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Worst Croatian Customs? Reddit Discussion Reveals Frustrations with Traditions
๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ท Croatia /Culture & Society

Worst Croatian Customs? Reddit Discussion Reveals Frustrations with Traditions

From Veฤernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A Reddit discussion revealed that many Croatians find certain traditions, such as excessive wedding celebrations and the practice of keeping dogs on chains, to be the worst customs.
  • Karmine, post-funeral gatherings often criticized for their celebratory atmosphere, sparked debate, with some defending them as practical necessities.
  • Other criticized traditions include the father celebrating a newborn's birth with alcohol instead of supporting his partner, and patriarchal family dynamics favoring sons.

A popular Reddit thread asking "What is the worst Croatian custom?" has sparked a wide-ranging discussion, with hundreds of Croatians sharing their frustrations with local traditions. The most heavily criticized custom appears to be "karmine," the post-funeral gathering. Many commenters expressed discomfort with the atmosphere, describing it as inappropriate and resembling a wedding celebration shortly after a funeral, though some defended it as a practical necessity to feed distant relatives.

Just said goodbye to someone, and an hour later the atmosphere is like at a wedding. It most often seems completely missed.

โ€” Reddit userDescribing the atmosphere at karmine, post-funeral gatherings.

Traditions surrounding childbirth also drew criticism. One particularly disliked custom involves the father celebrating the news of his child's birth with friends while intoxicated, instead of supporting his partner. In the Zagorje region, the practice of "ลกtrajenje" or "perjanje," where friends disrupt the new father's yard and write messages on the road, was seen by some as a harmless prank but by others as "trashy."

Wedding customs also faced backlash, with complaints about the garter toss, honking in wedding processions, and flag waving, which one user called "hickish." The tradition of "buying the bride" was also deemed unnecessary and outdated by some. Overall, many participants felt that the insistence on following customs "because you have to" spoils holidays and special occasions. One commenter summarized this sentiment by stating, "The worst custom is insisting on customs."

The worst custom is insisting on customs.

โ€” Reddit userSummarizing the frustration with obligatory traditions.

Beyond social rituals, the discussion highlighted other deeply ingrained issues. A widely condemned practice was "keeping dogs on chains their entire lives," which many recognized as cruel and common. Patriarchal family structures were also criticized, with some noting that sons are often treated preferentially while daughters are expected to be "servants." Other points of contention included paying priests for house blessings and pressuring guests to overeat and overdrink.

keeping dogs on chains their entire lives

โ€” Reddit userCondemning a cruel and common practice.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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