Culture of Georgia (country)

The culture of Georgia has evolved over the country's long history, providing it with a unique national culture and a strong literary tradition based on the Georgian language and alphabet. This has provided a strong sense of national identity that has helped to preserve Georgian distinctiveness despite repeated periods of foreign occupation.

Georgian culture evolved over thousands of years with its foundations in Iberian and Colchian civilizations, continuing into the rise of the unified Georgian Kingdom under the single monarchy of the Bagrationi. Georgian culture enjoyed a golden age and renaissance of classical literature, arts, philosophy, architecture and science in the 11th century. 

The Georgian language, and the Classical Georgian literature of the poet Shota Rustaveli, were revived in the 19th century after a long period of turmoil, laying the foundations of the romantics and novelists of the modern era such as Grigol Orbeliani, Nikoloz Baratashvili, Ilia Chavchavadze, Akaki Tsereteli, Vazha Pshavela, and many others. Georgian culture was influenced by Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and later by the Russian Empire.

Georgians have their own unique 3 alphabets which according to traditional accounts was invented by King Pharnavaz I of Iberia in 3rd century BC.

Georgia is well known for its rich folklore, unique traditional music, theatre, cinema, and art. Georgians are renowned for their love of music, dance, theatre and cinema. In the 20th century there have been notable Georgian painters such as Niko Pirosmani, Lado Gudiashvili, Elene Akhvlediani; ballet choreographers such as George Balanchine, Vakhtang Chabukiani, and Nino Ananiashvili; poets such as Galaktion Tabidze, Lado Asatiani, and Mukhran Machavariani; and theatre and film directors such as Robert Sturua, Tengiz Abuladze, Giorgi Danelia and Otar Ioseliani.

Georgian Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

Facts and Statistics

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Capital: T'bilisi

Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Population: 4,935,880 (2014 est.)

Ethnic Make-up: Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)

Religion: Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Government: Republic

Language in Georgia

Georgian is the primary language of about 3.9 million people in Georgia itself (83% of the population) and of another 500,000 abroad (in countries such as Turkey, Iran, Russia, USA and Europe). It is the literary language for all ethnographic groups of Georgian people, especially those who speak other South Caucasian languages (or Kartvelian languages): Svans, Megrelians, and the Laz. Gruzinic, or "Kivruli", sometimes considered a separate Jewish language, is spoken by an additional 20,000 in Georgia and 65,000 elsewhere (primarily 60,000 in Israel).

Georgian Society and Culture

Religion in Georgia

• Most Georgians belong to the Georgian Orthodox (65%), Russian Orthodox (10%) or Armenian Apostolic (8%) churches.
• Although religion does not overtly impact the culture, behaviour or etiquette, the values do on a subtle level appear in outlook and also areas such as treatment of guests.

Hospitality

• Warm hospitality a very Georgian trait.
• Guests are seen as a gift and foreigners are therefore guests of the country.
• Expect to be invited to a home for a meal and try to take up the offer.
• The supra is a large dinner party involving many toasts. The toastmaster or "tamada" selects people to make long toasts and for special toas, a horn full of wine is passed around the table.
• Beer is only used to toast the enemy! So don't toast with beer.
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Hierarchy

• Georgia is a hierarchical society.
• Age, position and power usually earn respect.
• Elders are generally held in high esteem and thus the reason they are introduced first when greeting.
• Along with respect comes responsibility and those at the top of the hierarchy (whether the head of a household or business) will be expected make decisions that are in the best interest of the group.
• Etiquette and Customs in Georgia

Meeting and Greeting

• When meeting someone for the first time, shake hands while saying "gamarjoba" ("hello"). Once a relationship warms up some, but not all, Georgians will quickly move to a kiss on the cheek.
• When addressing people only close friends or family will usually use first names.
• First names may also be used with the word "Batono" ("Sir") or "Kalbatono" ("Madam") immediately afterwards, which brings a sense of formality.
• Most people would expect to be addressed with their appropriate title followed by the surname.

Communication Style

• Georgians are very relationship orientated in their outlook.
• This means that people's feelings take precedence over facts. It is important to appreciate that you may not the whole truth if there is bad news. Similarly you should be sensitive when communicating difficult information.
• Similarly in an eagerness to establish a business relationship, Georgians may offer an affirmative response even if they know it is far from the truth.
• One way in which this cultural influence manifests is in asking questions in a negative fashion so that the person responding may give a positive response for a negative answer.
• Georgians are not afraid to express their emotions no matter how bad. Do not be surprised if people do display anger or extreme disappointment during business.
• Similarly Georgians can be emotive speakers. When discussing a topic, voices may become raised and hand gestures increased.
• Direct eye contact conveys trust. Estonians will generally maintain eye contact throughout a discussion. Looking away or making intermittent eye contact may be misinterpreted as a sign that you are not telling the truth.
• Although Georgia has a relationship orientated culture, they can also be very direct.