The Czechs in a Nutshell

In other words, Jára Cimrman fully complies with the Czech tradition of not taking yourself too seriously. He also reflects the widespread tendency to regard the country’s many historic debacles as something inflicted by others. In the same way that inexplicable mishaps prevented Cimrman from being awarded all of the Nobel Prizes he undoubtedly deserved, history, bigger countries or scheming neighbours (but under no circumstance the Czechs themselves!) have given the nation a harder fate than it really deserves.

In addition, Svěrák and Smoljak made a brilliant move by placing Cimrman in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (see: Franz Josef). On the one hand, it sated the nostalgia for an era that many Czechs regard as more innocent, lucky and even romantic than the grey normalization in which they lived. On the other hand, Cimrman could make jokes about politics without fearing reprisals from the Communist regime, because it “hadn’t any relevance to the present”.

Of course, the audience was more than capable of reading between the lines (see: Communication). Thus, in the dark years of normalization a Jára Cimrman performance became one of very few public media where the common Czech could roar with laughter from a half-hidden joke about the rulers without having to fear any consequences.

One should, of course, be careful to interpret Jára Cimrman’s enormous popularity as a proof of some sense of humour common to all Czechs or even as a symbol of a “typical Czech mentality”. But it may still be fair to draw one conclusion: the enthusiastic way in which millions of grown-up Czechs embrace a mythical, undiscovered genius suggests that there probably are more playful people in the Czech Republic than in most other countries.

Communication

Lots of foreigners who have come to the Czech Republic as managers of local companies tell the same story: after their first week in the job, they’re all pleasantly surprised by how eagerly and quickly their Czech employees carry out their directions.

However, within a month or two, most of them have a surprising revelation. Their subordinates, who overtly accepted all orders from the boss without a single word of protest or disagreement, have in reality done something completely different.

Such troubles can’t immediately be blamed on a language barrier. A foreigner and a Czech may both speak the same language flawlessly, but still have severe problems with communication. An extreme example is the Austrian military doctor who tried to diagnose The Good Soldier Švejk. After speaking with his patient for half an hour, he got so frustrated by the Czech’s evasive and confusing answers that he uttered the now classical sentence: “Das ganze tschechisches Volk ist eine Simmulantenbande” — The entire Czech nation is a bunch of fakers!

This, of course, is both a coarse exaggeration and a literary generalization. Nevertheless, it’s not entirely without an element of truth (see: Jára Cimrman), because the Czechs generally communicate in a far more indirect and understated way than Western Europeans usually do. To display strong emotions, for instance, be it raving anger or loud laughter, is often interpreted as proof of either mental instability or drunkenness (see: Alcoholics), and quite often, people say things that are only meant as an expression of courtesy.

A classic situation occurs when somebody invites you to his or her home and repeatedly insists that you don’t need to take your shoes off. This must under no circumstances be interpreted literally! The Czech is not saying that you are free to ruin his wall-to-wall carpet (see: Balkans) with doggy turd. He or she only wants to indicate a willingness to go to great lengths just to please a guest. Which they actually very often do — the Czechs may not be the fastest in the world to invite foreigners to their homes, but when they finally do, they tend to be extremely hospitable. Consequently, you are supposed to smile in a friendly way, and immediately take your shoes off.

The importance many Czechs attach to demonstrations of modesty (which should by no means be confused with real modesty) may also bring the foreigner into confusing situations. When a Czech is offered something, it’s considered blunt and ill-mannered to accept it without uttering something like Oh no, that's too much, or Please, don’t make any special arrangements just for me. Again, this must not be interpreted literally. Afraid of being considered immodest or downright greedy, the Czech simply expects you to urge him or her to accept the offer with greater intensity.