Population of Luxembourg: description, composition, employment and numbers. National traditions of Luxembourg, habits and characteristics of local residents

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; elementary school children 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.

Holidays and non-working days:

• June 23 - National holiday, birthday of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
• 1st of January - New Year
• March, April - Easter Monday
• 1st of May - Labor Day
• May - Ascension
• May June - Whit Monday
• August 15- Dormition
• Nov. 1 - All Saints' Day(visit the graves of deceased relatives)
• December 25 - Christmas
• December 26 - Saint's Day Stefan

If a legal holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is a holiday.

Many private businesses in Luxembourg close for other religious and other holidays

• in February - Absolution Day
• in February - March - Carnival
• November 2 - Memorial Day .

The Luxembourg calendar is full of various holidays and festivals.

June 23 at National holiday Luxembourgers celebrate Grand Duke's Birthday.

On the eve of this day, a torchlight procession takes place through the streets of the city with the participation of all organizations, clubs, enterprises, and orchestras throughout the country. It also takes place in front of the Grand Duke's Palace, and the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess personally greet all participants in the procession. At midnight, the capital is shocked by the extraordinary beauty of fireworks, and folk festivities rage for a long time in the city center. On this night, all pubs and pubs distribute free beer to everyone.

On Friday evenings in early February, small children walk from house to house with lanterns hanging from sticks. This Holiday of Glow Liistendach. For each family they sing a song: Dear Lord, give us lard, give us peas. 1 pound, 2 pounds - then we will be healthy. Etc. For this they receive numerous sweets and pocket money.

Colorful Carnival in Luxembourg it is celebrated a week before the start of Lent, in February or March. Carnival Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are the peak of the Luxembourg Carnival season, known as Fuesent. Carnival Monday is a day off. Masquerade balls decorate many places in Luxembourg.

Separate Kannerfuesbals carnivals are organized for children. Costumes for both children and adults are sold at local shopping centers. Also during the carnival, it is customary to treat everyone to a special cookie called “Les pensees brouillees” (foggy thoughts).

A week after the carnival, a holiday is celebrated at the end of winter Buerszondes. This Sunday, residents of every locality light a huge bonfire the height of a multi-story building. In this way they drive away winter and welcome the coming of spring.

The most joyful of the traditional holidays of Luxembourg is Emeshen, takes place on the Monday after Easter and is accompanied by fairs and exhibitions and sales of traditional handicrafts at the oldest Fish Market in the capital. Here you can buy knightly armor, medieval dresses, leather medieval bags, wallets, ancient tomes, dishes and utensils of those times and a national souvenir - bird whistles, which are sold once a year only on this day. At the same time, the sellers themselves dress in medieval clothes and scenes from medieval life are played out in the market.

A Catholic festival takes place on the eighth day after Easter Octave

It takes place in the spring Holiday Primrose in the northern town of Wiltz.

St. Willibrord's Day is celebrated on the Tuesday after Trinity. It is better known as Leaping procession Sprangprocession. Takes place in the city of Esternach, the oldest city in Luxembourg. Several thousand people line up in rows of 5-6 people, holding triangular handkerchiefs. To the music of the polka, they jump 2 steps forward and 1 step back through all the main streets of the city and after a few hours they jump to the old basilica, where the holiday ends with a religious service. This is the only holiday in the world celebrated in such an unusual way. Therefore, on this day, people from different countries come to Eshterny to look at such a curiosity.

March of the Sheep, when peasants in wide-brimmed hats and long frock coats drive sheep through the streets to the sound of music. This holiday at the end of summer symbolizes joy and gratitude to nature for the bountiful harvest.

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 country is located in Western Europe. It borders on the east with Germany (138 km), on the south with France (73 km) and on the west with Belgium (148 km). In the east the country is limited by the Moselle River. The relief is mainly a hilly, elevated plain, in the north of which rise the spurs of the Ardennes (the highest point is the city of Burgplatz, 559 m). The territory of Luxembourg can be divided into 2 parts - northern (Esling) with the spurs of the Ardennes and southern (Gutland - “good land”). The southern half of Luxembourg is a continuation of the Lorraine plateau and is characterized by undulating topography. Here the relief is represented by a system of ridges and ledges, gradually descending to the east. Cultural landscapes predominate. In the north of the country, in Essling, occupied by the foothills of the Ardennes, a highly dissected terrain with heights of up to 400–500 m is developed. The highest point is Mount Burgplatz (559 m).

The soils in the north are composed of quartz and shale rocks, which are not very fertile. In the south there are fertile loamy soils. In the suburbs of Luxembourg, oak and beech forests are still preserved, inhabited by squirrels, roe deer, chamois, wild boars and some representatives of the order of birds (wood pigeons, jays, etc.). Many squirrels live here. Birds include wood pigeons, jays and buzzards, as well as pheasants. A sparrowhawk became a rare visitor. The dense forest thickets are home to hazel grouse and capercaillie. There are trout in the rivers and streams of Essling. Heat-loving plants such as walnuts, apricots, boxwoods, and dogwoods are cultivated in the city's gardens and parks.

MAIN FEATURES OF LUXEMBOURG

Official country name: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Capital: Luxembourg
Area: 2,586 sq. km
Time: two hours behind Moscow
Government structure: constitutional monarchy
Administrative division: Administratively, the country is divided into three districts: Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg. Administratively, the country is divided into 3 districts, which, in turn, are divided into cantons, and the cantons are divided into communes. Administration in the districts is carried out by commissioners, and in the cantons by burgomasters. The bodies of self-government in communes are elected councils
Country currency: euro
Mains voltage: 220 V
Population: The Celts, Franks and Germanic tribes who migrated through the area before and after the Roman invasion are the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Luxembourg.
Currently, the population of Luxembourg is more than 454.2 thousand people.
About 70% of the population are Luxembourgers (Franco-German mix). The areas bordering Germany and Belgium are inhabited by an ethnic group of Germanic origin, while the rest of Luxembourg is heavily influenced by its close proximity to France. Currently, more than a third of the country's population are foreigners (Portuguese, Italians, French, Belgians) who came here in search of work.
Language: official languages ​​are Luxembourgish (a dialect of German with elements of French), French and German. In addition, many residents speak English.
Religion: 97% of the population are Catholics

CUSTOMS OFFICE OF LUXEMBOURG

Customs rules are standard for all EU countries; there are no restrictions on the import and export of currency in the form of banknotes and traveler's checks. Foreign citizens permanently residing outside Luxembourg have the right to duty-free import of personal belongings and essential items based on their verbal declaration and presentation for customs control.

Duty-free import is allowed: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco; 1 liter of spirits, 2 liters of liqueurs or champagne, 2 liters of wine; 250 ml of perfume or cologne; 0.5 kg of coffee beans, 200 g - instant, 100 g of tea, as well as industrial goods and products (not for commercial purposes): amateur photo and film cameras with a reasonable amount of film, two guns for sport hunting + 200 cartridges, sports accessories (2 tennis rackets, 1 pair of skis, 1 set of fishing equipment), as well as radios, binoculars, portable televisions and tape recorders. The import of drugs into the country is prohibited.
Without special permission, it is prohibited to export unique computer equipment, displays, weapons, antiques and other items that are national treasures from the country.
When importing pets, you must present a veterinary certificate with a note on vaccination against rabies. Tourists do not need a vaccination certificate.
Tips in most establishments are 10%; in taxis the amount is rounded up.

TRANSPORT IN LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg International Airport Findel is located 6 km east of the capital. There are no porters at the airport, but trolleys are available. Luxembourg's main international airport is Lux-Findel, located approximately 5 km east of the capital. Automobile transport. The Luxembourg road network is well developed and traffic drives on the right. In populated areas the maximum speed is 60 km/h, outside them - 90 km/h, on highways - 120 km/h. You should park only in paid parking lots or in specially designated areas (parking is paid in the capital, so it is more convenient to use a taxi or bus). The use of seat belts is mandatory. Sounding a sound signal is only permissible in emergency situations. Local drivers are disciplined, and violations of the speed limit on their part are extremely rare. Buses travel to Luxembourg from almost all capitals and many large cities in Europe. The bus is the main public transport in the country. The fare is about 1 euro for a short trip, about 4 euros for a one-day pass, valid not only for buses throughout the country, but also for the railway (in class II carriages). One ticket purchased from the driver costs about 0.9 euros. Subscription (10 tickets, sold at newsstands, banks, bakeries, etc.) - about 8 euros. Tickets and transport maps are sold at the municipal bus information center in the underground part of Hamilius Square in the capital. On most lines, the interval is 10 minutes and is strictly observed. There are many taxis in Luxembourg. They can be ordered by phone, stopped on the street (not everywhere) or picked up at special parking lots near hotels. Tariffs are based on 1 euro per landing and 0.65 euros per kilometer driven. For a trip at night, 10% is added to the tariff and 25% for work on weekends. You can also hitchhike around the country, and travel companions are often picked up by drivers of foreign cars. Railway transport. The Brussels-Basel high-speed international railway line runs through Luxembourg, with eight express trains running in both directions per day. The journey from Brussels to Luxembourg by train takes three hours. The internal railway network connects only the main population centers of the country.

CAR RENTAL IN LUXEMBOURG

Although renting a car is relatively expensive, for many it is the most convenient and easiest way to travel around the country. Ask if the following are included in your car rental price: VAT, full insurance and unlimited mileage. The Luxembourg road network is very developed, driving on the right. The driver must always fasten his seat belt. The cost of gasoline is one of the cheapest in Europe, so drivers from neighboring cities in Germany and Belgium often cross the border to fill up with gasoline.

CUISINE AND RESTAURANTS IN LUXEMBOURG

The cuisine is historically similar to Belgian, French and German, Luxembourgish cuisine, however, has a number of characteristic features.
Many of their recipes have been preserved here and are considered “attractions” of the country. The most popular meat dishes are smoked pork (pork backbone) with beans, the famous Ardennes ham, jellied suckling pigs, blood and regular sausages, veal liver sticks with sauerkraut and boiled potatoes, veal brains and heart with cabbage, goose liver and pate, jellied pig ears, roast hare Luxembourg style, beef tongue with vegetables and oxtail soup. The meat is served with vegetable side dishes, including radishes, beets, potatoes and herbs. The diet of Luxembourgers always includes locally produced cheeses and various marinades. A distinctive feature of Luxembourg cuisine is the preparation of crayfish, trout, pike, and fried perch.
White wines from the Moselle Valley are widely known. The most popular varieties: dry - Beaufort, Auxerrois and Elbling; dining rooms - Rivaner, Wormeldang, Krechen, Kemih, An, Ennem, Maetum and Riesling, White and Gray Pinot; exotic - Gewurtitramminer and Silvaner. It also produces several types of high-quality beer and excellent sparkling wines prepared using champagne technology, several types of liqueurs (Ketsch, Kirsch, plum, apple, pear and blackcurrant), the famous blackcurrant wine from Beaufort Castle, fruit juices and mineral waters . There are wines that are made only in certain villages and are distinguished by their special qualities, for example “Aan Palomberg” and “Henen Visselt”.

HOLIDAYS IN LUXEMBOURG

January 1 - New Year, February - Day of Absolution,
March-April - Easter and Easter Monday,
May 1 - Labor Day, May - Ascension of the Lord,
May-June - Spiritual Day,
June 23 is a national holiday, the birthday of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg Jean,
August 15 - Assumption,
September - beer festival (only in the capital),
November 1 - All Saints Day,
November 2 - Memorial Day,
December 25th - Christmas,
December 26 is St. Stephen's Day.

Phones: Single emergency number - 012 (used to call the police, firefighters, ambulance, as well as various emergency services).

Museum work: Opening hours of museums in Luxembourg are from 10:00 to 17:00 (closed Monday). Discounts apply only to children under 8 years old.

Features of local residents: Luxembourgers give the impression of being reserved and overly reserved people, although in reality this is not entirely true. Most local residents live in small families and prefer their own houses, but this applies only to private life and does not affect public life. Residents of the country are extremely polite and correct in dealing with others, and they also easily come to the aid of tourists in any difficult situation.

Luxembourg has virtually no tradition of "nightlife" and the entertainment industry is aimed mainly at foreigners. Local residents prefer to spend the evening with their family. But in bars and restaurants there are a lot of foreigners from neighboring countries who come to the country to shop. Therefore, in areas focused on tourism business, prices are often much higher than the national average.

Safety: You can move freely throughout the country, but you should carefully monitor the observance of the rights of private property - crossing others, and even more so, settling on private land for the night, fishing or collecting plants, is possible only with the permission of the owner or tenant. Otherwise, the police have the right to take any measures, including detention and deportation from the country. Hunting licenses are issued to foreigners for a period of 1 or 5 days based on a written application from the owner or tenant of the hunting grounds to the district commissioner. During one hunting season, no more than three licenses are issued to one person. Based on applications from the same owner or tenant of land, a foreigner can receive a total of no more than a dozen licenses. Fishing licenses are issued by both the district commissioners and the municipal administration. At the same time, depending on the fishing location, the cost of the license is established in each specific case, as well as acceptable fishing methods, type and quantity of fishing gear.

Tips in most establishments it is 10%; in taxis the amount is rounded up.

Voltage in the electrical network 220 V., 50 Hz. Three types of plugs are used: round without grounding, round with grounding and flat with grounding.

Most revered meat dishes- smoked pork (pork backbone) with beans, the famous Ardennes ham, jellied suckling pigs, blood and excellent regular sausages, veal liver dumplings with sauerkraut and boiled potatoes, veal brains and heart with cabbage, goose liver and excellent pate, jellied pork ears, roast hare Luxembourg style, beef tongue with vegetables and oxtail soup. All this is accompanied by vegetable side dishes (including widely used radishes and beets), potatoes and herbs. Locally produced cheese and various marinades are always on the table. They enjoy special honor, especially in the summer, River fish And crayfish, the preparation of which the locals are great masters of. Traditional pastries are another trump card of local cuisine. Good pies with fruit filling, open pies with a wide variety of fillings, hundreds of varieties of cookies and cakes, as well as equally famous Swiss chocolates and candies. Many of them are produced in small private family enterprises, so they bear the characteristic “imprint” of those craftsmen who have been engaged only in baking for many years.

"Business card" of the country - white wines from the Moselle valley, known throughout Europe. The most popular varieties are dry Beaufort, Auxerrois and Elbling, table Rivaner, Wormeldang, Krechen, Kemih, An, Ennem, Maetum and Riesling, White and Gray Pinot, exotic Gewürtztramminer and Silvaner.

It also produces several types of high-quality beer and excellent sparkling wines prepared using champagne technology, several types of liqueurs (Ketsch, Kirsch, plum, apple, pear and blackcurrant), the famous blackcurrant wine from Beaufort Castle, fruit juices and mineral waters . There are wines that are made only in certain villages and are distinguished by their special qualities (for example, “Aan Palomberg” and “Henen Visselt”).