Updated: March 8, 2024
Curiosities about Georgia that will surprise you about its culture, gastronomy, ancient art in wine making and history.
1.- Name of the country
Although the country is known internationally as Georgia, it is a name attributed by the West in reference to Saint George.
The real name is Sakartvelo, which even appears in the constitution.
The literal translation of Sakartvelo is "land of the Kartvelians« which is the name Georgians give to themselves.
2.- Iberia
In the times of the Greeks and Romans The Central Caucasus area was called Iberia.
Although it has nothing to do with the Iberian Peninsula.
3.- Language
The official language is Georgian, or Kartuli which is what they call it.
Although Georgia has a population of 3.7 million inhabitants, there are small Georgian communities mainly in Russia and Turkey, hence Georgian speakers number 4.2 million people.
Georgian was differentiated from other languages of the region such as Mingrelian and Laz about 3000 years ago.
On the other hand, its alphabet, which originally had 38 characters, currently has 33 and It was created in 412 BC by Georgian priests.
As curiosities I tell you that In Georgian there is no gender and in its alphabet there are no capital letters.
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4.- Gamarjoba, Georgian greeting
Gamarjoba is the word used to greet in Georgia, which It would be a "hello."
Behind this word there is an interesting meaning, because It literally means "victory" or "triumph.".
Therefore, this way of greeting It's a way to wish you a "successful day".
5.- Surnames
The endings of Georgian surnames refer to the different areas of Georgia.
Some determine whether it is the western or eastern part of the country and others are more specific to certain regions, such as Samegrelo or Svaneti.
Furthermore, the termination -Eli, is the one used for nobility.
6.- Flag
The Georgian flag has been the official one only since January 2004, adopted by President Mikheil Saakashvili after the movement known as Rose Revolution, which included protests and the storming of parliament.
This was a flag that had been out of use for 500 years, but the protesters during the Rose Revolution, in addition to carrying roses, waved this flag.
The large red cross on a white background represents Saint George who is the boss of the country.
It is believed that the other 4 crosses were introduced during the time of King George V, who managed to expel the Mongols.
7.- Tbilisi, the capital
Tbilisi is the capital of the country, with a little more than 1.1 million inhabitants.
The city of Tbilisi was founded in 5th century AD by King Gorgasali For a strategic reason, as it is in a valley, it was easier to protect than Mtskheta, the ancient capital.
Although archaeological remains have been discovered that show that the area was already inhabited since 4000 BC
The The word Tbilisi in Georgian means "hot", due to thermal waters full of sulfur that run through its subsoil.
⭐ In this guide you can read more about What to do in Tbilisi: 24 must-visit places..
8.- Thermal baths
Therefore, it is not surprising that the sulfur baths are so popular in this Caucasus country, with its waters that exceed 35 °C.
In Georgia, they have bathrooms with private cabins and public bathrooms, the prices are quite far from each other.
Baths with private rooms are out of reach for low-wage Georgians, but public baths are something anyone can afford.
That's why if you visit Georgia you have to treat yourself to its sulfur baths.
9.- Mtskheta, World Heritage Site
The old one city of Mtskheta and previous capital of the country from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994.
This is the city where Christianity was adopted in Georgia and remains the seat of the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church.
The buildings that belong to the World Heritage Site are the Svetitstkhoveli Cathedral and the Samtavro monastery and the Jvari monastery.
⭐ Check out this article for further insights on What to do in Mtskheta: 8 must-visit places..
10.- Ushguli, town in the heights
Ushguli in the northern Svaneti region It is considered the highest inhabited town in Europe.
In reality, Ushguli is a community of 5 villages at altitudes between 2086 and 2200 meters above sea level.
One of those towns, Chazhashi stands out for its medieval tower-shaped buildings.
There, 200 of those buildings that were used as housing and at the same time a defense post against invaders are still preserved.
Since 1996 this town has been registered with UNESCO as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
⭐ You may also be interested in this guide on 9 Best Tours from Kutaisi which includes a visit to Svaneti.
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11.- Kutaisi
Kutaisi is the third most populated city in Georgia and the second in importance after Tbilisi.
This is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
According to archaeological remains that were found, it is believed that It was the capital of Colchis from the 6th to the 5th century BC.
Therefore, it is believed that in Greek epic poem about Jason and the Argonauts who went there in search of the golden fleece.
12.- Wine production
Georgia has a long tradition of wine production dating back to 8000 years, according to some archaeological remains found.
Converting to Georgians in the town that has been making wine the longest, undoubtedly one of the most interesting Georgian facts.
Kakheti is the main region producing excellent quality wines, with some grapes only found in Georgia.
Furthermore, wine is very cheap, so much so that it is said that "It is cheaper to drink wine than water". You know, if you want to save on your trip to Georgia…drink wine. 😄🍷
If you come to Georgia and you like wine, be sure to try it and make some tour to Kakheti like the one in the link that includes a visit to a winery.
🍷 Here you can read more about the Visit to Kakheti: wine region in Georgia, with everything there is to see and transportation alternatives.
13.- Clay vessels
The traditional way of making wine is in a kind of large egg-shaped clay amphorae called kvevri.
The kvevri are inscribed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2013.
These vessels are used for ferment, store and age wine, the entire process takes between 5 and 6 months when the wine is ready to be bottled.
The kvevri They remain buried in the ground and their capacity varies between 20 and 10,000 liters.
Without a doubt, a very different way of making wine than that used in Spain and the West.
14.- Chacha
The Chacha is the Georgian liquor par excellence, which you could say is a kind of "wine vodka."
Because It is made by distilling the grape skins in the same way as it is done with the pomace in Galicia.
That is, once they finish making the wine, with solid remains which are known as hollejos, this liquor is made.
But unlike pomace, which does not usually exceed 40 % alcohol content, the chacha can be 70 % or even exceed 80 % alcohol content, especially the homemade one.
15.- Supra, Georgian banquets
Georgians are all professionals in the art of celebration and they like to organize great banquets known as supra.
There are two types of supra, the sad ones that are celebrated after a funeral and are known as kelekhi. Then there are the supra holidays called keipi.
The word supra literally means "tablecloth" because it is a celebration where there is always a huge table and food plays an important role.
In celebration of the supra, men have an important role, while women remain on a more secondary level.
16.- Tamada, the Toast Master
Whenever a supra is designated a tamada who is a man who is in charge of being "master of toasts."
The tamada It is selected by the host of the supra or the other guests.
Normally toasts begin by raising the glasses and he tamada He gives a speech about the toast he proposes.
Some of the most common themes are God, saints, friends and family, something that is left to the choice of the tamada.
Then, counterclockwise, each guest says a few words and only then can that person drink by emptying the glass.
During the toast no one can speak, except when it is their turn, although they can eat.
A good tamada is one who drinks a lot, but shows no signs of drunkenness.
17.- Tenili Cheese
In Georgia they have a great tradition in cheese making and they have about 250 different cheeses.
Tenili cheese is an artisanal cheese made with a curious technique part of the Meskhetian tradition.
For its preparation, cow or sheep milk in brine is used, The curd is heated and manually pulled until it becomes a finely stranded cheese. reminiscent of wool.
Then it is finished making in clay pots where it can be preserved for up to 1 year. The result is a soft cheese, somewhat acidic and with a spicy touch.
During the Soviet Union in Georgia they were allowed to make only 4 cheeses (imeruli, sulguni, karkhunli and guda) due to the strict Soviet planned economy.
Therefore, some cheeses continued to be produced clandestinely of homes.
Today there are only 2 families in Andriatsminda that make Tenili cheese. This is a town that is only 17 km from Rabati castle in Akhaltsikhe.
Since the preparation is quite difficult and the production is low, This cheese is reserved only for celebrations.
Since 2013, Tenili is registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
18.- Travelers, sent from God
For Georgians, travelers consider themselves "sent from God."
That is why on your visit to this Caucasian country It is normal for you to experience acts of kindness that you will not see elsewhere.
The locals can be very hospitable, especially in the towns.
They have even accompanied me to the bus and have also been there to let me know what my stop was and I could continue listing examples.
Be careful, this does not mean that the customer service is terrible, but this has nothing to do with foreigners, this is normal treatment even between them.
19.- Declared the cheapest country: ruin for locals
In 2017 it was declared the cheapest country to live, at a time when renting a studio in the capital could cost from 150 euros.
At the beginning of 2022, rental prices had already doubled.
Since the start of the war between Ukraine and Russia, the country began to receive large numbers of people fleeing the war and rental prices skyrocketed.
A rental (in November 2022) costs about 700 euros for a studio in the center of Tbilisi, a price that doubles the average Georgian salary.
20.- Hugs and kisses
In Georgia It is common for two men to walk burning, it is something completely normal that is not taken as an example of homosexuality in this very conservative country.
However, To greet someone you don't know or someone you don't trust, you do it by shaking hands..
Hugs and kisses are reserved for family and close friends.
21.- Homosexuality
Homosexuality is very frowned upon by Georgians and It is considered one of the most homophobic countries on the planet.
22.- Stalin
In 1878, in the Georgian village Gori born Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin.
In Gori there is a museum dedicated to Stalin that collects articles from his life, photos, press articles and even his house where he lived during his early years.
As the museum was built in Soviet times with the aim of showing Stalin's glorious life.
In Georgia, it is normal that you find many places where they have photos of this dictator on a kind of altar because they consider that he was a good person who was transformed because of Russia.
⭐ In this article you can read more about the Visit to Gori and the cave city of Uplistsikhe.
23.- Polyphonic songs
Georgia has a rich musical tradition in polyphonic songs which are probably the oldest in the Christian world.
Polyphonic songs are those that have two or more melodies at the same time.
In Georgia, the songs vary from one region to another and one of the best known is the Chakrulo which belongs to the Kakheti region and it is a dramatic song in preparation for battle.
The Chakrulo belongs to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO since 2001.
In the playlist above, in point 17, in the following video you can hear the polyphonic songs.
24.- Messages to space on Voyager
But Chakrulo was already internationally recognized long before it was registered as a World Heritage Site.
That's why, in 1977, when NASA sent on Voyager 2 and then on Voyager 1 discs with recordings in the form of a "time capsule" and a message in case an intelligent civilization finds them.
The discs included greetings in 54 languages, sounds of animals and nature, as well as a musical selection from East and West with 29 pieces. including the traditional Chakrulo, Georgian polyphonic singing.
25.- Traditional dance
In this Caucasus country they have about 20 types of traditional dances.
The most interesting to see is the Perkhuli and one of the most traditional dances that comes from the Svaneti region.
Is mainly male with fast and slow rounds and It has been registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2013.
I also left a video up in the playlist of traditional dance that includes acrobatics, traditional outfits and artifacts like the classic Georgian sword.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the curiosities of Georgia, a very unique country, with wonderful landscapes and a rich culture.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and if you found the article useful, share it with other fellow travelers. 😘
More about Georgia and the Caucasus
- 11 Best Tours from Tbilisi
- 9 Traditional Georgian Food Dishes
- What to do in Tbilisi: 24 must-visit places.
- 31 Curiosities of Armenia
- What to see in Mtskheta: 8 most interesting places
Hello, my name is Andrea, I am the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I am a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler, I am passionate about good food, and I am always looking for new adventures.