traditions
Scotland: address to haggis and Europe
25 January 2012 marks the 253rd birthday of Robert Burns, the most famous Scottish bard. Supermarkets all over are going haggis-crazy. Haggis is delicious, but not for the faint hearted. Recipe
traditions, recipe, food, edinburgh, yum nyam, united kingdom, haggis
Seadas or sebadas: how to make Sardinian cheese pastry
Originally simple dishes of rural origin, 'sebadas' or 'seadas' have been given a new identity and today are served as a dessert. This is the brief story of a Sardinian delicacy whose roots are buried deep in the ancient rustic tradition
traditions, sebadas, italy, cooking, yum nyam, sardinia, eat
Bonfire night: Guy Fawkes, Europe's first 'indignant' citizen
The image of Guy Fawkes is everywhere at the moment, inspiring the worldwide anonymous and occupy movements. What would he have thought if he had known that over four hundred years after his death thousands of people in Europe and beyond would be wearing masks of his face while protesting against today’s all-encompassing global political system?
traditions, london, culture, united kingdom, history, politics, 'indignant citizens' movement
Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ in Old Bazaar, Çarshia
There are essential traces of the history of Albanians and Macedonians, evidence of survival and revival after the Balkan or world wars. Skopje’s ‘Albanian neighbourhood’ is in a corner where the çarshia (bazaar) lies below the citadel, says Anisa Ymeri
traditions, balkans, cities, immigration, community, albania, shopping
Student duelling clubs in Europe: no Harry Potter magic in Germany
In mid-June the Alte Breslauer duelling club in Bonn petitioned its national umbrella organisation to stipulate German descent as a criterium for accepting the currently 1, 300 students into these legendary student societies. In June, a society in Mannheim allowed a German of Chinese descent to join. The case drags the just over 100 German duelling clubs, which are accused of harbouring extreme right-wing ideologies, into a negative rather than magical light
traditions, racism, germany, immigration, china, austria, students
Zagreb’s Miss Independents
The higher educated woman in Zagreb is close to the 'western model' of female independence. In the Croatian capital a Serbian journalist meet feminists, students, musicians and actresses who she says are moving away from the ‘traditional’ – at least from a Balkan perspective
traditions, university, feminism, balkans, youth, croatia, zagreb
What are you doing on 29 April? European republicans on rise amid British royal wedding hysteria
As a Brit currently living in Germany, many people have recently been asking me excitedly about the up-coming British royal wedding. Mostly people are surprised, or even disappointed, when I explain that no, I won’t be watching the wedding, but rather probably inviting friends around for a 'this is not a royal wedding' party
traditions, monarchy, wedding, london, love, united kingdom, european democracy
Easter Monday tradition in Czech Republic: beat women with twigs
This custom, which is particularly popular in the countryside, has nothing to do with violence though. The men ring at neighbours' and relatives' houses and hit the women on the legs with woven twigs; according to tradition the vitality and the strength of the young willow twigs are meant to pass on to the person struck – but not all women are fans of the custom
Knecht Ruprecht and his motley crew of Christmas meanies
Santa Claus is coming to town...and so what? Europe’s christmas traditions don’t always bring nice surprises
traditions, italy, religion, tower of babel, christmas, germany, children
Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque
Guards make sure that everyone picks up a carrier bag and takes their shoes off before placing even a toe onto the carpeted steps of the Blue Mosque. We’re three German, British and Polish tourists who have come prepared with headscarves, but inside we see lots of bare-headed female tourists
Sise delle Monache: no toplessness nor religion behind Abruzzo's domed cakes
Yes, you've just sunk your teeth into 'nun's tits' - albeit made of sponge and cream. The name behind this regional Italian speciality hovers between mountain peaks and nun's habits
traditions, italy, lifestyle, cooking, culture, yum nyam, regions
Ramadan: from Bologna with love
We’re hungry, and in a hurry. The evening sun is still strong enough to melt the tar between the cobbles. I’m in Bologna, Italy, and Badr is bringing me as a guest to iftar, the daily feast that breaks the ramadan fast.
traditions, italy, morocco, recipe, food, best of cafebabel.com, yum nyam
Catalonia vs bulls: prohibition of Spanishness?
When the Catalan parliament voted against bullfighting in the community on 28 July, the bullfighting world grouped together to defend their interests. The political opposition has announced that it will promote a law in congress to avoid further rulings of this type. The ‘Plataforma Prou!’, promoter of the popular legislative initiative that gave a place to the vote, announced that they would not give up in their fight to free bulls from martyrdom
traditions, nationalism, animals, culture, barcelona, regionalism, politics
Swedish royal wedding: boosting neither tourism nor young spirits
Victoria Bernadotte, the 32-year-old heiress to the throne, will wed commoner Daniel Westling, 36, in the capital's cathedral on 19 June. Despite the smorgasbord of fun on display in Stockholm, the widespread feeling amongst Swedes and expats is that the merriment is wasteful and annoying
A brief history: döner kebab, fair ambassador to Turkey?
One of the most popular late night snacks in Europe is the flag bearer of Turkish cuisine outside of Turkey. Is this a source of pride or sorrow for the Turks? Plus, a recipe for green beans in olive oil
traditions, recipe, cooking, turkey, yum nyam, eat, stamboul
Ties and tees: three innovative fashion initiatives from Ljubljana, Lille and Berlin
Between 20 - 22 January, the historic Berlin-Tempelhof airport compound served as the venue of Bread and Butter, the most prominent trade fair for urban and streetwear, for the second year in a row. We pick tie manufacturers, T-shirt street fashion and an eco-sports label as top of the crop
traditions, fair, lifestyle, berlin, culture, clothes, culture calendar
Mulled wine across Europe
Sugarloaves, Swedish punch and grog: how Europe drinks to stay warm in the chilly run up to christmas
traditions, cinema, christmas, germany, film, alcohol, gastronomy
Evora, where life bumps to a different rhythm than in Lisbon
The economic development of the Alentejo region of the country poses the same problem faced by many Mediterranean countries. How can innovation and tradition survive side-by-side?
traditions, italy, university, greece, research and innovation, portugal, youth
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