| The grandmother, babicka, plays a very
important role in the family. She is looked upon with respect and love.
The babicka often lives with her children and cares for the grandchildren
while both parents work. The 1855 novel Babicka, a Czech classic
by Božena Nemcová, describes a grandmother in a 19th-century Czech
family.
Some Czechs who live in cities also have
weekend homes in the country where they garden and enjoy the outdoors.
Some of these houses were once occupied by Germans, who left the country
after the Second World War. Others are village houses that were abandoned
by the rural population. Traditional rural houses are made of wood, often
with elaborate carvings and decorations. |
| In
rural areas when a person dies, amateur bands, usually made up of members
of the local fire brigade, walk with family and friends to the final resting
place of the body. |
|
In the past, Czechs tended to marry young, especially
in rural areas. Young men often married before beginning military service
at the age of 18. Today, people are marrying later. Some Czechs have traditional
village weddings, with singing, dancing and elaborate meals. The bride
and groom and many of the guests wear traditional costumes with elaborate
embroidery. According to tradition, the groom must saw wood as part of
the wedding celebrations.
| Some
houses in Prague that were built in the 18th century have signs or ornamental
frames made of metal, stone or wood above the entrance. These frames, called
cartouches, indicated the social rank or profession of the occupant. |
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