Country Facts
Country
Language
Customs
Currency
Ireland,
Republic
English
National
Language:
Gaelic
All students
taught
Gaelic in
schools, but
not used
regularly in
homes
(except in
West)
Euro
Albanians
are
westernized
and many
dressing
options are
available.
Albanian
lek
Albania
Albanian
One of the
largest is
the pagan
Summer
Festival. It
is
celebrated
on March
14 and it is
intended to
commemor
ate the end
of winter,
the rebirth
of nature
and a
rejuvenatio
n of spirit
amongst
the
Country
Known for
Wools
Shamrocks
(not
clovers)
Largely
agricultural,
Albania is
one of the
poorest
countries in
Europe.
Customs
Social
ques or
pertinent
informatio
n
Going to
church on
St. Patrick’s
Day, not
dressing in
green
Northerne
Ireland
owned by
England
Albania
adheres to
Islam,
making it
the largest
religion in
the country.
The
majority of
Albanian
Muslims are
secular
Sunni with
a significant
Bektashi
Shia
minority.
Education
used to be
thought of
as the basis
of life in
Albania but
due to
recent
migration
family
pressures
some
children are
dropping
out as
young as
4th grade.
Christianity
is practiced
by 16.99%
of the
population,
making it
the 2nd
largest
religion in
the country.
National
Holidays/C
elebrations
Fun Facts
Foods
Other
St. Patrick’s
Day
Shamrock
came from
St. Patrick
trying to
explain the
Trinity to
the people:
Father, Son
and Holy
Spirit, all on
one stem,
one God
Irish soda
bread,
Irish stew
Tin whistle
Home of
many poets
and writers
Castles
Albanian
people
celebrate
different
festivals
and
holidays.
Albania,
Armenia
and Vatican
City are the
only
European
countries
without a
McDonald’s
branch.
Albanian
cuisine is
typically
Balkan
influenced
by Italian
and Turkish
cuisines,
but also
ancient
Illyrian,
Roman and
Greek
cooking.
The School
day lasts
from
8:00am to
1:30pm with
no lunch
served.
Republic of
Ireland,
‘Emerald
Isle’ most of
island,
Catholocis
m
One of the
largest is
the pagan
Summer
Festival. It
is
celebrated
on March
14 and it is
intended to
commemor
ate the end
of winter,
the rebirth
of nature
and a
rejuvenatio
n of spirit
amongst
the
Most
traditional
Albanian
food
consists of
vegetables,
spices,
meats, fish,
vinegar,
yogurt and
herbs.
Private
schools in
Albania
hours are
8:30am3:30pm with
lunch
served.
Albanians.
Guatemala
Japan
Spanish is
the official
language
spoken by
60%, but
there are 21
Mayan
dialects.
Japanese
Food is an
important
part of
Guatemala
n customs
and culture.
Albanians.
Guatemala
n quetzal
Guatemala
is the mostvisited
country in
Central
America.
Guatemala
is also
popular for
a wide
variety of
vegetables
and exotic
fruit.
Japense
Gardens,
Architecture
, tea
ceremony,
Cuisine, &
Cherry
Blossom
Festivals
Yen
Technology
,
Schoolinga
nd Pearl
Harbor
Attack
Shinto and
Buddhism
are Japan's
two major
religions.
Thailand
Primary
Language –
Thai
Secondary
The
national
anthem is
broadcast
twice a day.
Baht
Thai Food
Buddhism
Muay Thai
Each village
and town
honors their
respective
patron
saints and
other local
events
annually.
The
majority of
the
population
is Indian,
mostly
Mayan, and
according
to
archaeologi
cal finds the
native
religions
date back
more than a
thousand
years.
Japanese
Tea
Ceremony:
The
Japanese
ceremony
of preparing
and offering
tea to
revered
guests is a
formal and
stylized
ritual,
almost like
a meditative
performanc
e.
Tokyo is the
second
most
expensive
city in the
world to live
in.
Color Days
have been
implemente
d based on
pre-
The head is
considered
the most
valued pare
of the body
Guatemala
n people
celebrate
Christmas,
Advent,
Three Kings
and Easter
as the most
important
holidays of
the year.
Mayans
came up
with the
mathematic
al concept
of zero
Blue denim
comes from
Guatemala
Staple
foods
throughout
the country
include corn
tortillas and
tamales,
black
beans, rice,
wheat
bread and
pasta.
The terrible
Guatemala
civil war
lasted from
1960 to
1996
Tea, Rice,
Fish
Japan’s
literacy rate
is almost
100%.
There’s a
legend that
Mayan
babies don’t
cry, that
they’re all
born
warriors
New Years
Day
There are
close to 130
voice-acting
schools for
anime
voices.
Sumo is
Japan’s
national
sport.
Tokyo’s
population
is 13
million.
Baseball is
also hugely
popular in
Japan, due
to the
strong
American
presence
after World
War II.
Japan has
cafes where
people can
play with
puppies
and kittens.
Chinese
New Year
Makha
Bucha Day
Bangkok's
full
ceremonial
name is
Krungthep
Tom Yam
Goong
Pad Thai
Siamese
cats
originated
in Thailand
where they
Language Lao
Everyone is
required to
stop and
stand
during this
time.
Buddhist
Hindu
legends.
Popular
colors
include
yellow on
Mondays
and light
blue on
Fridays
.
and it is
very
offensive to
touch
someone’s
head.
mahanakho
n
Amonrattan
akosin
Mahinthara
yutthaya
Mahadilokp
hop
Noppharatr
atchathanib
urirom
Udomratch
aniwetmaha
sathan
Amonphima
nawatansat
hit
Sakkathatti
yawitsanuk
amprasit
which is the
longest
place name
(that has
spaces) in
the world.
The Wai
can be
used to
express
hello, thank
you, or
goodbye
Kuay Tiew
Som Tam
Gai
Med Ma
Moung
are called
Wichian
Mat.
Buddhism
is the
primary
religion in
Thailand; it
is practiced
by about
95% of the
population.
Throughout
Thailand
are many
Buddhist
temples
and grand
golden
Buddhist
statues.
Thailand
has over
1430
islands.
Thailand
has a land
border with
4 countries
including
Myanmar
(formerly
Burma),
Laos,
Cambodia
and
Malaysia.
North
Korea
Primary
Language Korean
Marriages
only occur
with
parental
consent
Won
Nuclear
Weapon
Threats
Corruption
Gifts are
given in
accordance
to the other
person
Eating while
walking on
the street is
considered
ill-
Generalissi
mo Day
Tree
Planting
Kim Jong-II
refused to
fly and only
traveled the
country in
NaungMyon
Kimchi
The use of
white, black
or green
colors for
wrapping is
and parents
may
arrange
marriages.
The
government
has
established
the
minimum
age for
marriage to
be 27 for
men and 25
for women.
Cuba
Primary
Language –
Spanish
Secondary
Language –
Lucumi
Spanish
Creole
School is
very
important,
with 97% of
the
population
being
literate.
Students
who
complete
the Upper
Secondary
School
before 18
are entitled
Kim Jongun
Cuban
Peso
Cuban
Cigars
Fidel Castro
Cuban Rum
because
reciprocatin
g is
expected
with gifts.
The
quantity or
numbers
are also a
huge factor
with gifts.
Anything
with a 7 is
considered
very luck
and 4 is
considered
very
unlucky.
mannered
and
offensive.
Cuban
foods are
foods that
are not
typically
written
down in
recipes;
instead the
tradition is
for families
to pass
down
recipes
orally from
generation
Cubans
focus a lot
on facial
expressions
. Putting
your hand
in
someone’s
face or
pointing is
considered
highly
offensive.
A younger
or lowerstatus
person will
always bow
until the
other offers
a
handshake
or returns
the bow.
Day
Military
Foundation
Day
Liberation
Day
Day of
Songun
armored
trains.
Samgyeops
al
The
average
worker in
North Korea
only makes
2-3$ per
month.
Side jobs
selling
goods can
earn a
person $10
a month.
Jjajangmye
on
offensive
and must
be avoided.
Chimaek
Kim JongII’s eldest
son Kim
Jong-Nam
was
arrested in
Japan for
using a fake
ID with the
Chinese
name Pan
Xiong which
translates
to “Fat
Bear” in
English.
The
handshake
Triump de
la
Revolucion
Victory of
Armed
Forces Day
Cubans call
their island
El Cocodrilo
due to its
shape.
Moros y
Cristianos
Asere
means
“Friend or
Buddy” in
Cuban
Spanish
(Spanish
Creole)
Ropa Vieja
Contempor
Arroz con
Pollo
Cuban
Sandwiches
Tostones
Cuba has
the highest
divorce rate
in Latin
America
to attend a
university
for free.
Mexico
Spanish
Bullfighting
to
generation.
Peso
Pinatas
is the most
known
greeting in
Cuba for all
people
regardless
of
socioecono
mic status.
Roman
Catholic
Church
Tequila
ary Cuban
salsa
dancing is
known as
Casino
Dancing
Feast of
Our Lady of
Guadalupe
Independen
ce Day
Mexico City
sinks 10
inches each
year
You can
buy colorful
poultry
Corn or
wheat
tortillas,
beans, rice,
tomatoes,
chili
peppers
Children
don’t get
presents on
Christmas
morning
Russia
Russian
Russian
New Year
Vietnam
Vietnamese
Confucianis
m
Russian
Ruble
Vietnamese
Dong
Diverse
literature,
art, ballet,
music
Orthodox
Christianity
landscape
Buddihism
Defender of
the
Motherland
Day
Spreads
over two
continents
Beef
Stroganoff
Bliny
Victory Day
Coulibiac
Civil Unity
Day
Kasha
Vietnamese
New Year
Vietnamese
Family Day
Largest
exporter of
cashews
One of the
lowest
unemploym
ent rates
Common
ingredients:
lemongrass
, ginger,
mint, fish
sauce, lime,
basil
Literacy
rate of 94%
Iran
Persian is
the most
prominent
When you
go to visit
someone’s
Rial
Oil industry
During the
holy month
of
Men and
women
socialize
No Ruz
(Iranian
New Year)
Muslims
and pray 5
times a
Bread, tea,
chelokebab
(98%) Islam
is practices
by the
house it is
custom to
bring a gift.
A woman
may not
appear in
public with
a man
unless it is
her
husband
China
Chinese
Obedience
to elders is
considered
extremely
important.
Yuan
Great Wall
of China, “
one child “
policy
Ramadan
all Muslims
fast from
dawn to
dusk and
only
permitted to
work 6/hr a
day.
separately
Hierarchy
that places
elders
above
younger
and men
above
woman.
Communist
Governmen
t
day- at
dawn,
noon,
afternoon,
sunset,
evening.
1935Persia was
named Iran
Non
confrontatio
nal,
majority of
Iranians
In Persian ,
the word
“Iran”
means “
Land of the
Aryans”.
New Years
DayOthers;
Chinese
new Year
23 million
trees are
cut down
each year
to meet
Chinese
demand for
chopsticks
Chinese
tea,
Chopsticks,
rice, fish,
noodles
Has the
largest
population
in the world
(1.3 billion
people)
Russia
Russian
Fear and
mistrust of
those
outside the
family
Ruble
Largest
Country in
the World
Highly
values
extended
family and
maintaining
close
friendships
Communist
Party ruled
Russia for
more than
70 years
(USSR).
The Soviet
Union broke
up in 1991
New Years
Day,
Easter,
Christmas (
January 7) ,
Valentine’s
Day
Children
learning to
follow rules
and
instructions
is valued
over
developing
creativity
and
initiative.
Cabbage,
potatoes,
bread,
kielbasa,
sausage,
tea culture
One of the
most
diverse
societies160 ethnic
groups
Korea
Korean
Students
attend 6
years of
elementary,
3 years of
middle
school and
3 years of
high school
Won
Buddhist
temples,
Korean War
Take off
shoes
before
entering a
home,
The family
name or
surname is
used first,
there still is
a great
divide
among
North and
South
Korea
Hangal
Day:
celebration
of the
fouding of
the native
alphabet in
1443 by
King Sejong
The number
four is
considered
unlucky,
writing a
person’s
name in red
ink means
the person
is dying or
will die
Kimchi,
Soondae
(sausage
dish), rice
The
president is
elected or a
5 year term
Israel
Hebrew and
Arabic
Arabic
families
usually
send
Shekel
Known for
the city of
Jerusalem,
and home
Greet
someone
by saying
Shalom,
The military
runs the
security at
the airport,
Yom
Kippur,
Hanukkah,
Rosh
Voicemail
technology
was started
in Israel,
Humus,
couscous,
pork
Israel is half
the size of
Lake
Michigan
students to
Arabic
speaking
schools
Guatemala
Spanish
Much of the
poor
citizens do
not go to
school due
to cost of
uniforms
and
transportati
on
Quetzal
of the
Jewish faith
hail a
bus/taxi by
pointing
finger
toward the
ground
there is still
tension
among
Jews and
Arabs
Hashanah
and so was
AOL Instant
Messenger
Known for
growing
coffee,
bananas,
and sugar
cane
The man of
the
household
is always
served first,
bringing
food is a
sign that
the good
being
served is
bad
Volcanoes
and
earthquake
pose
problems
with
economy
Independen
ce day Sept
15, Day of
the Dead
The country
has 100
rivers, 61
lagoons, 5
lakes and 3
swamps
Tamales,
corn,fiambr
e,
Guatemala
means
“land of
forests”