Culture of Luxembourg
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The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of
Arts
Painting
Other celebrated painters of the periods were the Impressionist
Major contributors to the art scene after World War II were Emile Kirscht, Michel Stoffel, Foni Tissen, and Gust Graas.[4] Closely associated with the post-war artists was the sculptor Lucien Wercollier whose impressive abstract works in bronze and marble can be found not just in public places in Luxembourg but in the surrounding countries too.[5]The sculptor Claus Cito (1882–1965) is remembered above all for the Gëlle Fra (Golden Woman) sculpture crowning the Monument of Remembrance obelisk (1923), raised in memory of the Luxembourg soldiers who died for their country in the First World War.[6]
One of the country's most successful contemporary artists is Su-Mei Tse who, in 2003, won the Golden Lion, a prize awarded to the best national participant at the Venice International Exhibition of Contemporary Art.[4]
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Jean-Baptiste Fresez: Vianden near the Bridge (c. 1857) -
Nicolas Liez: View of Luxembourg from the Fetschenhof (1870) -
Dominique Lang: Le Barrage (1913) -
Nico Klopp: Loop in the Moselle at Greiveldange with Stadtbredimus (1930)
Photography
Considering the country's small size, the
Contemporary photographers include the photojournalists Patrick Galbats, Yvon Lambert and Thierry Frisch.
Literature and poetry
Little is known of Luxembourg literature beyond the country's borders, partly because three languages are used, partly because many works assume a local readership. Furthermore, it was not until the 19th century that the literature of Luxembourg began to develop.[7]
In 1829, Antoine Meyer published the very first book in Lëtzebuerger Däitsch, the local Germanic dialect later called Luxembourgish, a collection of poems titled "E' Schrek op de' Lezeburger Parnassus" (A Step up Luxembourg's Parnassus).
Luxembourgish literature was long confined to poetry and the theatre, but in the 1980s, as a result of the movement to make Luxembourgish an official language, Guy Rewenig (born in 1947) and Roger Manderscheid (1933–2010) both wrote novels in Luxembourgish. Rewenig's Hannert dem Atlantik appeared in 1985 and Manderscheid's childhood trilogy Schacko klak, De papagei um kâschtebam and Feier a flam in 1988.[11]
Architecture
The
The architecture of Luxembourg extends back to the
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Echternach Basilica
Music
The wide general interest in music and musical activities in Luxembourg can be seen from the membership of the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe, the national music federation for choral societies, brass bands, music schools, theatrical societies, folklore associations and instrumental groups. Some 340 societies with over 17,000 individual members are currently represented by the organization.[12]
The two main venues for classical music in Luxembourg are the Philharmonie concert hall, home to the Philharmonie de Luxembourg orchestra, and the Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg with frequent performances of opera and ballet. Luxembourg's internationally recognized soloists include violinist Sandrine Cantoreggi, cellist Françoise Groben, pianists Francesco Tristano Schlimé and Jean Muller, and singer Mariette Kemmer. Among its contemporary composers are Camille Kerger, Claude Lenners, Georges Lentz (although he lives mainly in Australia), Alexander Mullenbach and Marcel Wengler.
Composers such as Alexander Mullenbach provide key insights into the uniqueness of the cultural perspective of Luxembourgers: "One of the most important qualities of being a Luxembourger abroad is the fact that we have an affinity, linguistically and culturally, with both the German and French (and also Anglo-Saxon) culture. This allows us as Luxembourgers to have a different approach and access to these cultures, especially when working in the arts or cultural scene."[13]
Opera is frequently performed in
Brian Molko, singer/guitarist of rock band Placebo lived in Luxembourg for most of his life, where he learned to play various instruments such as guitar, piano and saxophone. Bassist Stefan Olsdal also lived there, the two of them met at school in Luxembourg but lost touch until they met again years later in London. One of the most influential Luxembourg bands of the last decades is Cool Feet, which performs old Luxembourgish songs.
Luxembourg was a founding participant of the Eurovision Song Contest, and participated every year between 1956 and before it was relegated after the 1993, with the exception of 1959. Although Luxembourg was free to participate again in 1995, it chose not to return to the competition before 2024. It has won the competition a total of five times, 1961, 1965, 1972, 1973 and 1983 and hosted the contest in 1962, 1966, 1973, and 1984. Only nine of its 38 entries before 2024, and none of its five winning entries, were performed by Luxembourgish artists.[14] On its 2024 return, this was, however, with a particular emphasis on promoting music and artists from Luxembourg.[15]
For modern popular music concerts, the neighborhood of
Cinema
Cultural institutions
Museums
The major museums are:
- National Museum of History and Art (MNHA)
- National Museum of Natural History(NMHN)
- Luxembourg City History Museum
- Museum of Modern Art Grand-Duc Jean(MUDAM)
- National Museum of Resistance and Human Rights, Esch-sur-Alzette[18]
- National Mining Museum, Luxembourg[19]
- National Museum of Military History,[20] Diekirch
Galleries
- Casino Luxembourg, forum for contemporary art in Luxembourg City
- Villa Vauban, art museum
Exhibitions
- The Family of Man exhibit at Clervaux Castle[21]
Cuisine
Food
Luxembourg's cuisine has been influenced over the years by neighboring France, Germany, and Belgium.[22] More recently, it has had influence from its many Italian and Portuguese immigrants.
Luxembourg has many delicacies including its
). French cuisine is prominent on many menus, and to a lesser extent so are German and Belgian cuisines.Alcohol
A number of white and sparkling wines are produced in Luxembourg, on the north bank of the
. Authentic Luxembourg wine can be identified by the National Mark.Luxembourg has a fair number of
Specialties
These are some specialties of Luxembourg:
- Thüringer - Inexpensive, small sausages that taste like a spicy version of the German bratwurst. They are often sold by street vendors and at roadside stands. New regulations prohibit the use of the word "Thüringer" as it is now regionally protected and reserved to sausages produced in the German free state of Thuringia. They are now commonly referred to as "Grillwurscht" (Lëtzebuerger) or "Grillinger".
- Bouneschlupp - A green bean soup.
- onions and parsley, then deep-fried. They are available at roadside stands as well.
- Prosciutto crudo, sliced paper-thin and commonly served with fresh bread.
- Kachkéis (cooked cheese) - A soft cheese spread.
- Pâté - A spreadable paste, usually made of meat but vegetarian versions exist.
- Quetschentaart - A plum tart; along with peach, cherry, and pear tarts, it is a typical dessert and can be found in any pastry shop or restaurant.
Sports
Football
Football is the most popular sport in Luxembourg. Football in Luxembourg is governed by the Luxembourg Football Federation (FLF), which is a member of FIFA and UEFA. The FLF organises the men's, women's, and futsal national teams.
The Luxembourg National Division is the premier domestic sports League in the country. Luxembourg was amongst the first countries in the world to be introduced to football, with the National Division being established in 1913, and the national team playing its first match in 1911.
The game of football is the most popular sport in the whole country of Luxembourg (especially in the south), having developed earliest in the industrial
The national team, nicknamed D'Roud Léiwen ('The Red Lions'), ranked among the weakest in the world in the 2000s and early 2010s. As of February 2024, the team has never qualified for either a World Cup or a European Championship. Under trainer Luc Holtz, the Red Lions have gained more prominence, attaining their highest ever FIFA ranking at 82nd in 2018, and achieving results that have included a 1-0 victory over Ireland in 2021, and a relatively successful qualifying campaign for the 2024 European Championship. Luxembourg's most famous past players include Louis Pilot and Guy Hellers, both of whom also coached the national team after ending their playing careers.
Cricket
Traditional events
- The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.[23]
- Schueberfouer
References
- ^ Georgette Bisdorff, "Joseph Kutter" Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine, Ons stad, No 73, 2003, p. 36. (in French) Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ "Nico Klopp (1894-1930)" Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art. (in French) Retrieved 21 January 2011.
- ^ Georgette Bisdorff, "Sosthène Weis" Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine, Ons stad, No 66, 2001. (in French) Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ a b c "Art and Culture in Luxembourg" Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, EU2005.lu Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "Wercollier, Lucien", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, 2006. (in German)
- ^ Georgette Bisdorff, "Claus Cito, der Bildhauer aus Bascharage", Ons stad No 60, 1999. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ISBN 2-87999-020-3. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Fontaine, Edmond (Lucien Irvin) de la", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, 2006. (in German)
- ^ Sylvie Kremer-Schmit, "Batty Weber", Ons stad, No 35, 1990. (in German) Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "Jean Portante" Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine, Transcript 26/27. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ R. Muller, "Les débuts de la littérature luxembourgophone", Projet « Formatioun Lëtzebuergesch: ULG – Campus d'Arlon, 17 February 2007. (in French) Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Union Grand-Duc Adolphe", Luxemburger Lexikon, Editions Guy Binsfeld, Luxembourg, 2006. (in German)
- ^ "Composition in his veins". luxembourg.public.lu. 8 August 2023.
- ^ "🇱🇺 No Eurovision return for Luxembourg in 2021". ESCXTRA.com. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "Luxembourg to return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024". eurovision.tv. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
- ^ "Welcome to the Rockhal - Official Website". Rockhal.
- ^ "11 -13 August 2023: Line-up released for Echternach's e-Lake festival". today.rtl.lu.
- ^ "National Museum of Resistance and Human Rights". www.visitminett.lu.
- ^ "MNM.lu – Musée National des Mines de Fer du Luxembourg".
- ^ "Home". Musée National d'Histoire Militaire.
- ^ "The Family of Man". Steichen Collections CNA.
- ^ " Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback MachineNational and Regional Food Specialities" Archived 2012-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, Angloinfo Luxembourg. Retrieved 08 June 2016.
- ^ "Hopping procession of Echternach". UNESCO. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
External links
