CULTURE, FOOD AND MEMO

to those in the North of Europe. This can probably be explained due to the different weather conditions and the historical background, both of which have played a huge role in shaping culture up to this day.” “Personally, for me the difference between the East and West is the most visible, most likely due to my background. I think the East is more family oriented and more religious than the West. The East is also far more conservative than the West. More day-to-day differences would be humour and approach to life and friends. Other than that, the division with North and South and North being far more reserved is also visible.”

“Yes, coming from Western European cultures and having met many Northern Europeans at university I can safely say the culture is different. I think it’s about one’s relationship to nature/ one’s environment.”

What is something you believe all European Countries and Cultures have in common? “High westernization relative to the world, shared histories”

“A sense of community, being open-minded, inclusive (most of them), not ignorant.” “I think they are all quite globalized / multicultural at this point but hold very authentic to each nation’s values. I also believe that EU member states share a more open attitude towards cross-country cooperation.”

What is something you believe all European Countries and Cultures diverge in?

- Politics - Religion - Values - Finances - Linguistics - Fashion - Habits - Accents - Table manners - Architecture - Style of Cooking & Ingredients - Alcoholic Preferences - Daily Schedules

What do you think is a misconception of a “European Culture”?

“That because we are all from the same continent, we are the same. Of course when you talk about culture you are generalising, because you cannot include every single person’s preferences into a general map of the traditions and festivities of a nation, but I believe that something beautiful about European countries is how different they are from one another and how much there is to learn from other cultures.”

“That EU values = European Culture”

“It’s all the same...”

“That it’s extremely Westernized (ideals, values, democratic, liberal) and uniform, while it’s actually quite diverse.” “I think that especially with the rise of the EU, people think that with the term ‘European Culture’ comes from a perceived unification of all cultures present in Europe. Personally, in my opinion European Culture is the term encompassing all of those differences between smaller parts of Europe.” “That it exists as a whole.”

Culture, Food and Memories

Easter around the dining table Roos van de Laan

Tomás from Portugal:

As a predominantly Catholic country, Portugal’s Easter rituals still carry a strong religious importance. In a COVID-19 free world, many devoted families host the Compasso, a small procession group that carries the crucified Christ for the faithful to kiss, while blessing the entered houses. Following the Compasso, families attend the Easter Mass, before going back home to start the Easter feast. The main course is usually roasted lamb with roast potatoes, accompanied by rice, and often some other vegetables. An interesting detail is that all the food is roasted – even the rice, after it is cooked! – in typical clay platters. However, some families often opt not to have roasted lamb, and instead have roasted veal, or even some other dish. The dessert is always at the discretion of the host and of the particular region of the country, but one thing cannot be missing: the pão-de-ló. The pão-de-ló is essentially made out of butter and eggs, and it can be dry or moist (with eggs). The clay platters always take me back to my beloved childhood memories at my grandma’s kitchen, waiting for the family to arrive. The roasted lamb with potatoes à la Nana Fernanda, is extremely popular among the family, and everyone wants to fight for the best bits. I am not a dessert-person, frankly I prefer a caldo-verde before the lamb, but I cannot say no to some pão-de-ló!

Martyna from Poland/Norway:

Hi! So, I come from Norway however, I have a Polish family and therefore we have the pleasure to celebrate a bit of everything when it comes to Easter. The Polish traditions, which have stayed with us during our time in Norway, have been the yearly Easter traditions of making Easter eggs, Easter baskets, as well as my personal favourite; Śmigus-dyngus or Dyngus Day where you get to splash your family and friends with water. My favourite way of making Easter eggs is boiling the eggs in onion skins until the eggs turn to a dark brown colour, to which you can then scrape and carve your own personal intricate designs on them with a needle. Another tradition which I find lovely is the creation of the Easter basket. You create the Easter basket with bread, eggs, ham, salt, horseradish, a lamb-shaped cake and also chocolate. On Holy Saturday, you then take the basket to Church where the Priest blesses the basket with Holy Water. The best part is when you get to enjoy the blessed food for the Easter Breakfast! In Norway, Easter is slightly less concerned with the Pagan and Christian traditions, nevertheless Norway has a rather modern and cosy take on Easter. There is a longstanding tradition of Påskekrim, which translates to “Easter Crime” and can be visualized as the whole nation coming together within their separate vicinities to read crime stories in the Easter sun. Arguably, the Easter sun is best enjoyed outside in the snow, and most people enjoy cross-country skiing, going to their cabins, normal skiing or tanning outside in the snow during the Easter holidays. Last but by no means least, having a chocolate cream egg in one hand, a sausage in Lompe within the other hand whilst listening to crime podcasts and happily riding upon your skis, well, that’s the perfect Norwegian Påske (Easter).