FuN
fAcTs:-)
Fun fact #1: Dalmatian dogs
The famous Dalmatian dogs originally came from Croatia. Thanks to its eye catching white coat and black spots, the Dalmatian is one of the most easily recognizable dog breeds in the world. The breed takes its name from Croatia's region of Dalmatia, where it is supposed to have originated.
Fun fact #2: Glagoljica
Want to learn the secret code, send messages to your friends that no one else could read!? We may have the right solution :)
Croatians have their own alphabet or set of letters. It is called "Glagolitic" and emerged in the 9th century and was in daily use, along with the Latin alphabet, up to the 18th century.
Fun fact #3: The Zagreb mummy
In Archaeological museum in Zagreb you can see a true world rarity, the Zagreb mummy. It is an Egyptian mummy of a woman named Nensi-Hensu, who was a wife of Paher-hensu, a “divine tailor” from Thebes. The mummified woman was wrapped in sliced bands of the linen book of Zagreb, the longest preserved text known in the Etruscan language and the only preserved sample of linen book in the entire Ancient world. Nensi-hensu was also accompanied, as part of the funerary goods of the deceased woman, by a papyrus with a text of several chapters from the Book of the Dead.
Fun fact #4: Cravat / Tie (Kravata)
Can you knot a cravat?
The first tie came from Croatia and today it is worn daily by 600 million men around the world. The cravat or tie has been a part of the Croatian national costume from ancient times. According to Croatian tradition, before a soldier set off for war, his girlfriend or wife would give him a narrow scarf to wear around his neck to remind him of her love. Its modern variety originated in the 1630’s, when Croatian mercenaries enlisted as a support to the reigning king Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu came to France. One particular detail of their military attire caught the Parisian attention. It was an unusual scarf knotted at their necks. The French readily accepted the new fashion and switched from ruffs to the new loose cravats under the shirt collar. The word cravat itself actually reveals its Croatian origin, since the French version cravate derives from the mispronunciation of the word Croat.
Fun fact #5: Top 10 reasons to date a Croatian
"You know that cliché where a tourist visits Europe for the first time and some Italian or French guy sweeps that American girl off her feet? Trust me, Croatians do it better. The list HERE proves it."
(Diane Kolanovic-Solaja, president of CNYLA)
Fun fact #6: Egg Taping (Tucanje)
"Egg taping" ("tucanje") is one of the oldest Easter traditions in Croatia. In some texts it is stated that "egg taping" was first mentioned in the 14th century, in Zagreb and it's surroundings, and is still practiced in almost all Croatian regions. Rules of the game are simple. Each player hits the other player's egg with their own egg and the winner is the one who holds the last intact egg.
HAPPY EASTER to everybody who celebrates! :))
FUN FACT #7: Have you heard about "PICIGIN"? Well if you haven't, you sure have played it! :)
Picigin [pih-tsih-gheen] is a traditional ball game, originated on the sandy beach of Bačvice in Split, Croatia. It is an amateur sport which must be played on a sandy beach in shallow water, and there are usually five players in the game who should keep the "balun" (traditional ball - peeled tennis ball, polished off a few millimeters) from touching the water. Since 2005, the Picigin World Championship is organized every year on Bačvice beach and the winner is selected according to the artistic impression of a whole group.
FUN FACT #8: PLITVICE LAKES
Plitvice lakes are one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. They are inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979. Imagine sixteen lakes with series of waterfalls and with so much more! Stop imagining, apply for our TSU and come see Plitvice with us! :)
FUN FACT #9: GRIC CANNON (Grički top)
Each day at noon in Zagreb you can hear Gric Cannon. Since January 1st 1877 the cannon is fired from the Lotrscak Tower on Gric to mark midday. The cannon was to give the sign for sharp noon for the bell-ringers of the city's churches.