Iceland – The Land of Ice and Fire Dear reader, Have you ever been to Iceland? If not, you should definitely check out this amazing country! It is about a 5 hour flight from Toronto (you can get cheap tickets at Icelandair, who also provide all-inclusive trips. 😉 ). But first of all, what can you do in Iceland and what is the culture like? What to do in Iceland? If you think there is nothing to do in Iceland, you are wrong! The beautiful landscapes invite you to go on incredible hikes, and a lot of festivals are held in Iceland, where people celebrate together. It doesn’t matter if you visit during the summer – or wintertime; there are plenty of things to do. If you decide to spend the summer in Iceland, you will definitely have plenty of daylight hours, up to 22 hours in June! It is a magical time of year, and taking a stroll in the midnight sun will show you Iceland in a different light. During the autumn and winter months, Iceland is famous for the Aurora Borealis – also known as the northern lights. Even though the sun shines for maybe 4 hours or less, which may seem depressing, the darkness allows you to view those beautiful lights, which appear out of the blue and disappear just as quickly. Icelandic landscape Iceland is called “The Land of Ice and Fire” since it is home, not only to the largest glacier in Europe, but also to the world’s most active volcanoes. Due to this volcanic activity under the earth’ surface, there are also...
This past weekend, Vancouverites were given the opportunity to enjoy the large variety of cultures at the European Festival in Burnaby. Unfortunately, it was raining cats and dogs on Saturday, but Sunday made up for it with sunny, warm weather. It was perfect for a Sunday stroll at the European Festival! Representatives of the European countries Located in beautiful Central Park, you could find participants from all over Europe: Armenia, Greece, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iceland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Montenegro, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Turkey, France, Portugal, Ukraine, Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom. The festival took place at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby. Tents representing different European countries were set up all along the track. This was perfect since you could walk around without missing a country! European customs and traditions Traditional garments and beautiful jewelry were not the only things that you could find at the European Festival. Volunteers described their cultures, explained the traditions and customs they practice. They also explained what kind of meals they eat. (If you want to know more about the food, just scroll down, it was delicious!). There were German books up for grabs and delicious Swiss chocolate. You could write down well wishes for the Queen’s 90th birthday, and paint your own Easter eggs in the traditional Ukrainian method using beeswax and dye. A lot of fun for the whole family at the European Festival The festival wasn’t only a great chance for adults to explore the diverse cultures of Europe, it also served as a huge playground for children! There...
Germans and beer The Germans. Organization and structure? Yes, please! We Germans love rules and have them for everything. And I really mean EVERYTHING. What else do we love? That’s right! German Beer! And how are rules and beer related? Well, let me show you. Why do people always use beer and Lederhosen to describe Germans? Because we know how to brew good German beer (and needed some hardwearing pants…). There are over 1300 breweries in Germany, and so what do the orderly Germans do to guarantee high-quality beer? We lay down rules! And since beer is such an important part of German culture, we pay a lot of attention to the brewing method. By the way, the translation of “Prost” is “Cheers!” And if you are looking for some German beer in Vancouver, there are a lot of pubs where you can try some. The German Beer Purity Law The Reinheitsgebot (translation: “German Beer Purity Law”) is a series of regulations limiting the ingredients of beer made in Germany. This goes back to 1516, Bavaria, Germany, when beer could only be made from water, barley and hops. The law passed in order to prevent price competition with bakers for wheat and rye, in an attempt to ensure the availability of affordable bread. The rules were so strict that breweries were punished for producing impure beer! And the Bavarian government wasn’t kidding… “Furthermore, we wish to emphasize that in future in all cities, markets and in the country, the only ingredients used for the brewing of beer must be barley, hops and water. Whosoever knowingly disregards or transgresses upon this ordinance,...
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...
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...
