Looking at Christmas Traditions From All Over the World Our final 2015 newsletter will focus on Christmas: one of the most important holidays celebrated throughout the world. Although every culture has its own traditions, there are many surprising similarities in Christmas traditions from all over the world. First, you will always find candles and lights, even in countries that celebrate Christmas during summer. There is also the decorated tree and the old white-bearded man that plays one of the leading roles. His name diverges from Santa Claus to Baba Chaghaloo, to Sheng dan lao ren to Papa Noel. Wherever you might be, Christmas is a time to highlight the value of being with family and friends. This newsletter, however, aims to feature some countries that do something completely different. We will present you with some Christmas traditions from all over the world you might have never heard of before. We also invite you to learn about traditions in the countries of Armenia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and Finland. Armenia – Շնորհավոր Սուրբ Ծնունդ (Merry Christmas) The Armenian people celebrate their Christmas on January the 6th, a date otherwise known as Epiphany or Three Kings’ day in some countries. In Armenia, however, they celebrate the birth of Christ and his baptism on this day, the 6th of January. While many countries enjoy a lot of culinary delicacies during the time before Christmas, Armenians do the contrary. Traditionally, they fast during the week leading up to Christmas, avoiding eggs, dairy products, and meat. The name of the traditional Christmas Eve dinner to which families gather together is khetum and consists of rice, fish and...
Denmark and the Danish Language Denmark, where the Danish language is spoken, is a country with four hundred islands surrounded by two seas. It’s a beautiful country with the charming capital of Copenhagen, as well as Greenland, the biggest island in the world, which also belongs to the great Kingdom of Denmark. Lego, The Little Mermaid and beautiful castles are all part of the Danish identity. The country is full of intelligent, agreeable and welcoming people. But the Danish language in Denmark has experienced some challenges as of lately. It has strongly been influenced by English. Therefore, changes are happening in the Danish language and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, the Danish phonology, which is how sounds are organized and used in languages, has been mutating strongly since 1950. Danish people like to shorten their words and try to use the least energy possible to pronounce them when speaking. Danes are said to talk like they have something in their mouth. Secondly, all Danish people learn the language growing up but increasingly like to speak the English language because it’s easier to learn and pronounce. Thirdly, you see a greater influence of the English language in traffic signs, media and advertisements all over Denmark. All this impacts the way the Danish language is being presented in its written and spoken form and how it is perceived by the younger generation. Check out an interesting video below explaining some of the challenges of Danish. Here at LingoStar, we translate all cultural materials and business documentations from English into Danish, and other Scandinavian languages, such as English to Swedish,...
A serious language-related issue The government is planning to resettle 25,000 refugees in Canada by February 2016 with 10,000 of them coming over the next few weeks, just like Europe did years ago. This raises some concerns: how to create enough accommodation, how the economy will be affected, and how well they will integrate into society. But there is another issue that is extremely important: The language barrier! It can be a serious problem for immigrants, especially for professionals, who cannot just continue their careers because of missing language skills. This is how stories about doctors driving cabs and engineers washing dishes become truth. Language teachers and translators are already at the start gate. Which will be the most required languages connected to the influx of refugees? Here’s a short overview: Arabic refugees in Europe, عربي ,عربى Over 290 million people worldwide speak this language, in countries like Tunisia, Egypt, and Syria – the country of provenance of most of these refugees. You might have heard that Arabic speakers write from right to left or that they use a different alphabet but did you know that the English language consists of many words with Arabic origins like cotton or magazine? Kurdish refugees in Europe, کوردی, Kurdî Kurdish is not just one language but a continuum of different languages which has a number of dialects spoken by Kurds in Western Asia. Its standard form, Sorani, is one of the official languages of Iraq – another departure point of many refugees. The Kurdish language is still a bit of a mystery to most historians but it is apparently born during the Medieval...
Why do we celebrate Remembrance Day on the 11th of November? Originally called “Armistice Day”, Remembrance Day was introduced after the First World War in order to commemorate the Armistice agreement signed on Monday, November 11, 1918, at 11 am. It was the treaty that put an end to the war. Later, it became a holiday of remembrance for all the soldiers of the Canadian Army in times of war. Why is the Remembrance Poppy so famous? During the entire week of Remembrance Day, the people in Canada pin red poppies on their jackets, inspired by the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields“. It was written by the Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who served in the Army and witnessed his friend’s death. Poppies were the first flowers that grew on soldiers’ graves in Flanders (Belgium). It then became a symbol of remembering the victims. What happens on Remembrance Day? The official Canadian national ceremonies happen every year at the National War Memorial in Ottawa according to a strict protocol. At the same time, throughout the whole country celebration services and parades take place. A minute of silence is often held at 11 am. This is in order to pause for a moment and remember all the sacrifices Canadians made in armed conflicts. Remembrance Day Worldwide Not only Canada but also many members of the Commonwealth celebrate this day in order to remember the members of their armed forces who have died on duty. With ongoing wars all over the world and millions of victims falling every week in military conflicts it is crucial to remember them. LingoStar...
The Netherlands’ capital in all its splendor Known for its laid-back drug and prostitution policies, Amsterdam is often not celebrated for all the other things it has to offer. From a party city to a cultural city, it has it all! Check out these 10 reasons why YOU should visit Amsterdam. Number 1: Channels of Amsterdam These waterways run through the entire city center and are a great way to explore the city. There are lots of boat tours you can get on but it is also fun to rent a boat yourself and explore the many channels on a self-guided tour. Number 2: Music Festivals of Amsterdam Amsterdam is a party city and especially in the summer, there are plenty of options. Festivals are everywhere and happening every week. The capital of the Netherlands hosts many of them in and around the city. While visiting the city, you should definitely try one of the many music festivals! Number 3: Dance Scene (ADE) A lot of modern dance music DJs are from the Netherlands so it’s no wonder that Amsterdam has a big club scene. Every year in October the city hosts Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), a 5-day non-stop party from Wednesday until Sunday with electronic music blasting day and night. Number 4: Museums of Amsterdam During the Dutch Golden Age, art played a major role in upper-class society. Almost everyone knows Rembrandt and his famous works, as well as famous painters like Van Gogh. There are many museums in the city but be prepared for long wait lines filled with tourists. Number 5: Bicycles The easiest and cheapest...
An enjoyable travel Beer is available all over the world and every beer lover has his or her own favorite brands. It is a perfect drink for a night out or a sunny afternoon on a patio. Many of these beer companies are centuries-old and well-loved by consumers. Heineken (The Netherlands) Heineken is the 3rd biggest supplier of beer by volume. Founded in Amsterdam in 1864, it has remained under the ownership of the original family for many generations. Gerard Adriaan Heineken founded the company at the young age of 22. The company has now over 75,000 employees and owns 165 breweries. Warsteiner (Germany) If you think of Germany, it is pretty common to think of beer. Most people associate Germany with quality beers and a very famous brand is Warsteiner. The company was founded in 1753 and is the fourth biggest seller in Germany. Budweiser (USA) This beer brand is one of the biggest in the United States and is active in more than 80 markets worldwide. Founded by a German immigrant in the year 1876 in Missouri. Budweiser sponsors a lot of sporty events like NASCAR and the FIFA World Cup. Molson (Canada) This list would not be complete without a true Canadian beer. Founded in Montreal in the year 1786, Molson is almost 250 years old. Nowadays it has merged with Coors and together they are the world’s second-largest beer producer. Now that is impressive! Tiger (Singapore) This city-state off the south side of Malaysia has developed into an ultra-modern city with a gorgeous skyline. One of their top 10 most valuable brands is Tiger Beer. It was founded by the...
