Georgia is an amazing country. Not without reason in the famous Georgian song "Tbilisso" it is sung that such beauties cannot be found in other parts of the world. As soon as people get to this country of the sun, mountains and hospitable people, they fall in love with it once and for all.
Georgia is a country of legends and curious traditions. We will tell you about the most interesting traditions and facts about Georgia in this article.
1. Sakartvelo - this is how Georgians call their country. This word comes from the name of the people who lived on the territory of present-day Georgia - the Kartvels. The word "Georgia" came into our language in the 17th-18th centuries from the Arabic "Gurjistan".
2. In ancient world Georgia and Spain were called the same - Iberia. And the language of the Basques (the people living in Spain) is very similar to Georgian. Now English name Georgia - Georgia is often confused with the name of the US state of the same name.
3. Georgia adopted Christianity much earlier Kievan Rus. Back in 319. Today, 88.6% of the population of Georgia professes Christianity, most of them are adherents of the Georgian Orthodox Church.
4. In Georgian language there is no stress as such, only the tone rises on a certain syllable. Also in Georgian there is no capital letters, there is no masculine and feminine gender (it is determined by context). Before you pronounce a Georgian word, make sure it sounds right. After all, you can be in funny situation when one wrong sound radically changes the meaning of the word. For example, many tourists pronounce the name of the city "Gori" in such a way that it turns out "pig".
5. The Georgian language uses the vigesimal system for naming numbers. To pronounce a number between 20 and 100, you need to break it into twenty and name their number and remainder. For example: 33 is twenty-thirteen, and 78 is three-twenty-eighteen.
6. Do not enter Georgian churches in shorts, with bare head and bare shoulders. If you come on a tour of the temple on the way from the beach or to the beach, be prepared for the fact that you will not be allowed into the shrine. Moreover, if you still come in, you can be kicked out with screams. In Georgia, this is very strict, and Georgians respect their traditions.
7. Georgians are open people. They love to sing loudly, have fun, talk loudly in the streets. But what is better not to talk loudly on the streets is “about thieves in law”. The fact is that since 2004 Georgia has declared war on thieves in law. Georgian law enforcers took into account the fact that according to the thieves' code, a thief in law could not deny his title. Therefore, the following rule was introduced in Georgia: if a person publicly admits that he is a thief in law, go to jail for 10 years.
8. The remains of the first representatives of the human race were found on the territory of Georgia. They were discovered in 1991 in Dmanisi and date back to approximately 1 million 770 thousand years ago. They were given the names Zezva and Mzia.
9. In Tbilisi, it is better to speak Russian or the worst English, but by no means in broken Georgian. However, it is worth knowing that the Russian language in Georgia is mainly spoken by the older generation. Russian is not popular among young people and has very limited use. In the mountains, no one owns them at all. Now in the country English language claims to become the second official in Georgia, children learn it in schools from the first grade.
10. Time in Georgia is ahead of Kiev by 2 hours in winter, and by 1 hour in summer.
11. If you have drunk a lot at a party and do not want to drive your car, then calmly call the police patrol, warning in advance that you do not want to create emergency situations on the road. In gratitude for this behavior, the police will deliver you and the car to your home. And it's all absolutely free.
12. In Georgian high-rise buildings, elevators with payment or a personal key are very often found. Elevators with payment - to go up, you need to go down a certain amount of coins into the mechanism. The descent is free.
13. One of the sights of Georgia is linen hanging from everywhere, which Georgians place not on the territory of the balcony, but outside it.
14. Not all houses in Georgia have central heating. In villages and small towns, people warm themselves with the help of stoves-bourgeois stoves.
15. Georgians do not take off their street shoes when visiting. If you do this, the Georgians may take such a gesture as disrespectful to the hosts. It's even worse if you ask for room slippers.
16. main man during a feast in Georgia - toastmaster. According to custom, this is either the host himself, or he chooses a toastmaster from among the guests (respected person). Please note that you can not interrupt the toastmaster, his word is the law!
17. Toast in Georgia is sacred. No one has the right to drink a glass of wine if, in turn, a toast has not been made by all the people (senior) who participate in the feast.
18. If you see how Georgians eat meat with their hands, you should know that this is not due to bad upbringing and bad manners. In this country, barbecue is eaten with the hands, as if savoring it. This also applies to the national dish khinkali. Eating them with appliances, you risk not only looking stupid, but also, having pierced khinkali with a fork, losing the very essence of this dish.
Khinkali is a popular Georgian dish.
19. A mandatory attribute of a Georgian feast is a plate of greens on the table. Cilantro, basil, tarragon, green onion - that's what Georgians love to eat with meat.
20. Family is sacred for a Georgian! They are very protective of their parents and friends. And the father's word is law.
21. In some regions of Georgia, the tradition of stealing brides has been preserved. Only this is done at the mutual desire of the bride and groom.
21. The storage of weapons is allowed in Georgia.
23. In Georgia, it is impossible to refuse to come to a wedding, as this is a big offense for the inviting party, and it happens that it starts with it years of feud two families.
24. Georgians have a very interesting tradition All women would love her. All relatives of the groom must give the bride gold. And God forbid, someone will forget to do it.
25. Georgia is called the birthplace of wine: it is here that the oldest remains of wine jugs and vines were found.
Based on materials from the site travel.tochka.net
Lively, bright, hospitable and sincere - this is how millions of tourists remember Georgia, but few people know about it really amazing facts associated with this country. 
If, after reading this article, there is a desire to visit this beautiful country, do not forget to contact the directory of enterprises and organizations of the country, where you can get acquainted with the price list for the services of these enterprises.
1. Sakartvelo - this is how Georgians call their country. This word comes from the name of the people who lived on the territory of present-day Georgia - the Kartvels. The word "Georgia" came to the Russian language in the 17th-18th centuries, from the Arabic "Gurjistan". English-speaking people call Georgia "Georgia" (Georgia), which is why foreigners often confuse Georgia with the American state of the same name.
2. The remains of the first representatives of the human race were found on the territory of Georgia. They were discovered in 1991 in Dmanisi. The remains have been proven to be approximately 1.77 million years old. The ancient people were given the names Zezva and Mzia.
3. Georgia is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. Archaeologists have confirmed that already eight thousand years ago vineyards were cultivated here and wine was produced. Today, thousands of different varieties grapes, about 500 species of the four thousand grape varieties known throughout the world have Georgian roots. In 2013, according to the decision of UNESCO, the Georgian way of aging wine in Qvevri (clay jugs) was included in the list of untouchables. cultural heritage humanity. 
4. In Orthodox world Georgia is considered the Lot of the Mother of God - a land that is under special protection Mother of God. The patron saint of the country is St. George, and the Chiton of the Lord is kept in ancient capital Georgia - Mtskheta (near Tbilisi). 
6. The unique Georgian language is distinguished not only by its unusual beauty, but also by its complexity - the pronunciation of a number of words can be a real test for many. 
So, in the Georgian language there are words of eight consonants in a row - for example ?????????? ("gvprtskvnis"). But this is not a "ceiling" - in the famous Georgian work "The Knight in tiger skin"the word with 11 consonants in a row is used - ?????????????????? and it sounds" vephvtmbrdgvneli ".
7. The commune of Ushguli at an altitude of 2086-2200 meters above sea level is recognized as the highest ever locality Europe. And the highest point of Georgia is the mountain peak Shkhara - 5.068 meters. 
8. Georgia is in the top ten safe countries world according to the Crime Index for Country 2016. The Telegraph ranked Georgia in the Top 10 countries with developing tourism, and in terms of ease of doing business, Georgia ranks fourth in Europe.
9. "The eighth wonder of the world" calls international press Georgian national dances. Their peculiarity is the "toepoint" technique - a dance on the fingertips in special leather shoes. 
10. And finally - the most delicious. Georgian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world. There are more than 250 types of cheeses here alone. 
Georgia is a beautiful and hospitable country located not far from Russia. Many tourists go there every year, talking about the incredible nature, the cheerful disposition of the locals and the delicious cuisine. Let's find out some interesting facts about Georgia, after which you might want to visit this country.
Fact 1
Georgians call the country “Sakartvelo” because the Kartvel people used to live in Georgia. The word "Georgia" appeared relatively recently - in the 17th century, from the Arabic word "Gurjistan".Fact 2
The Georgian language is very unusual: there is no stress in it (only an increase in tone on a certain syllable), it does not have capital letters, it does not even have masculine and female, and the gender is determined solely by the context of the phrase.
Fact 3
Spain and Georgia have a lot more in common than you might think. In ancient times, both Georgia and Spain were called the word Iberia, and the Georgian language is very similar to the Basque language, which is spoken by some peoples of Spain.
If you like to travel, then be sure to see the beautiful ones, and also read the history of this architectural masterpiece France.
Fact 4
It was in Georgia that one of the first representatives of the human race was found: Zezva and Mzia. In 1991, their remains, which date back to about 1,770,000 years ago, were found in Dmanisi.
Fact 5
In Georgia, a man can kiss another man on the cheek - they have such a custom to say hello when they meet.
Fact 6
If a Georgian comes to visit, he never takes off his street shoes. Moreover, if he asks for slippers, then this gesture can greatly offend the owners. Traditions in this country are still strong.
Fact 7
Georgians are real gourmets. They eat meat and khinkali with their hands, because this is the only way to fully feel the taste of these culinary masterpieces. Taste Georgian food and you by ordering a tour to Georgia on the website http://www.alinda.com.ua/gruziya.
Fact 8
At a wedding in Georgia, it is customary to give the bride gold. The amount of gold varies depending on the distance of kinship, but, nevertheless, each invitee brings something of gold and gives it to the bride.
Fact 9
If you have been to a Georgian feast and drunk heavily, then you can call the police and call a patrol, while saying that you do not want to make an emergency. The patrol will come and deliver you and your car to your entrance for free.
Fact 10
Every Georgian knows from childhood that toast is sacred. During the feast, each of the people must speak out, and no one ever drinks wine without toast.
Georgia is an amazing country that attracts tourists from all over the world with its majestic mountains, endless fields, long rivers and hospitable people. This country is famous for the best barbecue and wine, ecologically pure nature and temperate climate, entertainment for all tastes. Georgians know the best toasts in the world, they know how to sing and dance well. Georgians are also characterized by magical beauty and charisma. Next, we offer you to see more exciting and interesting facts about Georgia.
1. Georgians call their state Sakartvelo.
2. Much earlier than the Ukrainians, the inhabitants of Georgia became Christians.
3. Only elderly people speak Russian in Georgia.
4. Pointers on the territory of Georgia are made in 2 languages: in English and in Georgian.
5. The Georgian police are generous because the police are kind to people, including tourists.
6. There are paid elevators in Georgia, for which you will have to pay money.
7. In this country, the head of everything is a man.
8. When guests arrive at a house in Georgia, they do not ask for slippers and do not change shoes, because this is a sign of impoliteness.
9.Georgia is a state that is famous for a huge number of legends.
10.B ancient times Spain and Georgia had a single name.
11. Before speaking Georgian words, it is better to make sure that their pronunciation is correct. A word can drastically change its meaning due to the slightest mistake.
12.Georgia has aspirations to become a second Mecca.
13. In Georgia, after drinking alcohol, it is better not to drive a car. There you can call the police, who will take you home.
14. In this country, people hang laundry everywhere.
15. Men in Georgia kiss on the cheek.
16. On Georgian holidays, the toastmaster is considered the main person.
17. To toast in Georgia special treatment. Toast is sacred.
18. In this state, barbecue is not eaten with a fork, there are hands for this.
19. There must be greens on the Georgian table without fail.
20. The word of the father in this country is sacred.
21. The attitude of Georgians to the family is good. This is the main thing that can be in the life of every inhabitant of Georgia.
22. Some regions of Georgia have retained the custom of stealing a bride.
23. The long-term enmity of Georgian families usually begins with a refusal to come to the wedding. There is no way to refuse it.
24. During a Georgian wedding, the groom's relatives should give gold to a young girl.
25. Everyone comes to a funeral in Georgia, and you need to take something with you: wine, food.
26. Georgia is the ancestor of winemaking.
27. Natives of Georgia were the first Europeans.
28. In Georgia, the oldest thread was found, which is 34,000 years old.
29. Gold mines of ancient times have also been found in Georgia.
30. For more than 2600 years, Jews have been living in Georgia.
31.Georgia is one of the first states to leave the CIS and one of the last to join the CIS. (December 3, 1993 entered the Commonwealth, August 18, 2009 left the CIS).
32. The Georgian flag is very similar to the flag of Jerusalem.
33. In his time, Byron often visited this country.
35.Georgia is considered one of those states where there has never been anti-Semitism.
37. There are 3 alphabets in Georgia.
38. In the Georgian language there is a word in which 8 consonants go in a row.
39. In Georgia, everyone smokes in the room.
40. Snow in Georgia is a rarity.
41. Georgia has its own version of the Russian language.
42. The Russian language in Georgian schools is a compulsory subject.
43. Many Georgian children call their parents by name.
44. Georgians are hospitable.
45. In Georgia, it is impossible to pass a hare, because the controllers are on duty at the end of each stop.
46. The Rtveli grape festival is taking place in Georgia.
47. In the process of building houses in Georgia, they are screwed into the mountain.
48. Despite stereotypes, Georgian highlanders practically do not drink wine.
49. Georgia is considered a state of contrasts.
50.Georgian extreme riding is the skate of all residents.
51. Georgian schoolchildren begin their studies at the end of September. A specific date is determined 2 weeks in advance.
52. Numbers in Georgia are pronounced according to the twenty-decimal system.
53.Georgian folk dances and songs are protected by UNESCO.
54. Golden fleece from famous novel kept in Georgia.
55. Prometheus was chained to a rock, which is located in this state.
56.Georgia is an Orthodox state, although many people think differently.
57. There is no hot water or central heating in Georgia.
58. When guests come to Georgian families, they must first of all kiss the elderly and children.
59. In Georgia, adults are not called by their first and middle names.
60. Georgians are proud of their wine.
61. At least 500 varieties of grapes grow in this state.
62. The underground city in Georgia is the hallmark of this country.
63. In 1976, the Georgian song "Chakrula" was sent into space as a message to aliens.
64. Tbilisi is a city of Georgia, which was previously considered an Arab city.
65. Georgian fairy tales are very similar to Indian mythology.
66. Kutaisi is a city of Georgia, which is its capital of thieves.
67. Georgians are used to eating with their hands.
68. In ancient times, there was a nursery for monkeys in Georgia, on which experiments were subsequently carried out.
69. Griboyedov's comedy "Woe from Wit" was written in Georgia.
70. The oldest capital of Georgia is Mtskheta.
71. The first pope who visited Georgia was John Paul II, it happened on November 8, 1999. Pope Francis came to Georgia for the second time on September 30, 2016.
72.Georgia is the third state to adopt Christianity.
73. In ancient times, Georgia was called Iberia.
74. Toasts with beer are not raised in Georgia. When drinking beer there, a person wishes death.
75. The first remains of the human race were found in this state.
76. In Georgia, they want to make English the second state language.
77.Georgia is striving to become a tourist state.
78. Spoken Georgian cannot be compared with any other language in the world.
79. There are modern buildings in Georgia.
80. Georgian men, walking, can hold hands.
81.Georgia is one of the homophobic states of the world space.
82. The attitude of Georgians to power is skeptical, because this state long time not considered independent.
83. There are no stresses in the Georgian language.
84. This country has a very ancient culture.
85. For a long time Georgia was considered the crossroads of all the world's roads.
86.Under National parks Georgia was given large territory this country.
87. In a Georgian pharmacy, one can get not only the right medicine, but also qualified advice.
88. For the first time, people learned about Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, as a medical resort.
89.Georgia is a state that is rapidly developing.
90. Bribes in Georgia are not given to anyone.
91. Cars in Georgia are the cheapest in the world.
92. In Georgia, a stolen phone can put you in jail for 5 years.
93.Georgia is different in that cashiers have the lowest salaries.
94. In higher educational institutions Georgia has no hostels.
95. There is a picturesque fortress of the 17th century in Georgia.
96. Georgians have a belief: in order to remove damage from the family, a man must urinate on any charmed object found.
97. Young Georgians hardly speak Russian.
98. Marriage in Georgia is the joint residence of a guy and a girl, regardless of the registration of marriage.
99. The meaning of marriage registration and wedding ceremony is the same for Georgians.
100. The Caucasus Mountains are the highest massif in Georgia.
One old legend tells how long ago God divided the lands among the peoples of the world. All nations have gathered except one. He had a feast at that time, which no one could leave even for such an important occasion.
And at the end of the holiday, this people came to God, but there were no more lands left. People got a little embarrassed and said to him, “Sorry for being late. But we had an important reason - we drank to your health!
God laughed, and for their resourcefulness and good nature, he gave the extraordinary land that he had in store for himself. This is how Georgia appeared - hospitable and incredibly beautiful country. wonderful story, Truth? By the way, this region is still famous for its feasts, toasts and legends.
But in our article will go It's not about local folklore. We have collected only the most proven and Interesting Facts about Georgia.
Fact 1. We went to Georgia, arrived in Sakartvelo
Did you know that Georgians call their country Sakartvelo, and locals no "Georgians", but "kartveli"? It so happened historically that the state has several names. Only in Russian the country is called Georgia. IN European countries- George or Georgia, for Muslims - Gurjistan. Because of this, various misunderstandings and confusion arose more than once.
Fact 2. Hello, we are your relatives!
In ancient chronicles, Georgia (Kartli region, Eastern Georgia) and Spain are approximately the same time. historical period called the same - Iberia. There is still no reliable explanation of how this happened and what is the connection between the two countries.
Spanish scientists insist on the version that this is a mere coincidence, and in every possible way deny consanguinity. But Georgian historians find a number of confirmations that the Spaniards are the descendants of the Georgians.
Fact 3. The strangest number system
Georgian numerals up to 20 are based on the decimal number system, and from 20 to 100 are based on the vigesimal. For people who count in the decimal system, all this is quite difficult, because you can easily get confused in suffixes, prefixes, and what is added to what. For example, the number 71 will be literally translated from Georgian as a spy code: three times twenty and eleven.
Fact 4. Oh, this grammar
Guests of Georgia will certainly be surprised by the peculiar writing of signboards, signs, price tags. And this is not at all an original find of designers, but the absence of capital letters. In addition, in the Georgian language, the gender is determined from the context, and the question "who?" only nouns denoting a person answer. All the rest are animate and inanimate nouns answer the question "what?".
Fact 5. Who is related to whom
The words denoting the closest relatives sound quite familiar to Russian-speaking tourists. The whole trick is that the meanings of these words are confused. Many will surely find it strange that children call a man “mother”. And for the locals there is nothing surprising. It's simple, remember: "mom" is dad, "grandfather" is mom, "dad" is grandfather, "baby" is grandmother.
Fact 6. The main thing is to have time to surrender
Georgia is the most hospitable country; not a single reception of guests can do without a feast, plentiful snacks and wine. If the guest has drunk a lot, and a car is waiting for him near the house, then you can turn to the police for help.
It is enough to politely explain the situation to them, and often law enforcement officers act as a sober driver. One of the policemen will sit behind the wheel of your car, and the second will go in a patrol car, accompanying you. And it's absolutely free.
Fact 7. Local etiquette
Shish kebab, khinkali, khachapuri… Just the names of these appetizing national dishes start to salivate. By Georgian traditions they are supposed to be eaten without the help of cutlery. Shish kebab is taken with hands, savoring it. And for khinkali, in general, there are special rules:
- do not use a knife and fork so as not to pierce the dough;
- you can not take them too hot, so as not to burn yourself;
- don't let them cool down all will be lost taste.
Fact 8. Let me kiss you
The guests of this country are very alarmed by the fact that when they meet here, everyone kisses on the cheek. Yes, and men too. This is not a manifestation of strangeness at all, but a special national tradition. Such a greeting in the Caucasus is considered an expression of respect and respect. They are not so harsh, these hot Georgian guys.
Fact 9. Hitchhiking in Georgia
This region is very convenient for hitchhiking. Most likely, hospitable Georgians will not take money from you, but as additional bonus will tell you legends and traditions. Some drivers may invite you to visit their home along the way. And if you agree, then you will certainly be fed, watered and offered accommodation for the night, as the dearest guest.
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Fact 10. Come in, do not take off your shoes!
Do not take off your shoes when visiting. Here it is considered bad form, a manifestation of disrespect and can greatly offend the owners. Slippers are also not worth asking: they say that it is even worse. Walk right in street shoes, it's customary here.
Fact 11. How not to fall under the table
An interesting fact about Georgia: during a feast, you cannot completely empty your glass and plate. Seeing an empty dish, you will immediately be served a new portion. This is an unspoken sign that the guest is asking for more. By local traditions the glass must always be filled. The hospitable host will pour you until you fall, so calculate your strength and take care of your health.
Fact 12
In one famous movie the hero says: “The rite is called “bride kidnapping”. No, don't think, the bride herself dreams of being stolen. Parents also agree. You can go straight to the registry office, but before that, according to custom, the bride must be stolen. She must be caught, put into a bag and given to the kunaks of the dzhigit in love. This is an old comedy, but in some regions of this country, this is exactly what is happening to this day. True, at present the kidnapping is taking place according to mutual agreement bride and groom and is more like a theatrical performance.
Fact 13. Children are the flowers of life
The main value in Georgia is the family. And children are the future, continuation, life. Grandparents usually take an active part in their upbringing. All conditions have been created for children here, they are treated with special attention: babies are carried in their arms, pampered, praised and protected. Be on the alert, because it is customary to treat all the kids here with something sweet and tasty, without asking permission from their parents.
This country will not leave anyone indifferent. Having been here once, you will certainly want to come back here again. And to make your trip memorable for a long time, choose from our collection of children's and family entertainment excursions that you like. We wish you a pleasant stay and bright impressions!
