A Taste of Slovenian Traditions

In Slovenia, people usually greet each other with a handshake, even among good friends who see each other regularly. It’s just part of the culture. That said, don’t worry, a slightly more enthusiastic British-style greeting will still be warmly received.

Toasts are a big part of Slovenian celebrations. When someone says “Na zdravje!”, glasses are raised and clinked, usually with a smile and a bit of eye contact, some say it’s bad luck if you don’t, so it’s best not to take any chances.

In Slovenia, toasts rarely happen just once, you can expect many rounds throughout the day and evening, often accompanied by singing rather than speeches.

You may hear a tune start and suddenly find yourself standing in a group singalong, glasses raised, with a sip to follow (or to the bottom, of course). It’s all part of the fun, and everyone is welcome to join in, even if you don’t know the words.

Slovenian hospitality is generous and heartfelt. Much of the culture is centred around home-cooked food and welcoming people into their homes. Expect plenty of food and drink throughout the day and evening, and it’s not unusual to be offered a small shot of something, often homemade, as a traditional sign of welcome.

Slovenians also love going out for coffee. It’s very much a social ritual, enjoyed slowly and in good company, rarely ordered to go. It’s not unusual to spend hours chatting together rather than rushing on.

Slovenian weddings often last well into the night and tend to unfold gradually over the course of the day. It’s common to have two ceremonies - a religious ceremony followed by a civil ceremony for legal purposes. Along the way, you may also encounter traditional wedding moments such as a šranga, where friends or family playfully “block the way” and set small challenges before the celebrations continue. These customs are all part of the fun and contribute to a long, lively, and memorable wedding day.

Music sits at the heart of Slovenian weddings, and Lucija’s family in particular loves traditional Slovenian music and dancing, they truly embrace it. Expect lively music, polka dancing in couples, circle dances, and a few traditional games along the way.

One of these is the broom dance, which has already caught Nick out more than once. One person dances with a broom, and at a certain moment it is suddenly slapped down onto the floor, and everyone must quickly change partners. The last person left without a partner is left with the broom for the next round. Perfecting the broom slap is quite an art. I’m joking… but honestly, they really do have some skills for this.

We’ll have a mix of traditional Slovenian favourites and well-known international and UK classics, so there should be something for everyone. The dancing is wonderfully inclusive, often in big circles or conga-style lines, and we hope you’ll throw yourselves into it and join the fun on the dance floor.

Monetary gifts given in an envelope are traditional in Slovenia. If you would prefer to give us something personal, that would of course be very welcome. Above all, sharing the day with us and travelling to Slovenia to celebrate together is what means the most to us.