Europe
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Latvia
Latvian language
The Republic of Latvia is a country in Europe that belongs to the Baltic Region (together with Lithuania and Estonia), and whose capital is Riga. It has a population of 2 million inhabitants (148º) and an area of 64,589 km 2 (122º). Its human development index is very high (41st) and its official currency is the euro. And what language is spoken in Latvia? What language do they speak in Latvia? Latvia has one official language, Latvian. All other languages (with the exception of Livonian) are considered foreign languages in legal terms, despite the fact that Russian is the mother…
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Latvia
History of Latvia
Brief history of Latvia summarized A brushstroke of the history of Latvia, to get to know the Baltic country a little better. Former latvia The first settlers in Latvia were stone age hunters and gatherers who arrived there after the last ice age, around 9000 BC However, the ancestors of today’s Latvians were Baltic tribes who migrated to the area around the year 2,000 BC In the 12th century AD some of the last pagans in Europe lived in Latvia. The Pope decided to convert them to Christianity by force. In 1201 he dispatched German crusaders commanded by the Bishop…
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Traditions and customs of Latvia
What traditions and customs are there in Latvia? A look at the customs and traditions of Latvia, a Baltic country. Gastronomy Food in daily life The staples of the diet are rye, wheat, and potatoes. Dairy products are valued for their purity and healthful qualities. Milk, butter, sour cream, and cottage cheese were traditionally much appreciated additions to the diet. Pork meat is the most consumed. Smoked fish is particularly popular in Rīga and in coastal areas. A wide variety of bread is available in markets and shops. During the Soviet period, the main meal of the day was eaten…
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Estonia
Estonian language
The Republic of Estonia is a European country in the Baltic Region (together with Latvia and Lithuania), whose capital is Tallinn. It has a population of 1.3 million inhabitants (151º) and an area of 45,227 km 2 (129º). Its human development index is very high (30º) and its official currency is the euro. But what language is spoken in Estonia? What language do they speak in Estonia? Estonia has one official language, Estonian. The most learned foreign languages are Russian (56%), English (50%), Finnish (21%), German (15%). Despite occupying the first position, the popularity of Russian decreases while English is…
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Traditions and customs of Andorra
What traditions and customs are there in Andorra? The customs and traditions of the country in the Pyrenees, Andorra. Gastronomy Food in daily life The diet in Andorra is based on the consumption of meat, vegetables and some fish. The most common winter dish, in rural and urban areas, is escudella, a beef, chicken, potato and vegetable soup. Some immigrant communities have different customs: The Portuguese eat more cod and Indians, more vegetarian food. Normally, the midday meal is eaten near the workplace in a restaurant. Food customs on ceremonial occasions Many Catholic families still avoid eating meat on Fridays.…
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Ukraine
Ukrainian language
Ukraine is a country belonging to Europe, whose capital is Kiev. It is the 32nd most populous country in the world, with 42.4 million inhabitants, and the 45th largest (603,628 km 2). Its human development index is high (84th) and its official currency is the Ukrainian hryvnia. And what language is spoken in Ukraine? What language do they speak in Ukraine? Ukraine under its constitution has only one official language, Ukrainian, which is spoken by two-thirds of the population. Due to the legacy of the Soviet Union, most of these Ukrainian speakers speak Russian as a second language. 30% of…
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Ukraine
History of Ukraine
Brief history of Ukraine summarized A brief overview of the history of Ukraine. The early history of Ukraine In the 7th century BC a people called the Scythians lived in what is now the Ukraine. Later, the Greeks settled on the northern shore of the Black Sea and founded city-states there. The Slavs settled in Ukraine in the 5th and 6th centuries AD Then, in the 9th century, the Swedish Vikings sailed along the rivers into the heart of Eastern Europe. Some of them settled in Ukraine. In 882 a Viking named Oleg captured kyiv and made it the capital…
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Traditions and customs of Ukraine
What traditions and customs are there in Ukraine? Ukraine, a former Soviet country, enjoys an extensive number of customs and traditions. Gastronomy Food in daily life Ukrainians prefer to eat at home, leaving restaurants for special occasions. Meal hours are from 7:00 to 10:00 AM for breakfast, 12:00 noon to 3:00 PM for dinner or lunch, and 5:00 to 8:00 PM for dinner. The main meal of the day is dinner, which includes soup and meat, poultry, or a fish dish with salad. Ukrainians generally avoid exotic meats and spices. A variety of soups – collectively called borshch – is…
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Turkey
Turkey language
The Republic of Turkey is a country that belongs to Europe and Asia, and whose capital is Istanbul. It has a population of more than 82 million inhabitants (19th) and an area of 783,356 km 2 (36th). Its human development index is high (64th) and its official currency is the Turkish lira. And what language is spoken in Turkey? What language do they speak in Turkey? Turkey has one official language, Turkish. Furthermore, Northern Kurdish is the second most widely spoken language in the country. However, Turkey is home to various minority languages, including Zaza (1,344,000 speakers), North Levantine Arabic…
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Turkey
History of Turkey
Brief history of Turkey summarized A brief review of the history of Turkey summarized, cradle of the great Ottoman Empire. Catal Huyuk Catal Huyuk was one of the first cities in the world. It was built in what is now Turkey around 6,500 BC, shortly after agriculture began. Catal Huyuk probably had a population of about 6,000. In Catal Huyuk the houses were made of mud brick. The houses were built in contact with each other. They had no doors and the houses were entered through hatches in the roofs. Presumably, having entrances in the ceilings was safer than having…
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