one of the two nations that made up Czechoslovakia until 1 January 1993, when the two nations
peacefully split.
Slovak Štefan Banič invented the first actively used parachute in 1913.
Slovakia is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including spectacular ice caves, historic castles, and
perfectly preserved medieval towns.
Per capita, Slovakia is one of the largest producers of cars in the world.
An average of just 1.4 children is born to each Slovak woman, one of the lowest rates in Europe.
Tennis champion Martina Hingis was born in Slovakia.
Slovakia is known for its Carpathian Wooden Churches. These eight wooden churches were built between the
16th and 18th centuries, most without a single nail! This was due to a centuries-old law forbidding non-Catholic
churches from using hard materials such as stone or metal.
Slovak Paradise National Park is home to more than two thousand different species of butterflies.
When greeting friends, people clasp right hands and kiss the other person on each cheek, starting on the right.
This is the case when boys greet girls and when girls greet each other. When two boys meet, they simply shake
hands.
The village of Herl’any, in the east of Slovakia, is home to one of the only cold-water geysers in the world. The
geyser erupts every 36–38 hours.
Flag
The white, blue, and red of the Slovakian flag are traditional Slavic colors and were
inspired by the 19th-century flag of Russia. The red shield includes a cross of Lorraine,
which was carried by the Knights Templar on crusade. The three blue mountain peaks
inside the shield symbolize the Tatra, Matra, and Fatra mountain ranges.
National Image
Legendary highwayman Juraj Jánošík has long been a folk hero and a symbol of
resistance to oppression of the Slovakian people. Similar to Robin Hood, Jánošík led a
robber band and roamed the Carpathian Mountains, stealing from the rich to give to the
poor.
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Land and Climate
Area (sq. mi.): 18,933
Area (sq. km.): 49,035
Slovakia is a landlocked country located in the heart of Europe. Slovakia is about the
same size as Costa Rica, or twice as big as the state of New Hampshire. It shares
borders with Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. The Tatras
Mountains make up the border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the highest part
of the Carpathian mountain range and are popular skiing destinations. The highest
point is Gerlachovský Ŝtít, which used to be called Stalin Peak, at 8,707 feet (2,857 m).
Several rare and endangered plant and animal species make these mountains their
home, including wolves, lynx, European bison, and Carpathian stags. Edelweiss is a
very common mountain flower found in the Tatras. Beautiful lakes and valleys are
scattered throughout the mountains as well. The southern regions are part of the Great
Hungarian Plain, where most of the nation’s crops are grown, including corn, potatoes,
and oats. Farmers also breed cows, pigs, and sheep. These farms are sustained by the
waters of the Danube River, which flows through the region.
The climate in Slovakia is continental, meaning it has warm summers and cold, snowy
winters. The summers see plenty of rainfall, which helps the crops. Autumn
thunderstorms are common.
Population
Population: 5,488,339
The majority of the population is Slovaks, followed by smaller groups of Hungarians,
Ukrainians, and Roma (Gypsies). Just over half the population lives in cities such as
Bratislava (the capital city) or Košice. In the countryside, many people live and work on
farms or vineyards. Slovakia has one of the strictest immigration policies in Europe,
meaning not very many foreigners are allowed to move there to live.
Language
Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, but other languages such as Hungarian, Czech, Ukrainian, German, and
Romany are commonly spoken as well. Many people speak German, and most kids learn English as a second
language in school. The Roma (Gypsies) speak an oral (unwritten) language called Romany. Slovak is similar to
Czech, and Slovaks and Czechs can usually understand each other without difficulty. There are three major dialects
(varieties) of Slovak: western, central, and eastern. Slovaks speak these dialects just like people from the southern, the
northeastern, and the western regions of the United States speak regional dialects. But they are all able to understand
each other. Standard Slovak is based on the central dialect.
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Can You Say It in Slovak?
Hello
Dobrý deň
(DOH-bree dyien)
Good-bye
Dovidenia
(DOH-vi-dyien-nya)
Please
Prosím
(PRO-seem)
Thank you
Ďakujem
(DYIA-khu-yem)
Yes
Áno
(AW-noh)
No
Nie
(NYIE)
Religion
Most Slovakians are Roman Catholic. There are smaller groups of Protestants and Greek Catholics, as well as around
13 percent who belong to no religion. Only about a third of church members attend church regularly. For many years,
the communist government attacked the Catholic Church, shut down monasteries, imprisoned monks and nuns, and
discouraged people from belonging to any religion. Since the fall of communism, Slovaks have gradually returned to
their own personal religious beliefs. Today, the Slovakian constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
Time Line
1000 BC
1000 BC
Early Slavs settle by the Dneper River
AD 400
AD 400s
Slavic tribes overrun what is now Slovakia
623
King Samo unites the Slavic tribes after they rebel against the Avars (a
Turkish tribe of traveling warriors)
631
Samo defeats the Frankish army at the Battle of Wogastisburg
655
The Slavs and the Avars are rejoined after the death of Samo
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750–800
Christianity begins to spread throughout the region
803
King Charlemagne and the Slavs defeat the Avars
833
Great Moravia is founded
863
Christian missionaries introduce the first written alphabet
900s
The Magyars invade; King Stephen forms Greater Hungary
1400
1400s
Saxon Germans settle in what is now northeastern Slovakia
1526
The Hapsburg Dynasty begins when the Hapsburgs conquer Upper
Hungary
1843
Ľudovít Štúr codifies (arranges into a system) the Slovak language
1867
The Austro-Hungarian monarchy is formed; the Magyarization
(Hungarianization) of Slovakia begins
1900
1907
Hungarian becomes the only legal language in Slovakia
1918
The Hapsburg Empire collapses; the Czechs and the Slovaks come
together to create Czechoslovakia
1939
Germany occupies Czechoslovakia; what is now Slovakia becomes a
Nazi state
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1941
The Jewish Code is passed, requiring all Jews to wear yellow
armbands; they are banned from many jobs and from marrying
non-Jews
1942
More than 50,000 Jews are sent to concentration camps in Poland,
where most of them are killed
1944
The Slovak National Uprising occurs as tens of thousands of Slovak
troops and political party members rise up against the Nazis
1945
The Soviet army frees Slovakia, and it becomes a part of
Czechoslovakia again
1948
The Communist Party takes power, with Prague as the capital
1968
A period of reform known as the Prague Spring begins; Soviet troops
march into Czechoslovakia to squash the rebellion
1969
The nation becomes officially known as the Slovak Socialist Republic
of Czechoslovakia
1989
The Velvet Revolution begins; this non-violent group of student and
popular protests against the Communist Party leads to its downfall
1993
Slovakia becomes an independent country
1995
Slovakia signs the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with Hungary,
guaranteeing the current border between them and ensuring rights for
ethnic minorities; a law is passed banning the official use of any
language other than Slovak
1999
The nation’s first direct presidential election is held
2000
2001
A new constitution is passed, increasing minority rights and spreading
power throughout the government rather than just in the president’s
hands
2004
Slovakia joins the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization
2009
Slovakia adopts the euro as its official currency
PRESENT
Samo's Realm
People have lived in what is now Slovakia for thousands of years, but little is known
about the lives and culture of the early inhabitants. They belonged to various Celtic and
Slavic tribes and built complex hill forts and tombs to honor their dead. They also left
behind statues, pottery, jewelry, and shields as evidence of their existence. Celtic tribes
were some of the first in the region to begin using silver coins. The writing stamped on
these coins is one of the earliest examples of writing in the area. Around the 7th century, a warrior known as Samo united the tribes and established an
empire in the western portion of what is now Slovakia. Samo reigned for several
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decades and helped to create a sense of identity among the people he ruled. The
empire began to fall apart after Samo’s death, and the entire area became part of the
Great Moravia Empire in 833.
Great Moravia
The Great Moravia Empire took in a vast area, including what are now Slovakia, the
Czech Republic, and parts of Germany, Hungary, and Poland. It was during this time
that missionaries Cyril and Methodius Thessaloniki helped spread Christianity
throughout the empire. In order to make sure all people could read the Bible, they
created a Slavic alphabet and translated the Bible into that language. The empire did
not last long, however. Groups of wandering Magyars (Hungarians) invaded in 907, and
Great Moravia fell apart. The region later came under Hungarian rule, and Christianity
was adopted as the official religion. The Hungarian Empire lasted for more than one
thousand years. During this time, the ruling Hungarians tried to force the Slovaks to
become more like them. Hungarian became the only legal language and the only one
taught in schools. Any attempt to hold on to their native culture was discouraged by the
authorities.
World Wars
World War I erupted in 1914, and Slovak soldiers served in the Austro-Hungarian army.
Some were unhappy being forced to fight for a government they despised. These
soldiers broke off into rebel groups and harassed the Austro-Hungarian forces. When
the war ended in 1918, Slovakia declared independence and became a part of
Czechoslovakia. The country experienced a period of growth and development.
Unfortunately, Hitler came to power in Germany and quickly began taking over Czech
land in the 1930s. As part of his demands, Slovakia separated from Czechoslovakia
and became an ally of Nazi Germany. Tens of thousands of Slovak Jews were sent to
German concentration camps, where they were killed. A resistance movement
gradually grew among the Slovak people, and in 1944 the Slovak National Uprising
took place. Rebel forces took up arms against the Nazis and fought to overthrow the
government. Though the Nazis defeated the rebels, small pockets of rebel fighters
continued to resist until Slovakia was liberated by the Soviet army in 1945.
The Prague Spring
The communists soon seized control of the government and began strictly controlling
every aspect of people’s lives. Many people who disagreed with the government
disappeared during this period. Some were sent to work camps, and others were
tortured or killed. In the 1960s, a Slovak by the name Alexander Dubček became the
leader of the Communist Party. Dubček wanted to create reform, and during his time in
office, he helped relax many of the strict laws. This period of reform was known as the
Prague Spring. People were allowed to read and say what they wanted, and
newspapers were allowed freedom of the press. But the Soviet Union began to worry
about the people having too much freedom in Czechoslovakia. The KGB (Soviet secret
police) kept a close watch on Czechoslovakia, and in 1968, Soviet troops marched into
Prague to stop the reform movement. Dubček was replaced as party leader, and Soviet
troops were permanently stationed in Czechoslovakia. After that, some rights remained,
but people who disagreed with the government were persecuted once more.
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Modern Slovakia
After the fall of communism in 1989, the first free elections were held in
Czechoslovakia. Rebuilding a democracy (government by the people) was difficult, and
Slovaks began longing for a nation of their own again. They wanted to have a bigger
say in the decisions that affected them. In 1992, Slovaks and Czechs each voted in
their own separate national governments, but the two governments could not agree on
how to run the nation. Finally, the Slovak prime minister and the Czech prime minister
decided to peacefully split the nation in two. Slovakia officially achieved independence
in 1993.
The nation made progress and grew its economy enough to be accepted to the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004 and the European Union (EU) in 2009.
Many reforms have taken place since, some of them among the earliest in
post-communist countries, including tax reform and retirement plans. Not all Slovaks
are happy about the way politicians run their government, and corruption is still a
problem. The Hungarians living in Slovakia struggle with the strict Slovak language
laws, and the Roma (Gypsies) are not fully a part of mainstream society. But the
government and people are working to continue improving their lives and their nation as
a whole.
Games and Sports
Soccer and ice hockey are the most popular sports in Slovakia. Ice hockey season
traditionally begins on the last Saturday in April. Many of Slovakia’s top hockey players
have played in the National Hockey League in the United States. Adventurous hikers
and spelunkers love to explore the nation’s network of beautiful caves. Skiing and
snowboarding are favorite sports, and the Jasna ski resort on the slopes of the Chopok
peak is the largest in eastern Europe. Slovaks also love tennis and kayaking. Younger
kids love playing hide-and-seek and tag. Older kids play dodgeball at school and go
biking or in-line skating after school. Water parks have become very popular in recent
years, and many of the parks use the natural mineral springs Slovakia is known for.
Holidays
In Slovakia, the Christmas season begins on St. Nicholas Day (6 Dec.). Children leave
their shoes on the windowsill for St. Nicholas to fill with treats. Some Slovaks exchange
their gifts on St. Nicholas Day, while others wait for Christmas Eve. All throughout the
season, market stalls in every town sell ornaments, toys, wreaths, and candles. Several
days before Christmas, families decorate their Christmas trees. The traditional
Christmas meal is eaten on Stedry Den (Christmas Eve, or Generous Day) and
includes a starter of kapustnica (cabbage soup), followed by kapor (carp) with
zemiakovy salat (potato salad). Before eating, the father dips his finger in honey and
sketches a cross on each person’s forehead. After dinner, families open presents, and
some also go to church to attend Midnight Mass.
On Easter Monday, boys visit girls’ homes and pour or splash water on the girls. They
then lightly whip them with willow branches. This tradition is meant to keep the girls
looking fresh all year. The girls reward them with kraslice (decorated eggs) and other
treats.
Slovak kids spend their birthdays and their name days with their families and friends.
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Birthdays are the larger celebrations and include birthday cakes and presents. Slovak
kids are each named after a saint, and each name is assigned a day in the calendar.
They celebrate that saint on their name day with gifts and flowers. Traditional Slovak
names include Anna, Zuzana, and Martin.
Food
Slovaks begin the day with rolls and cheese, cereal, and yogurt for breakfast, with tea
or coffee to drink. Kids love drinking a cup of warm cocoa at breakfast and dinner.
Before a meal begins, someone says Dobrú chut’ (Bon appétit, or “Enjoy your meal”)
and everyone else at the table repeats it. The largest meal of the day is eaten in the
afternoon. It usually consists of soup, some sort of meat, dumplings or potatoes, and a
salad. The evening meal is lighter, including sandwich meats, cheese, and bread. Kids
often eat snacks between meals. The national dish of Slovakia is bryndzové halušky
(small dumplings served with sheep cheese). Rezeň (breaded steak), chicken,
sausage, cheese-filled dumplings, potatoes, rice, pasta, and kolae (sweet pastries filled
or topped with fruit, nuts, or jam) are other favorite foods. Nearby Hungary has
influenced Slovakian food as well, and you can always find a good goulash (meat,
vegetable, and noodle soup or stew) to eat.
Schools
Adult Literacy: 99.6%
Slovak kids begin school at age six and continue on for the next ten years. Elementary
school is divided into lower grades (1–4) and upper grades (5–9). High school lasts for
another four or five years. Students in lower grades are divided into classes of 20–25
students. Upper grade and high school class sizes are closer to 30. Under communism,
students were required to do a lot of memorization and theory, with not much room left
for developing their individual talents. Today, there is more freedom of choice.
Elementary schools provide art and music classes, but these are not available in high
school. Students who want to study art and music in high school take part in
extracurricular activities at independent art schools, or they choose to study at a visual
or performing arts academy. University education is free in Slovakia. Still, many choose
to study abroad at more well-known universities or simply to move out on their own for
the first time.
Life as a Kid
Many Slovakian kids live in housing developments leftover from the days of
communism. These blocks of flats (apartments) are located within walking distance of
elementary schools. The high schools are farther away, and students take public
transportation to get there each day. Friends often meet after school in the parks and
playgrounds behind their blocks of flats, where they can bike, play ball games, or simply
chat and listen to music on their cell phones. Those living in the countryside, on the
other hand, often have to get up as early as five in the morning to get to school on time
and do not get back until late in the afternoon, because the buses and trains run much
less often.
Life has greatly changed for Slovak kids in the last couple of decades. As the country
has become more prosperous, kids have grown used to the conveniences of modern
life, including fast-food restaurants, computers, and TV. Kids today also travel more
than their parents used to, often spending part of their holiday breaks at the seaside
(most often in Croatia) and part of their time with their grandparents or in summer
camps.
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Government
Capital: Bratislava
Head of State: Pres. Ivan Gašparovič
Head of Government: PM Robert Fico
Slovakia is a parliamentary democracy, meaning the prime minister and parliament
handle the everyday affairs of the country. The president is head of state and is elected
by the people to serve a five-year term. The president then appoints the leader of the
party with the most seats in parliament to be the prime minister. The prime minister
actually runs the government and works with the 150-seat Narodna Rada (National
Council) to make laws. Slovakia is divided up into eight kraj (regions). The voting age is
18.
Money and Economy
Currency: Euro
The Slovakian economy is growing, but many people still don’t have jobs because of
the global financial crisis and the difficulty moving from communism to a free market
economy (an economy in which supply and demand determine the prices of goods and
services). The government is trying to help by lowering taxes and encouraging foreign
companies to invest money in Slovakian industries such as steel, cars, electrical
engineering, cement, and glass. Slovakia’s location close to both Europe and Asia
makes it easy to trade goods with its neighbor Russia and other European Union
countries like Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland. The majority of the population works in factories or in tourism and other services
industries. Today, only a small percentage of Slovaks work on farms. These farms grow
potatoes, sugar beets, and grains and raise pigs, cattle, and chickens. The mafia
(organized crime groups) still controls many business exchanges in the big cities. For
many years, the currency was the Slovenska koruna (Slovak crown), but it was
replaced by the euro (EUR) in 2009.
Getting Around
Most Slovakian families own a car, but high gas prices encourage people to take public
transportation such as buses, trains, and trams. Main cities and smaller outlying towns
are all connected by public transportation routes. People can take a train or a bus from
one major city to another, and the schedules are regular and reliable. The government
is in the process of building more highways. Several bridges in the capital city of
Bratislava carry traffic across the Danube River, including the futuristic-looking New
Bridge. Slovak Airlines is the national air carrier, and regular flights connect Bratislava
with all of the primary European airports.
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Mountain Castles
Among Slovakia’s major tourist attractions are its mountain ranges, most of all the
Tatras Mountains. Their crystal-clear lakes, waterfalls, and rugged charm offer beauty
and a sense of peace all year round. Slovakia is also a land of enchanting castles. Most
of the castles were built back in the 11th or 12th century to guard the roads and protect
the border from attack or invasion. Some were originally built as wooden forts and later
reinforced with stone. Passed down through generations of royal families, many of
these castles have disintegrated into romantic or spooky ruins, while others have been
preserved as museums. Some host annual summer music festivals and are popular film
locations. Today, hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to visit the castles of Slovakia
every year.
Learn More
Contact the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008; phone (202)
237-1054; web site www.mzv.sk/washington. Or contact the Slovak Tourist Board, web site www.sacr.sk.
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