• Norway!

    Norway: Sunnylvsfjord. Go Now!

    Norway
    Known for its natural beauty, Norway is home to isolated villages, fjords, and mountains that create a culture and landscape without compare. Begin Your Journey!

  • Vatican City!

    Vatican City: Vatican Museums. Go Now!

    Vatican City
    The smallest country in the world offers the heart of Catholicism and among the world's finest art collections, including the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms (ceiling pictured). Go to Vatican City!

  • Macedonia!

    Macedonia: Traditional architecture. Go Now!

    Macedonia
    Macedonia is a country still finding its unique identity, but its architecture is already one of a kind. Explore Macedonia!

  • Austria!

    Austria: Belvedere Palace. Go Now!

    Austria
    Belvedere Palace (pictured) is just one of many palaces found in Vienna. The capital is a good start to Austria, which also features the Alps, the Lakes District, and incredible history & food. Go Now!

  • Spain!

    Spain: Guell Park and Gaudi architecture. Go Now!

    Spain
    Fusion foods, lively music, historic ruins, and cultural events like the Running of the Bulls and La Tomatina make Spain and Barcelona (pictured) a favorite tourist destination. Explore Spain!

  • Ukraine!

    Ukraine: Traditional Village. Go Now!

    Ukraine
    Ukrainian culture is based on village life, particularly that found in the Carpathian Mountains (pictured). Begin Your Journey!

Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Slovenia

Ethnicity

Most of Slovenia's population is ethnically Slovene, which is primarily a combination of eastern and southern Slavs, making their closest relatives the Czechs and Croatians, while being more distantly related to the Poles, Slovaks, and Bulgarians among others. There are also small groups of ethnic Italians, Magyars (Hungarians), Serbs, and Croats in the country today.

Language

Slovenian is the only official national language in Slovenia, although both Italian and Hungarian are regionally recognized. Slovenian is a southern Slavic language, most similar to what is known in English as Serbo-Croatian. Serbo-Croatian is often referred to in more specific terms by individuals in the region as many people prefer calling the language Croatian, Bosnian, or Serbian.

No matter what native language an individual speaks, most Slovenians today learn English as a second language, making English the language of communication between groups and in some sectors, such as tourism. Learning this language is especially true among younger people as few people learned English during the Yugoslavia era.

Religion

Most Slovenians are Catholics, but there is a growing trend of atheism and unaffiliated Christianity. There are no other significant religious groups in Slovenia in terms of number of adherents.

Catholicism is a Christian religion that is one of the first Christian religions (founded after the death of Jesus in about 30-33 AD). Catholicism believes that there is a single God who created everything, a savior, the son of God, Jesus Christ who is the forgiver of sins, and there is the Holy Spirit, which makes up the last part of the Holy Trinity. Catholics follow the teachings of the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. Much of the faith is based on the life and teachings of Jesus, which is found in the gospels (in the New Testament).

Continue reading on Safari the Globe to Learn the Catholic Church's doctrines, liturgy, symbolism, traditions, & hierarchy

This page was last updated: May, 2014