Western Europe

Culture

European Culture

Even though all people in Europe are called European, the culture groups within Europe are very different. Ethnic Groups Languages Religions

When people migrate between countries, they bring their customs and traditions with them.

Diversity of Culture - Germany Language = German (official language of Austria too)

Customs and Traditions Oktoberfest

The big event starts in September. It all began with a wedding—in October 1810. They held a big party that was so

popular, that the party took place again the following year. Other than for interruptions caused by war or disease, Oktoberfest has been

celebrated every year since 1811.

Halloween It's not really a traditional German celebration, but in recent years Halloween has

become increasingly popular in Europe.

Erntedankfest ("harvest festival of thanks") A rural and a religious celebration. Isn’t anything like the US Thanksgiving. It isn’t a national holiday.

Famous People Classical Musicians - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven Authors - Brothers Grimm

Diversity of Culture - France Language = French

Trace roots of French language to Latin Language was brought to them as a result of the Roman Empire

Customs and Traditions 5-Week Holidays

Almost all employees are entitled to 5 weeks of holiday a year. August has been the traditional holiday month in France.

Bastille Day The day commemorates the day The Bastille, a prison in Paris that was regarded

as the symbol of the much-hated French monarchy of the times, was stormed and pillaged by angry mobs of French citizens in 1789.

Their “Independence Day”

Flying Bells Children don’t look for eggs left by an Easter Bunny… rather, the French believe

that the Flying Bells leave on the Thursday before Good Friday to see the Pope and then come back on Easter Sunday morning bearing chocolate Easter eggs, which are hidden around houses and gardens for children to find.

Famous People Victor Hugo (Author), Claude Monet (Painter), Louis Pasteur (scientist)

Diversity of Culture - Greece Language = Greek

A common Greek language developed between 300 BC and 300 AD (Ancient world)

Longest history of any European Languages

Customs and Traditions Name day celebration

Most of the Greeks owe their names to a religious saint. Everyone who has a name coming from a saint celebrated by the church celebrates his name on a given day of the year. On the “name day” of someone, his friends and family visit him without invitation and offer their wishes (as well as small presents.

Easter Easter is the more important celebration for the Greeks, even more than

Christmas.

Greek Independence Day The Greek Independence Day is celebrating Greece's liberation from the

Ottoman domination the 25th of March 1821.

Famous People Authors – Aristotle, Plato, Homer Business – Aristotle Onassis

Diversity of Culture - Italy Language = Italian

Referred to as a “Romance Language” Also spoken in Switzerland

Customs and Traditions Carnevale

Spend almost two weeks sacking the city with lavish balls, loud parades and mile after mile of free music and food.

Il Palio An unruly and exhilarating horse race whose history dates back to the middle

ages. Seventeen Sienese neighborhoods compete for a year's worth of bragging rights.

In Verona, the month of July is devoted to the annual Shakespeare festival, where visitors can see plays such as Romeo and Juliet performed in their original settings.

Famous People Artists – Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci Authors - Dante, Machiavelli

Diversity of Culture – United Kingdom Language = English

Customs and Traditions Men aren’t to wear hats inside buildings Common to use terms of enderment When visiting, bring a gift for the hostess When waiting for something, stand in line NOT a herd Drive on the left side of the road Don’t stare, pass gas or burp in public

Famous Authors J.K. Rowlings, Charles Dickens, George Orwell and

C.S. Lewis

Major Religions

3 major religions within Europe

Judaism

Christianity Orthodox Roman Catholic Protestant

Islam

Each religion practices Monotheism A belief in one God

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* Judaism

Judaism

Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people.

Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still in practice today.

Basic Principles Torah is the inspired Word of

God. (Old Testament)

Believe that proper living is accomplished through good works, heartfelt prayer and a strong faith in God.

Place of worship is called a synagogue. Religious leader – Rabbi.

Believe that the Messiah will one day appear to restore the Kingdom of Israel.

Jewish Traditions Kippah - (yarmulke)

Slightly-rounded brimless skullcap worn by most Jewish men while praying, eating, reciting blessings, or studying Jewish religious texts

Kittel White knee-length overgarment worn by

prayer leaders Most of the prayers in a traditional Jewish

service can be said in solitary prayer, although communal prayer is preferred.

Foods are Kosher – no pork or shellfish Meat is ritually slaughtered, and meat and

milk are not eaten together.

The most recognized symbol of Judaism is the six pointed Star of David

Jewish Holidays Rosh Hashanah

Jewish new year and day of judgment. According to an opinion in Jewish oral tradition, the creation of

the world was completed on Rosh Hashanah. The Torah refers to the day as "The Day of the Blowing of the

Shofar.

Yom Kippur Considered by Jews to be the holiest and most solemn day of

the year. Eating, drinking, bathing, anointing with oil, and marital

relations are prohibited. Fasting begins at sundown, and ends after nightfall the following day.

Hanukkah The eight-day festival is marked by the kindling of lights —

one on the first night, two on the second, etc.— using a special candle holder called a Hanukkah menorah. (Dreidel)

Passover Commemorates the liberation of the Israelite slaves from

Egypt. No leavened food is eaten during the week of Passover, in

commemoration of the fact that the Jews left Egypt so quickly that their bread did not have enough time to rise.

Christianity

Has its roots in Judaism

Main Christian denominations in Europe are Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism.

They are all followers of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Christianity - Catholic The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church, representing

around half of all Christians, and is the largest organized body of any world religion.

Basic Principles Religious leader – priest, bishop, pope. Belief that there is no salvation outside the church Catholicism is monotheistic: it believes that God is one, eternal, all-

powerful, all-knowing and all-good. Penance and Purgatory

If a person dies in unrepented sin, which can be forgiven through the Sacrament of Penance, he loses God's promise of salvation and goes to Hell.

However, if the sinner truly regrets his or her actions before the moment of death, then he or she can undergo a purification, known as Purgatory, and eventually enter heaven.

Traditions Holy water, Sign of the Cross, Mass

Christianity - Protestant

Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. Since that time, Protestantism has been used as a

general term to refer to Western Christianity that is not subject to papal authority (The Pope).

Protestants often refer to specific Protestant churches and groups as denominations to imply that they are differently named parts of the whole church.

Protestant Traditions Place of worship is called a church.

Religious leader – pastor

Believe in the Old and New Testament of the Bible. Excludes the Apocrypha – included in Catholicism

Believe that salvation cannot be earned through works but by God’s grace. Forgiveness can be received through asking. Does not believe in Purgatory (Catholic). Individual denominations have additional beliefs based on

interpretation of the Bible

Holidays Lent, Easter, Christmas

Islam

Islam originated with the teachings of Muhammad.

Followers of Islam are called Muslims.

Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.

Basic Principles A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims Holy Book – Qur’an Islamic tradition holds that Judaism and Christianity distorted

the messages of these prophets over time.

Islamic Traditions

Five Pillars of Islam Faith Prayer - which must be performed five times a day. Charity – alms-giving to the poor Fasting during the month of Ramadan . Hajj - which is the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca once a lifetime.

Muslims, like Jews, are restricted in their diet, and prohibited foods include pig products and alcohol.

Jihad, the only form of warfare permissible in Islamic law, may be declared against non-Muslims who refuse to convert to Islam or submit to Islamic rule Ultimate purpose of which is to establish the universal

domination of Islam

Major Contributions to Art

Pablo Picasso Spanish painter and sculptor Co-founder of the art form Cubism/his best work

Also included work from his Blue and Rose Periods

Vincent Van Gogh Dutch painter Many of his paintings were from the

Impressionist movement

Picasso

The Old Guitarist

Don Quixote

Untitled

“Chicago Picasso”

Self-Portrait

Van Gogh

Starry Night

Thatched Houses in CordevilleSunflowers

Self-portrait

Types of Music

Music has a long history in Europe. Often connected with religion.

Classical Had its beginnings in the 18th century Very formal and model of musical excellence Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart brought classical to its

height in Vienna, Austria. Used in advertisement and movie soundtracks

Opera Form of musical and dramatic work in which singers

convey the drama (instead of speaking). Originated in Italy and spread to France and Germany

Major Contribution to Modern Music

Andrew Lloyd Weber English composer Most noted for his

contributions to the musical theater

Major Contributions to Literature

Nobel Peace Prize Winners Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul in 2001 Harold Pinter in 2005

Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for those who best promote peace around the world.

Literacy

Literacy = a person’s ability to read or write Literacy is a strong indication of how

successful a country is. Most European countries have a literacy rate

at 90% - 100%. Literacy rate is also reflected in the strength of

your country’s economy. WHY??

Governments – Great Britain Many countries have based their government system on Great Britain

Parliamentary System Constitutional Monarchy

Parliament makes the laws – holds the power Monarch – head of state

Parliament has two houses House of Lords – position is appointed House of Commons – elected by the public

Cabinet Prime Minister chooses the ministers (advisors) who will help make decisions –

PM is the head of government PM is the head of government, member of the House of Commons and leader of

their party PM isn’t directly voted for by the public If the PM has the support of the legislature, the cabinet governs. If they lose

support on major issues they are expected to resign and call for new elections. General elections must be held every 5 years, but Parliament can call for an

election sooner.

Two major parties

Governments – USA compared to Great Britain

President Head of state (monarch) and Head of government

(prime minister)

Legislative and Executive Branches are separate GB – executive (PM and cabinet) are a part of and

control legislative branch (Parliament) BUT, the PM must answer to Parliament as well

Both countries checks and balances are in place

US Cabinet is chosen by the President, but must be approved by the Senate

Governments - France Dual System

Blends elements of both presidential and parliamentary systems

Based on a Constitution

President Elected directly by the people Appoints a Prime Minister (less power than British PM)

2 Chamber of French Parliament Both can make laws, but National Assembly has more power than the

Senate

Constitutional Counsel Oversee elections and decide on constitutional questions Cabinet

Don’t need to be members of the majority party or the legislature

Environmental Issues Agricultural Reform

Almost ½ of land available is used for farming Concerns focus around groundwater, surface water, pesticide residue and runoff European Union established the CAP (Common Agriculture Policy) to make

reforms

Biodiversity Chemical use can cause of the loss of living organisms

Air pollution Ozone caused by car exhaust and industrial production (factories) Ozone can affect people’s health (“smog days”) Kyoto Protocol (EU) agreement to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Global Warming (Climate change) Higher temperatures will affect water availability, flood hazards, agricultural

productivity and natural areas European Environmental Agency is monitoring conditions

Water Issues Pesticides from farming cause water pollution Use for drinking purposes – tourists cause a strain on this as well