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WORLD CULTURES & FOLK CUSTOMS - SLOVENIA

      SIMO JELAČA, PhD

FOREWORD

This book summarizes information about culture and customs of different nations. Noticeable differences in customs are among Christian, Islamic and Buddhist’s nations, although in all prevails intention for nice and greatest.  

It will be too much to include every country, as there are similarities among many nations of the same or close nationalities. Characteristic are Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Belarus, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia, or as well as Germany and Austria. The similar conclusion values for Latin nations, among themselves too.

Readers will find basic information about each country, such as its location and size, population and Ethnic Make-up, Religion, Climate, Language, Etiquettes and others. 

This book can equally be used for travelers, either as tourists or business people, therefore everyone will find necessary information about Etiquette of people at their homes as well as at the business.

My intention was to find as much good information as possible. How much I have succeeded readers will judge it. 

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SLOVENIA

CULTURE AND FOLK CUSTOMS

Facts and Statistics

Location: Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia.

Size: 20.273 sq. km.

Capital: Ljubljana, population 272.500

Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.The climate in Ljubljana is Central European.

Population: about 2 million.

Ethnic Make-up: Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%. Other or unspecified 12%.

Religions: Catholic 57.8%, Muslim 2.4%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1%.

Government: parliamentary republic

Identification 

Slovenia takes its name from the Slovenes, the group of South Slavs who originally settled the area. Eighty-seven percent of the population considers itself Slovene, while Hungarians and Italians constitute significant groups and have the status of indigenous minorities under the Slovenian Constitution, guaranteeing them seats in the National Assembly.

 Location and Geography 

Slovenia is situated in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula and is bordered by Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and Italy and the Adriatic Sea to the west. A mountainous country, Slovenia sits in the foothills of the eastern Alps just south of the Julian Alps, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, the Karawanken chain, and the Pohorje Massif on the Austrian border. The Adriatic coast of Slovenia is about 39 miles (50 kilometers) in length.

Demography 

In 2000, Slovenia had an overall population of about 2 million with an overall population density of 97 per square kilometer. The majority of the population was ethnically Slovene, a Slavic group. The rest of the population was made up of Croats (2.7 percent), Serbs (2.4 percent), Bosnians (1.3 percent), Hungarians (0.43 percent), Montenegrins (0.22 percent), Macedonians (0.22 percent), Albanians (0.18 percent) and Italians (0.16 percent).

Ethnic Relations 

Although Slovenia was a part of Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1991, the country has always identified strongly with central Europe, maintaining a balance between its Slavic culture and language and Western influences. Conscious of its unique position as a bridge between east and west, Slovenia is developing its identity as a newly independent republic while maintaining a balanced relationship with the different cultures of its neighbors.

Language in Slovenia

Slovenian is an Indo-European language that belongs to the family of South Slavic languages. It is spoken by approximately 2 million speakers worldwide, naturally the majority of whom live in Slovenia. Slovenian is one of the few languages to have preserved the dual grammatical number from Proto-Indo-European. Also, Slovenian and Slovak are the two modern Slavic languages whose names for themselves literally mean "Slavic". Slovenian is one of the official languages of the European Union.

Although the country is relatively small, there are over 32 different dialects spoken, which can be grouped into 7 larger dialect segments. The diversity in language is due to the influences of neighboring countries as well as the mountainous nature of the country, which has led to isolated language development.

Slovenian People, Society and Culture

The Role of Religion

Over half the population is Roman Catholic, although there are approximately 38 religious groups or sects officially registered within Slovenia. There are a large number of Evangelical Lutherans residing near the Hungarian border. Those who call themselves Catholic are very heterogeneous, with very few adhering to all the precepts of the church. In fact, the majority are quite selective in what aspects they follow and often combine their religious beliefs with secular beliefs.

The Family

The family is at the center of the social structure. However, over time this is changing. Only a decade ago, one could find several generations living together; nowadays not only are young people moving away but families are splitting due to a move to urban centers. Nonetheless, the family itself remains strong.

Slovenians' sense of “home” is also very strong. As a rule, when they are not working, they embark on home based activities such as gardening projects (a visitor will notice that having flowers around the house is something of an art form in cities) or renovation. 

A Polycentric Culture

Slovenia has a polycentric culture. This means people will go out of their way to change their natural behavior to mirror that of the person with whom they are interacting. So for example, Slovenians are naturally indirect communicators but can moderate their behavior when dealing with people who come from cultures where more direct communication is the norm.

This ease of adaptation makes Slovenians easy to work with, although it also makes it somewhat difficult to know exactly what to expect when dealing with people since some may be more adept at moderating their behavior than others.

Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Meeting and Greeting

·         Greetings are initially quite formal and reserved.

·         When meeting someone for the first time the most common greeting is a handshake and a welcoming smile.

·         It is customary to maintain eye contact during the greeting process.

·         Close friends and family may kiss twice on the cheek.

·         First names are only used among close friends and family.

·         Others are addressed using the honorific titles “Gospa” (Madam), “Gospodièna” (Miss), or “Gospod” (Sir).

·         Do not use a person’s first name until invited to do so as this is considered rude and presumptuous.

Gift Giving Etiquette

·         Slovenians exchange gifts with family and close friends at Christmas and birthdays.

·         Members of the Orthodox Church may also celebrate their name day (birth date of the saint after whom they are named).

·         This is a culture where it is the thought that counts so the cost of the gift is not important.

·         If invited to dinner at a Slovene’s house, it is considered good manners to bring flowers to the hostess and a bottle of wine to the host.

·         Gifts should be nicely wrapped; there are no real color prohibitions.

·         Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette

If you are invited to a Slovenian’s house:

·         Arrive on time or within 5 minutes of the stipulated time as this demonstrates respect for your hosts.

·         Dress conservatively and in clothes you might wear to the office.

·         It is common to remove your shoes at the door. Most hosts will offer slippers to guests to wear.

·         Slovenians tend to separate their business and personal lives. Therefore, it is a good idea to refrain from initiating business discussions in social situations.

·         Expect to be offered some form of refreshments, even if you have not been specifically invited to a meal.

·         It is common for the host to accompany guests to their car when they leave.

Business Protocol in Slovenia

Meeting people

·         Slovenians are somewhat reserved and may not initially appear friendly to people from informal cultures.

·         This reserve disappears rapidly once a relationship is built.

·         Shake hands at the beginning and end of meetings. It is customary to shake hands with women first.

·         Handshakes should be firm and confident.

·         Maintain direct eye contact during the greeting.

·         Professional or academic titles are commonly used with the surname as they denote personal achievement.

·         If someone does not have a professional or academic title, use the honorific titles “Gospa” (Madam) or “Gospod” (Sir) with the surname.

·         There is an emerging trend to move quickly to the use of first names. However, it is a good idea to wait until your Slovenian colleague recommends using his/her first name.

·         Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual after introductions.

·         It is a nice touch to have one side of your card translated into Slovenian.

Communication Style

Slovenians' natural communication style tends to be indirect. However, at the same time their polycentricity means they are willing to adapt their communication style to the person with whom they are conversing.

They prefer to communicate indirectly with people whom they do not know well. They tend to prefer non-confrontational business dealings when possible.

Business decisions are often based on personal sentiments about the other person. Therefore, it is a good idea to spend time in relationship building.

Slovenians admire modesty and humility in business associates. They dislike people who boast about their accomplishments and achievements.

Slovenians are naturally soft-spoken and do not raise their voices when conversing. They are also polite, courteous, and respectful of others. They do not interrupt a speaker, preferring to wait for their turn to enter the conversation. They are very tolerant of differences and view it as rude behavior to publicly criticize or complain about people.

Business Meetings

Meetings typically start after a brief period of social chit chat. Make sure this is not rushed as it is all part of the relationship building process. Although not a relationship-driven culture in the classic sense, Slovenians prefer to do business with those they know and trust. When meeting with a company for the first time, this period of social interchange may be somewhat extended so that your Slovenian colleagues get the opportunity to learn something about you as a person and make judgments about your character.

Expect your Slovenian business colleagues to be somewhat reserved and formal initially. It may take several meetings to establish a sense of rapport and relaxed attitude between people. The Slovenian business culture is a mix of German efficiency and Italian gusto for life; however, this second attribute is not always readily apparent. It takes time for Slovenians to shed their reserve, although they generally do, especially after a few glasses of wine.

Business decision-making processes are often based on hierarchy, and many decisions are still reached at the highest echelons of the company. Final decisions tend to be translated into comprehensive action plans that are followed explicitly.

When meeting within teams, the team leader is considered to be the expert and all members are deemed to have something to contribute. With a culture based on tolerance, disagreements are based on different interpretations of information. Actual decisions may be based more on personal viewpoints than concrete facts. 

Urbanism and Architecture

Slovenia's towns have many well-preserved buildings representing various styles of architecture dating from the 1100s on. Architecture from the late Gothic period also survives. Many buildings in older sections of Slovenia's towns are in the Italian Baroque style, particularly in Ljubljana. 

Food in Daily Life 

Slovenia has a rich culinary tradition that is a product of both its climate and its location at the crossroads of central Europe. Slovenian culinary heritage is reflective of Mediterranean, Alpine, and Eastern European cultures. Meals are an important part of Slovene family life, and enjoying a snack or a glass of wine at a café with friends is a typical social activity.

Slovenia has its own specialties, most of Slovenia's oldest traditional dishes are made using flour, buckwheat, or barley, as well as potatoes and cabbage. The town of Idrija, west of Ljubljana, is known for its idrija zlikrofi, spiced potato balls wrapped in thinly rolled dough, and zeljsevka, rolled yeast dough with herb filling. The town of Murska Sobota, Slovenia's northernmost city, is famous for its prekmurska gibanica, a pastry filled with cottage cheese, poppy seeds, walnuts, and apple. In country towns the slaughtering of a pig, all parts of which are used to make a variety of pork products, is still a major event.

Basic Economy

Slovenia has now emerged as one of the strongest economies among the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe. Slovenia's loss of its markets in the former Yugoslavia, which once accounted for 30 percent of its exports, has caused the country to modernize its factories and production methods as it seeks to attract foreign investment. Slovenia's growth rate in 2000 was estimated at 3.8 percent with per capita income around $9,000. 

 Land Tenure and Property 

Inheritance in Slovenia historically determined land distribution belongs to the oldest son. Land and property were kept intact and passed down through families, a tradition that helped limit land fragmentation, which was common in other parts of the Balkans. Despite its years under Yugoslavia's socialist government, Slovenia's strong tradition of family-owned property helped it maintain its distribution of property. Agricultural land, accounting for almost 43 percent of the territory, and forests, covering more than half, make Slovenia the "greenest" country in Europe next to Finland. Nevertheless, 52 percent of Slovenes live in urban areas in small houses and apartment buildings. Formerly state-owned farms and land have been reprivatized. 

Major Industries. 

Major industries include the production of electrical equipment, processed food, paper and paper products, chemicals, textiles, metal and wood products, and electricity. Other important industries include the manufacturing of shoes, skis, and furniture.

Trade 

Germany is Slovenia's most important trading partner both for exports and imports. Other important trading partners include Croatia, Italy, France, and Austria. Exports include chemical products, food and live animals, furniture, machinery, and transportation equipment. Slovenia imports manufactured products and consumer goods. 

Classes and Castes

There are approximately 8,500 ethnic Hungarians, 3,000 Italians, and 2,300 Gypsies living in Slovenia. The Hungarian and Italian populations are recognized by the government as indigenous minorities and are protected under the constitution. The Gypsies, however, are viewed with suspicion and are frequently targets of ethnic discrimination. Despite government attempts, past and present, to provide employment and increase school attendance among Gypsies, most of them continue to hold on to their nomadic way of life, shunning mainstream education and jobs. 

Labor by Gender 

In Slovenia women comprise 45 percent of the overall workforce and more than 60 percent of the workforce in the agricultural sector. In addition, primary school teachers are almost exclusively women. 

Marriage

The average age for a first marriage has increased, marriage is considered important for maintaining and strengthening family bonds. Religious and cultural influences help keep the divorce rate low.

Education 

Education is mandatory and free until age fifteen. After this, students can choose a school that is more specialized if they wish to continue education. Most of the population has some basic education; another 42 percent have secondary schooling and approximately 9 percent receive higher, university education.Around 36 percent of the people receive post secondary or higher levels of education. There are thirty institutions of higher learning but only two universities, the University of Ljubljana, founded in 1595, and the University of Maribor.

Medicine and Health Care 

Health care is provided by the government for all of Slovenia's citizens. The birth rate is low, under 10 per 1,000 people, and infant mortality is 5.5 per 1,000 births. 

Arts 

There is generally a strong interest in supporting the arts in Slovenia and enthusiastic patronage of cultural events. Under the Yugoslav socialist government, arts and culture received state support.

Literature has always been enthusiastically supported in Slovenia, and with the country's high literacy rate, this interest continues to grow. 

Folk music and dance are an important part of Slovenia's culture. 

Physical and Social Sciences

Slovenia has a strong tradition in the sciences, Fritz Pregl, who won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1923. The Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences has a research center with fourteen institutes conducting research on all aspects of science, history, and culture. 

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