There were two major powers that took an active part in the historical process. The territory of the Principality of Luxembourg is home to seventy percent of the indigenous population and thirty percent of foreigners. This state of affairs is not typical for other European countries. Luxembourg's culture has been shaped by the powerful powers surrounding it. This became its unique feature.
Amazing culture of Luxembourg
Until now, the flow into the country has not stopped not only of those who were seduced by Luxembourg tourism, but also those who want to earn money, since it is here that the salary level is much higher than that established in other states. The principality has the lowest unemployment rate and incomes are steadily growing, despite its small size. Unique Luxembourg culture the fact that it developed under the influence of two states, which for a long time passed the country from hand to hand. This also influenced the language of the principality. School classes and politics are conducted in French. The street language is Luxembourgish. Television programs are broadcast in German. English is the predominant language in tourist centers.
Religion of Luxembourg
Main religion of Luxembourg- Catholicism. Almost seventy percent of the country's population is Catholic. Other religions are also practiced in Luxembourg. Five thousand people are Orthodox. Three percent of the total population profess Protestantism. The respective religions are supported among the Muslim and Jewish communities.
Economy of Luxembourg
The country is industrialized and stable, therefore economy of Luxembourg not subject to critical changes. With the introduction of a new currency in the EU - the euro, Luxembourg began to use this particular monetary unit.
Science Luxembourg
For a long time, the country did not have its own higher education institutions. Young people received academic education in the countries of their closest neighbors. Science Luxembourg is in a state of development. In 2002, a university appeared in the country, within the walls of which they study language disciplines, law, economics and chemistry. The country spends eleven percent of the country's total income on education.
Art of Luxembourg
The territory of the small state contains many ancient castles and bridges. Art of Luxembourg has its own peculiarity. The old town of the capital is included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list. The country's most famous artists are Marcel Lansam and Jean Jacobi. Their paintings are exhibited in the country's museum. The musical art of Luxembourg is very developed. The country has its own composers, groups and performers. Luxembourg's literature originates from the Marienthal Codex, which is a medieval monument. Despite the abundance of languages, it was Luxembourgish that became the language of literature and influenced its development. Cinema in the country is very poorly developed.
Cuisine of Luxembourg
Unusual Luxembourg cuisine influence on it from Belgium and Germany. Culture I also took a lot of food from these countries. The abundance of fish, game and wild berries connects the culinary art of the principality with the traditions of Wallonia. Beer is considered a traditional drink and is found in both Belgium and Germany.
Customs and traditions of Luxembourg
Each community has its own orchestra. Customs and traditions of Luxembourg akin to European ones, and reminiscent of the worldview of Germany and France. There is practically no night industry in the country; it is aimed at visitors and tourists.
Sports Luxembourg
Mostly sport in Luxembourg represented by game types . Volleyball, football, hockey, tennis, rugby and chess are developing in the principality and reaching a certain level. Competitions in athletics, cycling and figure skating are also held.
Luxembourg is a small European county, the characteristic features of which are a high standard of living and the civilization of the local population. Visitors often pay attention to the reserve and aloofness of Luxembourgers, who are accustomed to a quiet life in a narrow circle of relatives and a few friends. But at the same time, the residents of Luxembourg remain friendly and polite towards both visitors and people they simply don’t know.
On the streets of the city you are unlikely to witness a verbal altercation, since the character of Luxembourgers is equanimity. Paradoxically, despite the external coldness, city residents easily respond to other people's problems and misfortunes.
Traditions and customs of Luxembourg
Tourists planning to visit Luxembourg should remember the constant rule of the duchy - politeness and respect for the indigenous population. Fans of noisy and cheeky behavior who are late for planned events will be condemned and criticized.
One of the features of Luxembourg is also the preservation and enhancement of national traditions. For this purpose, a cultural union has been created, which is in charge of the centuries-old history of the state and everything connected with it. The cultural life of the city is interesting. Luxembourgers have an extraordinary love for music, which is why there are many different orchestras in the city. The government has also established awards in the field of art and literature, which annually helps to find talented people and reveal their capabilities.
Surprisingly, the indigenous population of Luxembourg City takes virtually no part in the city's nightlife. Entertainment establishments and events are designed for visitors, and prices for entertainment are much higher than in any other part of the state.
Residents of the duchy are distinguished by pedantry, excellent ability to work, punctuality, and accuracy in everything. Luxembourgers adopted these character traits from their German and French neighbors. Residents of Luxembourg are wary and distrustful of innovations in various sectors of life, which is probably why many of the benefits of civilization have found a place in the well-functioning lives of city residents for a long time.
One might say that crimes are extremely rare here. Residents of the city literally know each other by sight, and it is impossible to commit, let alone hide, an offense. But despite this, the information life of the city is very developed, radio and television operate, and various newspapers are published.
Religion and everything about it
As for religion, most of the population of Luxembourg professes Catholic Christianity. Along with this, representatives of Protestantism and Judaism can also be found in the country.
In addition, Orthodox Christians also live in Luxembourg. These are mainly immigrants from Russia and Greece. Orthodoxy is a recognized religion in the country, so you can visit Orthodox churches.
The piety of Luxembourgers is so great that you can often see people praying and making the sign of the cross before eating.
Traditions and holidays of Luxembourg
There are many in Luxembourg, which all citizens celebrate with pleasure, but Emechene is considered the most colorful and noisy. It is held on the Monday after Easter and is always accompanied by markets and sales, where you can buy souvenirs made by artisans in the best traditions of the county.
February in Luxembourg is the yearly month for celebrating the Burgsonndeg festival. This amazing carnival reminds the townspeople of the approaching Lent.
The Fuesent holiday, which continues the Carnival season and is celebrated for three days: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, is considered popular in these places. At this time, the city is everywhere decorated with many masquerade balloons.
Local children celebrate the Kannerfuesbals children's carnival. Holiday attributes can be found in any of the city’s stores. It is a Luxembourg tradition to treat everyone to special cookies on each Carnival day.
Spring has prepared special holidays: the Feast of the First Flowers, St. Willibrord's Day and the Octave Catholic Festival.
The Birthday of the Grand Duke is celebrated very solemnly and pompously. Celebrations and festivities are accompanied by a torchlight procession and fireworks in honor of the monarch.
It is also worth noting the charity festival of Schobermess, celebrated by Luxembourgers in August-September every year. The capital of the duchy celebrates the Beer Festival in September.
Between March and May, Luxembourg hosts dance and pantomime festivals. Rock music lovers can enjoy their favorite compositions throughout the summer.
The Schueberführer festival attracts many guests with its frivolity and spontaneity. Wine festivals take place in the Mosel Valley and last until late autumn.
The procession of peasants and sheep, accompanied by national music, is considered curious and unique.
About half a million people live in Luxembourg, a third of whom are migrants from neighboring countries who came to earn money. The rest are the indigenous population, calling themselves Lötzeburger.
In Luxembourg, as in many European countries, the demographic problem is acute. For many years, the death rate has exceeded the birth rate. The visitors who come to the country every year save the situation.
As you may have noticed, the national traditions and rituals of Luxembourg are quite diverse and each vacationer will be able to find something to their liking. When planning a trip, it is important to determine the purpose of the trip in advance. If you are coming to enjoy the atmosphere of the city and admire it, then it is better to come in the off-season, when the country is not crowded. If you want to take part in festivals and carnivals, to plunge into a free and slightly wild life, then it is better to come to Luxembourg from May to October. At this time, many national holidays are celebrated, which you can attend.
The birth of modern Luxembourg is associated with the name of Count Siegfried of Ardennes, who in 963 AD. e. built a castle and laid the foundation for a dynasty, whose representatives occupied the thrones of all the largest countries in Europe. Since the end of the Middle Ages, the rulers of Burgundy, Spain, France, Austria and Prussia fought for the possession of the city of Siegfried. More than 20 times over 400 years, the city was captured, destroyed and rebuilt, and as a result, the most powerful fortress in Europe after Gibraltar was built here.
After long wars, Belgium and Luxembourg came under the rule of the Austrian Habsburgs in 1713 and a relatively peaceful period began.
It was interrupted by the French Revolution. Republican troops entered Luxembourg in 1795, and the area remained under French rule during the Napoleonic Wars. At the Congress of Vienna 1814–1815, European powers first carved out Luxembourg as a Grand Duchy and gave it to King William I of the Netherlands in exchange for the former possessions, which were annexed to the Duchy of Hesse. Luxembourg, however, was simultaneously included in the confederation of independent states - the German Confederation, and Prussian troops were allowed to maintain their garrison in the capital's fortress.
The next change occurred in 1830, when Belgium, which also belonged to William I, rebelled. With the exception of the capital, which was held by a Prussian garrison, all of Luxembourg joined the rebels. Trying to overcome the division in the region, the great powers in 1831 proposed dividing Luxembourg: its western part with a French-speaking population became a province of independent Belgium. This decision was finally approved by the Treaty of London in 1839, and William remained the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which had greatly decreased in size. The Great Powers made it clear that they regarded the duchy as a state independent of the Netherlands, bound only by personal union with the ruler of that country. In 1842, Luxembourg joined the Customs Union of German States, founded in 1834. With the collapse of the German Confederation in 1866, the prolonged presence of the Prussian garrison in the city of Luxembourg began to cause discontent in France. King William III of the Netherlands offered to sell his rights to the Grand Duchy to Napoleon III, but at this time an acute conflict broke out between France and Prussia. The Second London Conference met in May 1867, and the Treaty of London, signed in September of the same year, resolved the simmering differences. The Prussian garrison was withdrawn from the city of Luxembourg, the fortress was liquidated. The independence and neutrality of Luxembourg were proclaimed. The throne in the Grand Duchy remained the privilege of the Nassau dynasty.
The personal union with the Netherlands was broken in 1890, when William III died and his daughter Wilhelmina inherited the Dutch throne. The Grand Duchy passed to another branch of the House of Nassau, and Grand Duke Adolf began to rule. After Adolf's death in 1905, the throne was taken by his son Wilhelm, who ruled until 1912. Then the reign of his daughter Grand Duchess Maria Adelaide began.
On August 2, 1914, Luxembourg was captured by Germany. At the same time, German troops entered Belgium. The German Foreign Minister promised Luxembourg to pay reparations for the violation of its neutrality, and the occupation of the country continued until the end of the First World War. With the restoration of independence in 1918, a number of changes occurred in Luxembourg. On January 9, 1919, Maria Adelaide abdicated the throne in favor of her sister Charlotte. The latter received an overwhelming majority in a referendum held in 1919 to decide whether Luxembourg wished to remain a Grand Duchy under the ruling house of Nassau. At the same time, constitutional reforms began in the spirit of democratization.
At the plebiscite of 1919, the population of Luxembourg expressed a desire to preserve the country's independence, but at the same time voted for an economic union with France.
However, France, in order to improve relations with Belgium, rejected this proposal and thereby prompted Luxembourg to enter into an agreement with Belgium. As a result, in 1921 a railway, customs and monetary union with Belgium was established that lasted for half a century.
Luxembourg's neutrality was violated for the second time by Germany when Wehrmacht troops entered the country on May 10, 1940. The Grand Duchess and members of her government fled to France, and after the latter's capitulation they organized the government of Luxembourg in exile, located in London and Montreal.
The German occupation was followed by the annexation of Luxembourg to Hitler's Reich in August 1942. In response, the country's population declared a general strike, to which the Germans responded with massive repressions. About 30 thousand residents, or more than 10% of the total population, including most young men, were arrested and expelled from the country.
In September 1944, Allied troops liberated Luxembourg, and on September 23, the government in exile returned to its homeland. The northern regions of Luxembourg were recaptured by German troops during the Ardennes offensive and were finally liberated only in January 1945.
Luxembourg took part in many post-war international agreements. He participated in the establishment of the UN, Benelux (which also included Belgium and the Netherlands), NATO and the EU. Luxembourg's role in the Council of Europe is also significant.
Luxembourg signed the Schengen Agreement in June 1990, abolishing border controls in the Benelux countries, France and Germany.
In February 1992, the country signed the Maastricht Treaty. Two Luxembourg representatives, Gaston Thorne (1981–1984) and Jacques Santerre (since 1995), served as presidents of EU commissions.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the world by area. Located in Europe, it has Belgium, Germany and France as neighbors, and Luxembourg's culture has been shaped by the particular influence of these states.
From the early Middle Ages
The main cultural and artistic center of the country since the 7th century has been the monastery in Echternach. Its craftsmen made skillful miniatures, in which one could guess first Irish, and by the end of the 10th century, German traditions. Carvers decorated the Gospel with frames made of bone plates. Gold, ivory and silver were used to decorate sacred books.
The architects of medieval Luxembourg built castles and fortresses, most of which, unfortunately, have not survived to this day. Temples built in the XIV-XVI centuries were richly decorated with sculptural works.
In honor of the Duke
One of the main architectural attractions of the capital of the duchy is the Adolf Bridge. It connected Lower and Upper Luxembourg during the reign of Duke Adolphus at the beginning of the 20th century. The single-arch bridge is unique in that at the time of construction it was the largest stone structure of its kind in the world. Its length was 153 meters, with the length of the arch exceeding 80 meters.
The calling card of the city and a work of medieval culture in Luxembourg is its Cathedral, built in honor of Our Lady. The temple serves as an example of late Gothic architecture.
The main treasure of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Luxembourg for many decades has been the miraculous image of the Comforter of the Sorrowful, found at the end of the 18th century. The temple houses the tomb of the Grand Dukes and the tomb of King John the Blind of Bohemia.
Musical Luxembourg
Being close to Germany, the duchy could not help but fall under its musical influence. Certain “German” notes are clearly visible in the culture of Luxembourg, and the annual music festivals in Echternach are very reminiscent of the same holidays in Germany. Pop performers do not lag behind their colleagues in other countries of the Old World and have even become winners of such a prestigious competition as Eurovision more than once.
Formally, there are three main languages in Luxembourg, each of which is spoken by the majority of the country's population. At the same time, the official languages listed in the constitution and taught in schools are German and French. In oral speech and everyday communication, residents speak Luxembourgish (or Letzemburgesh). It is based on Low German dialects mixed with French words and expressions.
Writing is based on the Latin alphabet. Parliamentary affairs, trade relations, office and government decrees are conducted in French, and it is also studied in high school. German is the language of the media; primary schoolchildren also study it.
We must not forget, however, about international English. Part of the population also speaks it; English is especially common in the tourism sector.
Religion
Predominant religion Luxembourg is Catholic Christianity (97% of the population), it is not without reason that this country is considered the stronghold of the Catholic faith in Europe. In addition, representatives of Protestantism and Judaism live in the country.
There are also about 5 thousand Orthodox citizens in the country. Mostly they come from Greece, but there are also Russians. Orthodoxy is included in the list of official confessions of Luxembourg. It is possible to visit Greek, Russian, Serbian and Romanian parishes.
Behavior rules
The most important rule that a visitor must adhere to is Luxembourg tourist, is a polite and respectful attitude towards local residents. There is no doubt about the same manifestations on their part.
Cheeky and noisy behavior in public places will not cause approval, as will being late for meetings; Luxembourgers value punctuality.
It must be remembered that the power of religious influence on the daily life of a country is quite great. Thus, during a meal, it is often necessary to pray or cross the bread before starting to eat it.
National holidays in Luxembourg:
- January 1 - New Year;
- March-April - Easter and Easter Monday;
- May 1 - Labor Day;
- May - Ascension of the Lord;
- May-June - Spiritual Day;
- June 23 - National holiday, Birthday of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg;
- August 15 - Assumption;
- November 1-2 - All Saints' Day;
- November 2 - Memorial Day;
- December 25 - Christmas;
- December 26 is St. Stephen's Day.
