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Regional Meals and Evaluation of Traditional Czech Cuisine
Within the May survey Public Opinion Research Centre concentrated on the topic of traditional Czech cuisine. The research included a section of questions devoted to finding out which traditional regional meals respondents know and if they themselves cook them. From the results it arises that people most often consider as regional meals – potato pancakes, potato cakes, kulajda (cream of mushroom soup), kyselo (mushroom sour cream sauce), cakes and goulash, and they also most frequently cook these meals in their household.
Ingredients and Meals Associated with Traditional Czech Cuisine
Ingredients, which Czech citizens most frequently associate traditional Czech cuisine with, include potatoes, cabbage and cottage cheese. Typically Czech meals, such as yeast fruit dumplings, garlic soup and potato pancakes, were tasted by practically all respondents at some time. Three quarters of respondents also prepare these meals in their own households. Hot cross-buns are least known by respondents.
Traditional Czech Cuisine and Us
From the results of the May survey it arises that people associate the term "traditional Czech cuisine" mainly with roast pork, with dumplings and cabbage. Others connect it with beef sirloin in cream sauce, some others with pork schnitzel or goulash. Association with sweet meals, such as fruit dumplings or buns with filling is also quite common. Other meals perceived as typical in traditional Czech cuisine are for example: potato pancakes, roast goose or duck and dumplings as a side dish.
Keeping to Tradition in Czech Households
Keeping to tradition and folk customs is considered to be important by two thirds of citizens (66 %), while approximately three people out of ten (31 %) have the opposite opinion. Regardless of this, 99 % of households keep to tradition and customs at least in some cases. As far as traditional meals associated with some specific festive occasions are concerned, almost in all households (96 %) the traditional menu is prepared in connection with Christmas Eve, in two thirds at Easter, and in a half of households on New Year’s Day.
Migration in the CZ
Three fifths of Czechs over 15 years of age (61 %) have moved house at least once in the course of their lives, with 25 % moving only once, 19 % twice, 11 % three times and 6 % respondents said that during their lives they had moved more than three times. In the population over 19 years of age, two thirds (66 %) of inhabitants have experienced moving at least once. The ratio of people, who have never moved during their lifetime, is significantly higher in villages than in towns.
Attitudes of the Czech Public towards Employing Foreigners
The research showed that the attitude of the Czech public towards employing foreigners is not clear cut in this country: 45 % of respondents think it is correct, a similar number - 44 % have an opposite opinion. Most respondents believe that a cheap foreign labour force represents a threat to employing Czech citizens (82 %) and that the employing of foreigners in areas with high unemployment should be cut down (81 %).
Residence of Foreigners in the Czech Republic
Almost three quarters of respondents agree on the fact that foreigners should have the possibility of gaining long-term residence in the Czech Republic, but only under certain conditions. The opinion that foreigners should not be given the possibility to stay here on a long-term basis was expressed by 17 % of respondents and on the other hand residence without restrictions would be enabled by 6 % of respondents.
Satisfaction with Living in One’s Neighbourhood
Within the May survey Public Opinion Research Centre was asking questions about satisfaction with life in places, where people lived. The question “Are you satisfied overall with living in your neighbourhood?” was answered by 69 % of respondents saying they were satisfied with living in their neighbourhood, 6% expressed dissatisfaction and 25 % were undecided. Furthermore, respondents were asked if they considered moving from their neighbourhood.
Where Would You Most Like to Live?
The survey showed that 43 % of respondents would prefer an urban area as the place of their permanent residence, while the countryside would be chosen by 41 %. Two percent voiced other opinions and 14 % could not decide. As to places of urban character, a similar number of respondents chose cities with a population over 100 thousand (a total of 15 %) and towns of medium size with 20 thousand to 100 thousand inhabitants (16 %).
National Esteem of Czech Citizens
The absolute majority of citizens feel proud of the Czech Republic in connection with sport (91 %), culture (89 %), history (88 %) and a little less with science and technology (77 %). Other reasons as a source for feeling national esteem are seen only by a minority of the population: in case of armed forces it is 41 %, functioning of democracy or relation to foreigners 38 %, in case of political influence in the world 32 %, in relation to social welfare 25 % and in case of economic results it is a mere 11 %.
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