Slovak culture — West Slavic heritage, folklore, folk art, traditional carnival masks, Jánošík myth.
Language
Slovak — West Slavic language, closest to Czech. Standardized by Ľudovít Štúr 1843. Hungarian, Rusyn, Roma minorities. Bilingualism with Czech.
Music
Fujara (UNESCO) — world longest shepherd flute. Cimbalom — Slovak folklore symbol. SĽUK (folk ensemble). Modern: Marián Varga, Elán, Lúčnica. Detva folklore festival.
Folklore and Dances
Verbunk (UNESCO 2005) — male dance. Czardas, twisted, odzemok. Detva costumes with embroidered white shirt. Wooden nativity Levoča.
Cuisine
Bryndzové halušky — national dish (potato dough + sheep cheese + bacon). Cabbage soup, sheep cheese (oštiepok UNESCO), demikát. Slivovica, borovička, Kofola. Tatra tea.
Architecture
Wooden churches UNESCO (Hervartov, Tvrdošín). Spiš Castle (largest castle complex Central Europe, UNESCO). Bratislava Castle. Vlkolínec — folk architecture UNESCO.
Literature and Film
Pavol Országh-Hviezdoslav (classic). Ladislav Mňačko (Death is Called Engelchen). Slovak New Wave 1960s. Juraj Jakubisko, Martin Šulík. Slovak National Theatre Bratislava.
Traditions and Holidays
Easter — girls splashing (oblievačka, šibačka). Christmas — cabbage soup + fish + lokše. Carnival — masks and parades. Jánošík Days — robber-hero legend.