The peoples of Europe are one of the most interesting and at the same time complex topics in history and cultural studies. Understanding the peculiarities of their development, way of life, traditions, and culture will allow us to better understand the modern events that are taking place in this part of the world in various areas of life.
general characteristics
With all the diversity of the population living on the territory of European states, we can say that, in principle, they all followed one common path of development. Most states were formed on the territory of the former Roman Empire, which included vast areas, from the Germanic lands in the west to the Gallic regions in the east, from Britain in the north to northern Africa in the south. That is why we can say that all these countries, despite all their dissimilarity, nevertheless formed in a single cultural space.
Path of development in the early Middle Ages
The peoples of Europe as nationalities began to take shape as a result of the great migration of tribes that swept the continent in the 4th-5th centuries. Then, as a result of massive migration flows, a radical transformation of the social structure that existed for centuries during ancient history took place, and new ethnic communities took shape. In addition, the formation of nationalities was influenced by the movement of Germanic tribes, who founded their so-called barbarian states on the lands of the former Roman Empire. Within their framework, the peoples of Europe emerged approximately in the form in which they exist at the present stage. However, the process of final national formation occurred during the mature Middle Ages.
Further formation of states
In the XII-XIII centuries, the process of formation of national identity began in many countries of the continent. This was the time when the prerequisites arose for residents of states to begin to identify and position themselves as a specific national community. This initially manifested itself in language and culture. The peoples of Europe began to develop national literary languages, which determined their belonging to one or another ethnic group. In England, for example, this process began very early: already in the 12th century, the famous writer D. Chaucer created his famous “Canterbury Tales,” which laid the foundation for the national English language.
XV-XVI centuries in the history of Western Europe
The late Middle Ages and early modern period played a decisive role in the formation of states. This was the period of the formation of monarchies, the formation of the main governing bodies, the formation of economic development paths, and, most importantly, the specific cultural appearance was formed. Due to these circumstances, the traditions of the peoples of Europe were very diverse. They were determined by the entire course of previous development. First of all, the geographical factor had an impact, as well as the peculiarities of the formation of national states, which finally took shape in the era under consideration.
New time
The 17th-18th centuries were a time of violent upheaval for Western European countries, which experienced a rather difficult period in their history due to the transformation of the socio-political, social and cultural environment. We can say that in these centuries the traditions of the peoples of Europe were tested for strength not only by time, but also by revolutions. During these centuries, states fought for hegemony on the mainland with varying degrees of success. The 16th century passed under the domination of the Austrian and Spanish Habsburgs, the next century - under the clear leadership of France, which was facilitated by the fact of the establishment of absolutism here. The 18th century shook its position largely due to the revolution, wars, and also the internal political crisis.
Expansion of spheres of influence
The next two centuries were marked by major changes in the geopolitical situation in Western Europe. This was due to the fact that some leading states took the path of colonialism. The peoples living in Europe mastered new territorial spaces, primarily North, South American and eastern lands. This significantly influenced the cultural appearance of European states. First of all, this concerns Great Britain, which created an entire colonial empire that covered almost half the world. This led to the fact that it was the English language and English diplomacy that began to influence European development.
Another event had a strong impact on the geopolitical map of the mainland - two world wars. The peoples living in Europe were on the verge of destruction as a result of the devastation caused by the fighting. Of course, all this affected the fact that it was Western European states that influenced the beginning of the process of globalization and the creation of global bodies for resolving conflicts.
Current state
The culture of the peoples of Europe today is largely determined by the process of erasing national borders. The computerization of society, the rapid development of the Internet, as well as widespread migration flows have raised the problem of erasing national distinctive features. Therefore, the first decade of our century passed under the sign of resolving the issue of preserving the traditional cultural appearance of ethnic groups and nationalities. Recently, with the expansion of the globalization process, there has been a tendency to preserve the national identity of countries.
Cultural development
The life of the peoples of Europe is determined by their history, mentality and religion. With all the variety of paths of the cultural appearance of countries, one general feature of development in these states can be identified: the dynamism, practicality, and purposefulness of the processes that occurred at different times in science, art, politics, economics and in society in general. It was the last characteristic feature that the famous philosopher O. Spengler pointed out.
The history of the peoples of Europe is characterized by the early penetration of secular elements into the culture. This determined the rapid development of painting, sculpture, architecture and literature. The desire for rationalism was inherent in leading European thinkers and scientists, which determined the rapid growth rate of technical achievements. In general, the development of culture on the mainland was determined by the early penetration of secular knowledge and rationalism.
Spiritual life
The religions of the peoples of Europe can be divided into two large groups: Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodoxy. The first is one of the most common not only on the mainland, but throughout the world. At first it was dominant in Western European countries, but then, after the Reformation that occurred in the 16th century, Protestantism arose. The latter has several branches: Calvinism, Lutheranism, Puritanism, the Anglican Church and others. Subsequently, on its basis, separate communities of a closed type arose. Orthodoxy is widespread in Eastern European countries. It was borrowed from neighboring Byzantium, from where it penetrated into Rus'.
Linguistics
The languages of the peoples of Europe can be divided into three large groups: Romance, Germanic and Slavic. The first includes: France, Spain, Italy and others. Their peculiarities are that they were formed under the influence of eastern peoples. In the Middle Ages, these territories were subject to invasion by Arabs and Turks, which undoubtedly affected the development of their speech characteristics. These languages are distinguished by their flexibility, sonority and melodiousness. It is not for nothing that most operas are written in Italian, and in general, it is considered one of the most musical in the world. These languages are quite easy to understand and learn; however, French grammar and pronunciation can cause some difficulties.
The Germanic group includes the languages of the northern and Scandinavian countries. This speech is distinguished by its firm pronunciation and expressive sound. They are more difficult to perceive and learn. For example, German is considered one of the most difficult European languages. Scandinavian speech is also characterized by the complexity of sentence construction and rather difficult grammar.
The Slavic group is also quite difficult to master. Russian is also considered one of the most difficult languages to learn. At the same time, it is generally accepted that it is very rich in its lexical composition and semantic expressions. It is believed that he has all the necessary means of speech and language to convey the necessary thoughts. It is indicative that it was European languages that were considered world languages at different times and centuries. For example, at first it was Latin and Greek, which was due to the fact that Western European states, as mentioned above, were formed on the territory of the former Roman Empire, where both were in use. Subsequently, Spanish became widespread due to the fact that in the 16th century Spain became the leading colonial power, and its language spread to other continents, primarily to South America. In addition, this was due to the fact that the Austro-Spanish Habsburgs were the leaders on the mainland.
But subsequently France took the leading position, which also took the path of colonialism. Therefore, the French language spread to other continents, most notably North America and North Africa. But already in the 19th century, the British Empire became the dominant colonial state, which determined the main role of the English language throughout the world, which continues to this day. In addition, this language is very convenient and easy to communicate, its grammatical structure is not as complex as, for example, French, and due to the rapid development of the Internet in recent years, English has greatly simplified and become almost colloquial. For example, many English words with a Russian sound have come into use in our country.
Mentality and consciousness
The characteristics of the peoples of Europe should be considered in the context of their comparison with the population of the East. This analysis was carried out back in the second decade by the famous culturologist O. Spengler. He noted that all European peoples are characterized by an active life position, which led to the rapid development of technology, technology and industry in different centuries. It was the latter circumstance that determined, in his opinion, the fact that they very quickly embarked on the path of progressive development, began to actively develop new lands, improve production, and so on. A practical approach became the key to the fact that these peoples achieved great results in the modernization of not only economic, but also socio-political life.
The mentality and consciousness of Europeans, according to the same scientist, from time immemorial have been aimed at not only studying and understanding nature and the reality around them, but also at actively using the results of these achievements in practice. Therefore, the thoughts of Europeans have always been aimed not only at obtaining knowledge in its pure form, but also at using it in transforming nature for their needs and improving living conditions. Of course, the above path of development was also typical for other regions of the world, but it was in Western Europe that it manifested itself with the greatest completeness and expressiveness. Some researchers associate this business consciousness and practically oriented mentality of Europeans with the peculiarities of the geographical conditions of their residence. After all, most European countries are small in size, and therefore, in order to achieve progress, the peoples inhabiting Europe took an intensive path of development, i.e., due to limited natural resources, they began to develop and master various technologies to improve production.
Characteristic features of countries
The customs of the peoples of Europe are very indicative of understanding their mentality and consciousness. They reflect their life values and priorities. Unfortunately, very often the image of a particular nation is formed in the mass consciousness based on purely external attributes. In this way, labels are applied to one country or another. For example, England is very often associated with primness, practicality and exceptional efficiency. The French are very often perceived as cheerful, secular and open people, easy to communicate with. Italians or, for example, Spaniards seem to be a very emotional nation with a stormy temperament.
However, the peoples inhabiting Europe have a very rich and complex history, which has left a deep imprint on their life traditions and way of life. For example, the fact that the British are considered homebodies (hence the saying “my home is my castle”) undoubtedly has deep historical roots. When there were fierce internecine wars in the country, apparently, the idea was formed that the fortress or castle of some feudal lord was a reliable defense. The British, for example, have another interesting custom, which also dates back to the Middle Ages: during parliamentary elections, the winning candidate literally fights his way to his seat, which is a kind of reference to the time when there was a fierce parliamentary struggle. Also, the custom of sitting on a sack of wool is still preserved, since it was the textile industry that gave impetus to the rapid development of capitalism in the 16th century.
The French still have a tradition of striving to express their nationality in a particularly expressive way. This is due to their turbulent history, especially in the 18th century, when the country experienced revolution and the Napoleonic wars. During these events, the people felt their national identity especially acutely. Expressing pride in their fatherland is also a long-standing custom of the French, which is manifested, for example, during the performance of the Marseillaise and in our days.
Population
The question of what peoples inhabit Europe seems very complex, especially in view of the recent rapid migration processes. Therefore, in this section we should limit ourselves to only a short overview of this topic. When describing the language groups above, it was already said which ethnic groups inhabited the mainland. Here it is necessary to identify a few more features. Europe became the scene of a great migration of peoples in the early Middle Ages. Therefore, its ethnic composition is extremely diverse. In addition, at one time, parts of it were dominated by Arabs and Turks, who left their mark. However, it is still necessary to point out the list of peoples of Europe from west to east (only the largest nations are listed in this series): Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Italians, Romanians, Germans, Scandinavian ethnic groups, Slavs (Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles, Croats, Serbs , Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Bulgarians, Russians and others). Currently, the issue of migration processes, which threaten to change the ethnic map of Europe, is especially acute. In addition, the processes of modern globalization and the openness of borders threaten the erosion of ethnic territories. This issue is now one of the main ones in world politics, so in a number of countries there has been a tendency to maintain national and cultural isolation.
As a result of the research, it was found that at this time 87 peoples live on the territory of modern Europe, of which 33 are the main nation for their states, 54 are an ethnic minority in the countries where they live, their number is 106 million people.
In total, about 827 million people live in Europe, this figure is steadily growing every year due to emigrants from the countries of the Middle East and large numbers of people coming here to work and study from all over our planet. The most numerous European nations are considered to be the Russian nation (130 million people), German (82 million), French (65 million), British (58 million), Italian (59 million), Spanish (46 million), Polish (47 million), Ukrainian (45 million). Also living in Europe are such Jewish groups as Karaites, Ashkenazis, Rominiots, Mizrahim, Sephardim, their total number is about 2 million people, Gypsies - 5 million people, Yenish (“white gypsies”) - 2.5 thousand people.
Despite the fact that the countries of Europe have a variegated ethnic composition, it can be said that they, in principle, have followed a single path of historical development and their traditions and customs were formed in a single cultural space. Most countries were created from the ruins of the once great Roman Empire, stretching from the possessions of the Germanic tribes in the west, to the borders in the east where the Gauls lived, from the shores of Britain in the north and the southern borders in North Africa.
Culture and traditions of the peoples of Northern Europe
According to the UN, the countries of Northern Europe include such states as Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The most numerous peoples living in these countries and making up more than 90% of the population are the British, Irish, Danes, Swedes, Norwegians and Finns. The majority of the peoples of Northern Europe are representatives of the northern group of the Caucasoid race. These are people with fair skin and hair, their eyes are most often gray or blue. Religion - Protestantism. Residents of the Northern European region belong to two language groups: Indo-European and Uralic (Finno-Ugric and Germanic group)
(English primary school students)
The British live in a country called Great Britain or, as it is also called Foggy Albion, their culture and traditions have a long history. They are considered to be a little prim, reserved and cold-blooded, but in fact they are very friendly and easy-going, they just value their personal space very much and for them kisses and hugs when meeting, like the French, for example, are unacceptable. They have great respect for sports (football, golf, cricket, tennis), sacredly honor the “Five O Clock” (five to six o’clock in the evening - time to drink traditional English tea, preferably with milk), prefer oatmeal for breakfast and the saying “my home is mine.” fortress” is just about the “desperate” homebodies that they are. The British are very conservative and do not really welcome change, so they have great respect for the reigning Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the royal family.
(Irishman with his toy)
The Irish are known to the general public for their red hair and beard, emerald green as their national color, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, the belief in the mythical wish-granting leprechaun, the fiery temper and the mesmerizing beauty of Irish folk dances performed to the jig, reel and hornpipe.
(Prince Federick and Princess Mary, Denmark)
The Danes are distinguished by their special hospitality and loyalty to ancient customs and traditions. The main feature of their mentality is the ability to distance themselves from external problems and worries and completely immerse themselves in the comfort and peace of home. They are distinguished from other northern peoples, who have a calm and melancholy disposition, by their great temperament. They value freedom and individual rights like no other. One of the most popular holidays is St. Hans' Day (we have Ivan Kupala), and the popular Viking Festival is held annually on the island of Zealand.
(Birthday buffet)
By nature, Swedes are generally reserved, silent people, very law-abiding, modest, thrifty and reserved people. They also love nature very much and are distinguished by their hospitality and tolerance. Most of their customs are associated with the change of seasons: in winter they meet Saint Lucy, in summer they celebrate Midsommar (the pagan solstice holiday) in the open air.
(Representative of the indigenous Sami in Norway)
The ancestors of the Norwegians were brave and proud Vikings, whose hard life was completely devoted to the struggle for survival in the harsh conditions of the northern climate and surrounded by other wild tribes. That is why the Norwegian culture is imbued with the spirit of a healthy lifestyle; they welcome sports in nature, value hard work, honesty, simplicity in everyday life and decency in human relations. Their favorite holidays are Christmas, St. Canute's Day, and Summer Solstice.
(Finns and their pride - the reindeer)
Finns have very conservative views and highly respect their traditions and customs; they are considered very reserved, completely devoid of emotions and very slow, and for them silence and thoroughness are a sign of aristocracy and good taste. They are very polite, correct and value punctuality, love nature and dogs, fishing, skiing and steaming in Finnish saunas, where they restore physical and moral strength.
Culture and traditions of the peoples of Western Europe
In the countries of Western Europe, the most numerous nationalities living here are Germans, French, Italians and Spaniards.
(In a French cafe)
The French are distinguished by restraint and polite treatment, they are very well-mannered and the rules of etiquette are not an empty phrase for them. Being late is a norm of life for them; the French are great gourmets and connoisseurs of good wines, which even children drink there.
(Germans at the festival)
The Germans are particularly punctual, neat and pedantic; they rarely express emotions and feelings violently in public, but deep down they are very sentimental and romantic. Most Germans are devout Catholics and celebrate the holiday of First Communion, which is of great importance to them. Germany is famous for its beer festivals, such as the Munich Oktoberfest, where tourists drink millions of gallons of the famous beer and eat thousands of fried sausages every year.
Italians and restraint are two incompatible concepts, they are emotional, cheerful and open, they adore stormy love passions, ardent courtship, serenades under the windows and magnificent wedding celebrations (matrimogno in Italian). Italians profess Catholicism, almost every town and village has its own patron saint, and houses are required to have a crucifix.
(Spain's lively street buffet)
Native Spaniards constantly talk loudly and quickly, gesticulate and show violent emotions. They have a hot temperament, there are “many” of them everywhere, they are noisy, friendly and open to communication. Their culture is permeated with feelings and emotions, dances and music are passionate and sensual. The Spaniards love to take a walk, relax during the summer two-hour siesta, cheer for the bullfighters at the bullfight, and indulge in tomatoes at the annual Battle of the Tomatoes at the Tomatina festival. The Spaniards are very religious and their religious holidays are celebrated with great pomp and pomp.
Culture and traditions of the peoples of Eastern Europe
The ancestors of the Eastern Slavs live in Eastern Europe; the most numerous ethnic groups are Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians.
The Russian people are distinguished by their breadth and depth of soul, generosity, hospitality and respect for their native culture, which has centuries-old roots. Its holidays, customs and traditions are closely connected with both Orthodoxy and paganism. Its main holidays are Christmas, Epiphany, Maslenitsa, Easter, Trinity, Ivan Kupala, Intercession, etc.
(Ukrainian boy with girl)
Ukrainians value family values, honor and respect the customs and traditions of their ancestors, which are very colorful and vibrant, believe in the meaning and power of amulets (specially made objects that protect against evil spirits) and use them in various areas of their lives. They are a hardworking people with a distinctive culture; their customs are a mixture of Orthodoxy and paganism, which makes them very interesting and colorful.
Belarusians are a hospitable and open nation, loving their unique nature and respecting their traditions; a polite attitude towards people and respect for elders are important to them. In the traditions and customs of the Belarusians, like all descendants of the Eastern Slavs, there is a mixture of Orthodoxy and Christianity, the most famous of them are Kalyady, Dedy, Dozhinki, Gukanne Viasny.
Culture and traditions of the peoples of Central Europe
The peoples living in Central Europe include Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, Slovaks, Moldovans, Romanians, Serbs, Croats, etc.
(Poles on a national holiday)
Poles are very religious and conservative, but at the same time they are open to communication and hospitable. They are distinguished by a cheerful disposition, friendliness and have their own point of view on any issue. All age categories of Poles visit the church every day and honor the Virgin Mary above all else. Religious holidays are celebrated with special scope and solemnity.
(Festival of the Five Petal Rose in the Czech Republic)
Czechs are hospitable and friendly, they are always friendly, smiling and polite, they honor their traditions and customs, preserve and love folklore, and love national dances and music. The national Czech drink is beer; many traditions and rituals are dedicated to it.
(Hungarian dances)
The character of Hungarians is distinguished by a significant amount of practicality and love of life, combined with deep spirituality and romantic impulses. They are very fond of dancing and music, organize lush folk festivals and fairs with rich souvenirs, and carefully preserve their traditions, customs and holidays (Christmas, Easter, St. Stephen's Day and Hungarian Revolution Day).
1. In Africa, members of the Masai tribe jump when they meet - the higher the jump, the more respect is shown.
2. In Norway, it is considered tactless to give up your seat on public transport to older people. There it is interpreted as a demonstration of physical advantage.
3. In China, loud “slurping” is encouraged. If guests eat silently, they offend the hosts and the cook. It is believed that quiet eating is eating without pleasure.
4. Also among the Chinese there is no custom of bringing flowers to the mistress of the house. Here this raises suspicions that the guest considers the house so unattractive that he brought flowers with him in order to somehow decorate it.
5. Norwegians don't give compliments in public. Even at school they don’t praise students in front of other children and don’t share grades with the whole class.
6. In Greece, when you come to visit, you cannot admire a painting or a vase. Otherwise, the owner will be forced to give it to you.
7. In Mongolia, guests are fed until they burp loudly. Therefore, it is not customary to restrain it - this is a sign that the guest is hungry.
8. Unlike our tradition, in Japan and Norway they give only an even number of flowers. It is believed that a flower without a mate feels lonely. An odd number of flowers is only suitable for mourning ceremonies.
9. In Japan, it is not customary to blow your nose in public.
10. Indians do not use the word “thank you” within the family. People here believe that loved ones do not need gratitude.
11. In China, the number 4 is a symbol of death. Even in the numbering of floors the 4th is missing.
12. In Arab countries, it is considered impolite to hand over the mouthpiece of a hookah. This is considered coercion.
13. In Japan, etiquette dictates leaving work only after your boss has done so.
14. The laws of Georgian hospitality require that the guest’s glass is always filled. Therefore, by emptying the glass, the guest forces the host to fill it again and again.
15. In one Indian state, a young wife has the right to leave her husband after 3 days if she doesn’t like something. After this, the girl can freely choose her partners.
16. In Kenya, after the wedding, the husband is obliged to wear women's clothes and do women's work for a month. This is done so that the husband better understands what it means to be a woman.
17. In Denmark, a flag hung in the window indicates that there is a birthday person in the house.
18. In Northern Kamchatka, in the past, it was customary for a guest to enter into an intimate relationship with the hostess of the house. It was believed that by doing this he paid tribute to the owner. If a child appeared after this night, the entire village celebrated his birth.
19. At every meeting in Latin America, it is customary to hug and exchange kisses.
20. There is no tradition of shaking hands in Japan. There it is customary to greet each other with a polite bow.
Christmas and New Year are ideal times to visit Europe. German Christmas markets, a speech from the Pope, grand New Year's parties, a visit to Santa's residence in Lapland - each of the European countries can make your Christmas special.
In European countries, Christmas Eve is given greater importance, which must be spent with family. Therefore, even on Christmas, many restaurants, bars, cafes and shops are open here. Often New Year's festivities begin with just the midnight bells, and then everyone has fun until dawn.
This itinerary is based solely on what you can see in different countries. You'll have to travel by plane to these wonderful destinations, but budget airlines usually offer fantastic discounts during the winter months. So, such a trip will not cost exorbitant amounts of money.
In late November and early December, head to Salzburg to attend the Advent singing festival. Christmas markets in Germany usually close on Christmas Eve. So hurry up to get your portion of spicy mulled wine. Paris and London are also great options for the Christmas holidays. Many illuminated signs are installed in these European capitals every year - come and see for yourself!
Visit Santa in Lapland, then head to Finland to admire the Northern Lights. On New Year's Eve, head to Scotland to take part in the traditional Hogmanay celebrations. At the beginning of January, visit Spain for the Day of the Three Kings or, as it is otherwise known, the Day of the Three Wise Men. It is on January 5 that a ship with three travelers arrives in the cities of Spain, and the streets are filled with artists, buffoons and circus performers.
And although December is very traditionally considered the low season, the Christmas holidays are an exception. Therefore, we recommend booking hotel rooms in advance.
Italy
What is it like to be in Italy for Christmas? To imagine, you should learn more about the Christmas traditions of this country.
You may be surprised that Italian children do not write letters to Santa Claus to ask for gifts. These touching messages contain declarations of love for parents. Christmas dinner here is called the "Feast of the Seven Fishes" because there are seven different seafood dishes on each table. It is not customary to serve meat at Christmas. You also need to wear red lingerie on New Year's Eve. This should bring good luck in the new year.
Germany
Many German Christmas traditions are now common throughout the world. It was here that they began to decorate Christmas trees and hang wreaths of pine branches on the doors. All over Germany there are festive markets until Christmas Eve. Here you can buy souvenirs, aromatic mulled wine, traditional baked goods: vanilla crescents with hazelnuts, cinnamon stars, macaroons and gingerbread. For dinner, it is customary to bake a goose, and serve dumplings and cabbage as a side dish.
In Austria, in the south of Bavaria, as well as in Munich, an unusual Krampus procession takes place on two Sundays in December. Krampus is the evil counterpart of Saint Nicholas. Instead of a bag of gifts, Krampus holds chains, a bundle of birch twigs and a bag in which he will carry naughty children to hell. In recent years, this interesting tradition has become increasingly popular. Germans and tourists dress up as Krampus, who looks like a goat, and go for a walk through the streets of the city.
If you are traveling with children, we recommend that you visit Christmas markets and watch performances by artists, jugglers and gymnasts. Be sure to try the German stollen. This is a traditional candied fruit cake that will captivate you with its magical taste!
Switzerland
What better place for Christmas than the Swiss Alps? Swiss Christmas markets are not as steeped in the spirit of the past as in Germany, but are nevertheless very popular.
Basel has the largest open-air Christmas market in all of Switzerland. Here you will find charming handicrafts and lots of sweets. There are four Christmas markets in Zurich each year. The largest indoor market in all of Switzerland begins its work on December 8th. And on December 17, the annual festival of floating lights will take place here.
In Bern, the largest Christmas market is located among houses built in the 15th-17th centuries. You can make pleasant shopping and admire the medieval architecture. The Bernese Christmas Market on Waisenhausplatz is open until December 29, which means it's open longer than most and can keep you warm with mulled wine almost until the New Year.
Portugal
In this country, the so-called Janeiras are a mandatory attribute of Christmas. These are small groups of people who go from house to house, singing traditional songs and sometimes accompanying themselves with musical instruments. It is more common for us to call this phenomenon “carols.” Usually in Portugal, groups of friends or neighbors carol.
The Portuguese attach great importance to nativity scenes. In the village of Penela, up to five different nativity scenes are installed annually, some even using 3D technology. There is also a Christmas train and an amazingly detailed model railway with 10 trains. Thematic master classes on making New Year's toys are held daily. The Christmas market will delight you with souvenirs and treats, and magicians, jugglers and clowns will not let you get bored.
Austria
One of the world's favorite Christmas songs originated in Austria. "Silent Night" or Stille Nacht is performed all over the world, although slightly differently than Franz Gruber's original version.
If you are lucky enough to be in Salzburg in early December, be sure to visit the Advent singing festival. In 2017, the Salzberg Advent Singing Festival will be held for the 70th anniversary. For the first time, performers from all over the world came here in 1946. Next year the festival will return to its roots, with the theme once again being the revival of the post-war world. Attend this touching event and you will never forget this encounter with art.
France
Did you know that since 1962, every child in France who sent a letter to Santa, or Noel as he is known here, received a response? As throughout Europe, December 25 is a non-working day, which all French people strive to spend with their families. And children find gifts under a festively decorated tree. House doors are traditionally decorated with pine wreaths. And in Alsace it is customary to richly decorate the house with garlands and luminous figures.
Young French people often spend New Year's Eve in clubs in Paris or other large cities. But France offers unique alternative options for celebrating the New Year. You can enjoy a romantic cruise on the River Seine, admire a torchlight procession or go on a tour of the city of Avignon, which will enchant you with its festive illuminations.
UK and Scotland
The main attribute of New Year's Eve in London is the fantastically beautiful fireworks display. Most clubs in London organize special parties on New Year's Eve. And restaurants organize a gala dinner with a show program on New Year's Eve. You can also take a cruise on the River Thames or attend a New Year's themed ball at the famous Torture Garden.
Nowhere does New Year's Eve have as much fun as the traditional Hogmanay celebration in Scotland. The Scots adopted this custom from the Varangians, who had fun on the shortest day of the year. Immediately after midnight, it is customary to go to friends and family to congratulate everyone, moving from house to house.
It is considered a good omen if an attractive brunette is the first to cross the threshold of the house in the new year, in his hands he should have coal, whiskey, shortbread cookies and a chocolate cupcake. In return, such a visitor receives a full glass of excellent whiskey, because the guest portends good luck, prosperity and prosperity. It is believed that this belief originated when blond Vikings raided the homes of the Scots. So it turns out that a brunette on the threshold of a house is a harbinger of happiness.
Climate in Italy
Italy is called sunny, but the weather here is very capricious. The country is located on the Apennine Peninsula. Despite its small area, the terrain varies significantly between regions. It is precisely because of this, and also because of the significant extent from north to south, that the climate in Italy has a number of features that cannot be ignored when planning a trip.Transport in Italy
No trip is complete without transport. Trains and planes, buses and sea transport are all an integral part of travel. To visit the best corners of sunny Italy, to get better acquainted with the culture of the country, it is worth not only planning a route, but also becoming familiar with all the intricacies of local public transport and road traffic.What to bring from Italy
When we hear “shopping in Italy,” we most often think of fashion boutiques, then we think of olive oil, pasta, cheese; some may have associations with Venetian glass or carnival masks. So what is next? Next, we bring to your attention a list of popular, original and simply interesting souvenirs and other goods that may interest you, and some will even turn out to be very useful.Many domestic travelers and tourists, going on vacation to European countries, do not even imagine how different the customs and traditions of Europeans are from those accepted in Russia. Each country, over the course of a long time, formed its own rules of behavior, etiquette, and ways of expressing feelings, affections or emotions. The same gesture or expression in different countries can be interpreted in the opposite way, which sometimes makes both the tourist and the resident of the country in which the traveler arrived blush. To prevent this from happening, any person traveling abroad must certainly become familiar with the basic traditions and customs accepted in a particular country. This article is devoted to the rules and norms of behavior in various spheres of human activity, which can be found in the countries of the Old World.
European etiquette and its features
The word “etiquette” came into widespread use back in the 17th century, at a time when King Louis 14 ruled in France. Once, at a large social reception, all the guests received special cards, which indicated exactly how they should behave at this specific reception. From that time on, the concept of “etiquette” began to quickly spread beyond the French state, first in Europe, and then in all countries of the world. In Western Europe, etiquette was closely related to the customs and traditions inherent in each country; generally accepted behavior was influenced by religious rituals, superstitions, and everyday habits of people. According to many modern historians, the etiquette that exists at the moment has absorbed all the best, while being based precisely on those traditions that were passed on from generation to generation in European states. Some norms have reached us in their original form, others, under the influence of time, have changed significantly. In any case, it must be remembered that almost all etiquette requirements are quite conditional, and depend on many factors, such as place, time, and circumstances under which they may be applicable.
Why do you think it is customary for a woman to hold a man’s right arm while walking?
From the time when men began to carry piercing weapons: a sword, saber or dagger, it was customary to carry them on the left. Therefore, the companion could only walk next to her on the right side. Currently, there are no such obstacles (unless the man in the family is a military man), but the tradition of walking to the right of the man still persists.
The globalization of the modern world has made it possible to combine and mix many traditions and customs of Europeans. This is especially noticeable when holding such a celebration as a wedding. Many European traditions associated with weddings are quite well known in Russia, and some will surprise you with their uniqueness.
The Hungarian bride always places her shoes in the middle of the room, into which everyone who wants to dance with her must put a coin. The same custom exists in Portugal.
In Romania, it is customary to sprinkle rose petals, millet and nuts before entering the house of the newlyweds.
Wedding traditions in Slovakia
For a long and prosperous life in Slovakia, the bride gives her future husband a ring and an elegant silk shirt embroidered with gold. In return, the groom gives his future wife a chastity belt, a fur hat, a rosary and a silver ring.
Norwegian newlyweds always plant two spruce trees, while Swiss newlyweds plant one pine tree.
Before the wedding ceremony, in Germany, close relatives and friends of the newlyweds break a lot of dishes. Newlyweds from France cement their union by drinking wine from the same cup.
Wedding traditions in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, it is customary to have a banquet before, rather than after, the wedding.
In England, brides put a pin or a small horseshoe into their wedding dress for good luck.
Finnish brides get married with a crown on their head.
In Sweden, the bride receives two coins from her parents: gold from her mother, silver from her father. The bride puts these coins in her wedding shoes.
Advice
Only at first glance it seems that European wedding traditions are observed less and less over time. In fact, even in large cities, brides and grooms try to hold a wedding event taking into account generally accepted norms and traditions.
European weddings
Culinary traditions of the Old World
European traditions regarding the preparation and consumption of food are considered to be among the oldest in the world. The cuisine of the peoples of Europe is very diverse, but at the same time quite complex and refined. Each country of the Old World can boast of its own national characteristics in food preparation, its own traditions in its consumption, as well as a variety of products and spices.
Southern European cuisine is characterized by the addition of wine to many dishes. Eastern European cuisine is represented by nomadic dishes - simple and satisfying. Central European cuisine is, as a rule, dishes from Hungary and Poland, and in Western Europe they love complex French cuisine, and good German cuisine - with potatoes, meat, and beer.
Conclusion:
The customs and traditions of the peoples of Europe differ in many ways from those to which we are accustomed. The peculiarities of European etiquette concern all areas of life - from weddings to culinary preferences. Today, adherence to traditions has become not only the personification of the rich culture and history of the country, but also an important principle for preserving its statehood and the formation of mass culture. Since the middle of the last century, the mass culture of the Old World began to gain momentum, influencing all areas of activity - from production to the life of an ordinary European. Most of all, young people became imbued with mass culture, and began to express this in clothing, music, lifestyle, and ways of spending leisure time. The speed of spread of culture to the masses is determined by the high speed of development of information technology, the emergence of a large number of media, as well as an increase in the level of education.
Festive European traditions
