Cultures of Europe
SS6G11 The student will describe the cultural
characteristics of Europe.
a. Explain the diversity of European languages as seen in a comparison of
German, English, Russian, French, and Italian.
c. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard of living.
Literacy Rate, Language, Customs and
Traditions.
I have sound!! Turn on Speakers
Literacy Rate
• The number of people who can read
and write
• The better the educational system in
a country, the higher the literacy
rate.
• When education is not a high priority
in a country, the lower the literacy
rate.
Standard of Living
• A level of survival and comfort in
everyday life enjoyed by a
community, class, or individual:
The well-educated generally have
a high standard of living.
Languages Of Europe
Over 200 native languages in Europe
Most can be put into three categories
- Germanic -( English and German). The largest
native group with 20% of European speaking a
Germanic Language.
- Romance -( Italian, French & Spanish). These
language come from Latin- the language of the
Roman Empire- Romance.
- Slavic- mostly Northern and Eastern European
Countries. Include Russia. Written in the Cyrillic
Alphabet.
Languages Of Europe
- The European Union ( EU) recognizes 23
official languages in Europe.
- Because of the language diversity
European school children usually learn 1-2
other languages in addition to their native
one.
- Over ½ ( 400 million) Europeans speak
English because it is often a choice for
their 2nd language.
Germany:Language
The official language of
Germany and Austria
is German.
- Germanic Language
Follow the link to
here a song sung in
German!!
http://genkienglish.
net/learntospeakger
man/hallowiegehts.
htm
Germany: Literacy Rate
• The literacy rate in Germany is 99-100%
•Students in Germany
must attend school
through the 9th grade.
After that students
either go to a trade
school or keep attending
public school until the
13th grade if they want
to go to college. ( roughly
18 years old)
Oktoberfest
•Bavaria – the old name of Germany. The culture of Germany and
the high Alps region is called Bavarian Culture.
•“Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany,
(Bavaria), running from late September to early October. It is one of the
most famous events in Germany and the world's largest fair, with some six
million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part
of Bavarian culture”- Definition from Wikipedia.com
•Children dressed in
tradition Bavarian Dress
•Yodeling is traditional form of
music commonly found at
Oktoberfest.
•Wurstl- tradition
Bavarian Sausage
Germany Customs
•St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th in Germany
as well as in other European countries. On the evening before
the 6th, children place their newly cleaned shoes in front of the
door in the hope that Nicholas might fill them with nuts,
fruits, chocolate, and sweets.
•Traditions: The Christmas
Tree originated in Germany.
A fir tree was brought in to
the house and decorated
with candles in honor of the
Advent. Later candies and
stripes of cloth were tied to
the tree for decorations.
West Berlin
In their area of the city
Restaurant
Country
Literacy
Rate
Language
Customs
Traditions
Germany
99-100%
German
(Germanic
Language)
Oktoberfest
Christmasgave us first
Christmas tree
Bavarian
Culture in the
Mountains
Russia: Language
Russian is a Slavic Language
Between 145-160 million speak Russian
( based on 2008 estimation)
A Russian Proverb
Руководитель без народа, что цветок без солнца
Translation: A ruler without a nation is like a flower
without the sun
RUSSIA: Literacy Rate
Russia’s Literacy rate is
99-100%
Russia has a free education system
guaranteed to all citizens by the
Constitution and has a literacy rate
of 99.4%.Entry to higher education
is highly competitive. As a result of
great emphasis on science and
technology in education, Russian Follow link to here the Russian alphabet
medical, mathematical, scientific,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_alphabet
and space and aviation research is
generally of a high order- from
Wikipedia.com
RUSSIA: Customs and Traditions
Ballet is a highly prized art form in Russia
Moscow Ballet Theatre
"The Crown Of Russian
Ballet-Swan Lake“
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=32HHxwFIp
Hg
RUSSIA: Customs and Traditions
One tradition in Russia is to eat milk pudding
and cheesecake on Christmas.
Cheesecake
Milk Pudding
Country
Literacy
Rate
Language
Customs
Traditions
Germany
99-100%
German
(Germanic
Language)
Oktoberfest
Christmasgave us first
Christmas tree
Russia
99-100%
Russian
(Slavic
Language)
Bavarian
Culture in the
Mountains
Ballet
originated in
Russia
Christmas
France: Language
-French is the official language of France
-French is one of the Romance Languages
Je t'aime (Lara Fabian) - cover
by Gisella
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=yAyQzJFFG90
France: Literacy Rate
The Literacy rate
in France is 99%
Children in France
must go to school
until they are 16
years old.
France: Customs and Traditions
Bastille Day
“Liberté, égalité, fraternité”- Liberty, Equlaity, Fratinity ( motto of the French Revolution &
France)
The Bastille is a medieval fortress and prison in Paris. Many people in France
associated it with the harsh rule of the Bourbon monarchy in the late 1700s. On July
14, 1789, troops stormed the Bastille. This was a pivotal event at the beginning of
the French Revolution. Fête de la Fédération was held on July 14, 1790. This was a
way to celebrate the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in France.
France: Traditions
Christmas
In France during Christmas there are family reunions,
gifts, and candy for the children. There are also gifts for
the poor and people give to charities. Because France is
80% Roman Catholic and most families attend Midnight
Mass on Christmas Eve.
Country
Literacy
Rate
Language
Customs
Traditions
Germany
99-100%
German
(Germanic
Language)
Oktoberfest
Christmasgave us first
Christmas tree
Bavarian
Culture in the
Mountains
Russia
99-100%
Russian
(Slavic
Language)
Ballet
originated in
Russia
Christmas
France
99%
French
Bastille DayJuly 14. Ended
the Monarchy
in France.
ChristmasMidnight Mass
(Romantic
Language)
France is 80%
Roman
Catholic
Italy: Language
- Italian is the official
language of Italy
- Italian is one of the
Romance languages.
Follow the link to hear some
phrases in Italian
http://www.bbc.co.uk/langu
ages/italian/guide/phrases.s
html
How to say hello in Italian:
Ciao an informal term for
Hello. It can also be used for
Goodbye.
Italy: Literacy Rate
• The literacy rate in Italy is 98%
• Children in Italy go to school from age
6-15.
Italy: Customs & Traditions
• Christmas & Easter are major holidays.
• Italy is the home to the head of the Roman
Catholic Church. The Pope lives in Vatican
City in Rome.
Italy: Traditions
Opera
A very popular form of performing arts that originated
in Italy.
Follow the link to see an Opera
performance:
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=RxKjDUrmecA&feature=relat
ed
Clip from Phantom of the Opera
copyrighted 2004 by Odyssey
Entertainment.
Country
Literacy
Rate
Language
Customs
Traditions
Italy
98%
Italian
(Romantic
Language)
Opera
Christmas &
Easter
Rome is home
to the Pope, the
head of the
Catholic
Church.
United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Language
English is the official Language of the United
Kingdom. It is a Germanic Language. Other
Languages commonly spoke in the UK are
Gaelic (Irish), Celtic (Scottish), and Welsh
(Wales)
United Kingdom: Literacy Rate
The Literacy Rate is 99%.
•The UK is home to some very famous and
old university's such as Oxford (England),
Cambridge (England), & St. Andrews
(Scotland).
United Kingdom: Traditions
The United Kingdom has been steeped in traditions and customs
for centuries. Some of the unique celebrations are the Highland
Games (Scotland), Guy Fawkes Day (England), Boxing Day
(England), and Cheese Rolling (England).
Highland Games
• Highland games are events held
throughout the year in Scotland
and other countries as a way of
celebrating Scottish and Celtic
culture and heritage, especially
that of the Scottish Highlands.
Certain aspects of the games are
so well known as to have become
emblematic of Scotland, such as
the bagpipes, the kilt, and the
heavy events, especially the
caber toss. While centred on
competitions in piping and
drumming, dancing, and Scottish
heavy athletics, the games also
include entertainment and
exhibits related to other aspects
of Scottish and Gaelic culture.
BOXING
DAY
How It Got Started
• Boxing Day originated in
England in the middle of the
nineteenth century under
Queen Victoria. It is spent
with family and friends at
open gatherings with lots of
food, fun, friendship and
love.
Customs
• Boxing Day is so called because it
was the custom on that day for
tradesmen to collect their
Christmas boxes or gifts in return
for good and reliable service
throughout the year.
• Boxing Day is also St. Stephen's
Day. St Stephen was a little
known saint who achieved
eternal fame by being the first
Christian to be martyred for his
faith by being stoned to death
shortly after Christ's crucifixion.
He's also named in the Christmas
song Good King Wenceslas
• Shopping
United Kingdom: Customs
In England afternoon tea is a custom that has
carried on for centuries. Traditionally at four
o’clock every afternoon, afternoon tea is served
hot with small pastries or sandwich's.
Country
Literacy
Rate
Language
Customs
Traditions
Italy
98%
Italian
(Romantic
Language)
Opera
Christmas &
Easter
Rome is home
to the Pope,
the head of the
Catholic
Church.
United
Kingdom
99%
English
(Germanic
Language)
Also Welsh,
Celtic, &
Gaelic in other
parts.
Afternoon Tea
Many
traditions from
Scotland,
Wales &
England.
The End
La Fin- French
Ende- German
το τέλος (to télos)- Greek
В конце (V kontse)- Russian
alla fine- Italian
Project
• Students will be assigned a country
• They will use a Rubric to complete the
assignment