Country Fact Sheet for Liechtenstein

• Countries surrounding Liechtenstein is Austria and Switzerland.

• The capital of Liechtenstein is Vaduz. There are six major cities, Gamprin, Eschen, Schaan, Triesenberg, Malbun, and Ruggell.

• As of 2011 the population of Liechtenstein is 36,304.

• Lichtenstein people speak German, Alemannic German, English and French.

• Roman Catholicism and Protestants are the religion that is practiced in Liechtenstein.

• The reason I picked Liechtenstein is because I honestly didn’t know that it existed until Vicky told me about it so I decided to do it.

Liechtenstein Holidays• Holidays in Liechtenstein follow the holy days of the Christian Calendar. These

holidays include Epiphany (January 6), Candlemas (February 2), the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19), Easter (observed from Good Friday through Easter Monday in late March or early April), Ascension Day (in May), Whit Monday (in May), Corpus Christi (in June), the Nativity of Our Lady (September 8), All Saints' Day (November 1), the Immaculate Conception (December 8), and Christmas, which is celebrated December 24–26.Other holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Labour Day (May 1), and Liechtenstein's national day (August 15), which is celebrated with speeches and fireworks.

• Liechtenstein's national holiday is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, on the day of The Assumption of blessed virgin Mary into heaven, but it is often simply referred to as the Assumption. ‘The Prince’s Celebration’ is what the citizens of Liechtenstein call it though. This celebration was introduced in 1940 and it is closely linked to the birthday of Prince Franz-Josef II on the August the sixteenth.

• On the ‘Prince’s Celebration’, thousands of locals, and tourists gather in Vaduz (The capital of Liechtenstein) to attend a large fair. The national holiday is officially opened on the lawn in front of Vaduz Castle with a ceremony. During this, the Prince, The president and the members of parliament make speeches. Following this there are drinks in the castle gardens, then in the afternoon in the center of Vaduz, the fair. Concluding the celebrations, in the evening there is a spectacular firework display near Vaduz Castle.

On casual and formal occasions, Liechtenstein people wear modern,. Western-style clothing. The people of Liechtenstein tend to dress neatly and conservatively when they are in public. Their traditional costumes (clothes) are called Trachten. They are only worn rarely and normally worn for festivals and other special occasions. Women's costumes are gathered at the waist, a full skirt, and an apron. While the men wear knee-length breeches (Short trousers fastened just below the knee, now chiefly worn for riding a horse or as part of ceremonial dress), a flat black hat, and a loden (woollen) jacket.

Liechtenstein Greetings and Customs

• The people in Liechtenstein commonly greet each other by shaking hands and using verbal greetings such as “Gruezi” (also used in Switzerland) and the German “Grüss Gott.” Both of these are used to say “Hi.” “Hoi!” Is also used as an informal greeting in Liechtenstein used between friends.

• Other then that I can not find anything more customs or gestures in Liechtenstein

• The people of Liechtenstein are sports enthusiasts. Over a third of Liechtenstein's population belong to the National Sports Union. The principality's downhill ski resorts are world-famous, especially the ones at Malbun and Steg. The Steg resort also has a popular cross-country ski course with a 1 mile (1.7-kilometer) stretch that is lit with floodlights, allowing night time skiing. Summer sports include hiking, bicycling, and football (soccer).

• Crafts that are done in Liechtenstein include basket weaving, coopering (barrel-making), clog carving, and the fashioning of elaborate rakes. These activities today have largely been replaced by the modern crafts of pottery, sculpting, and woodcarving, all areas in which Liechtenstein's artists have a distinguished reputation throughout Europe. Liechtenstein is world famous for it’s gorgeous postage stamps. The stamps are a valuable collectors item, with many based on paintings found in the prestigious art collection of Liechtenstein's prince.

• In Liechtenstein cultural pursuits like performing in choirs and bands are popular. Lots of people belong to social clubs. The television is a common form of recreation. Liechtenstein has about one television set for every three people. All television programming is received from abroad. Radio broadcasts in Liechtenstein began in 1994.

The small national coat of arms is the family shield of the Princely House per fess or and gules (horizontal bands of gold and red) under the Princely hat.

The national colors are blue and red. The flag consists of a rectangular cloth loosely affixed to a pole, with two equally wide horizontal bands, blue above, red below. In the blue band near the pole, the Princely hat is emblazoned in gold.

The colors of the reigning Princely House of Liechtenstein are gold and red.

http://www.liechtenstein.li/index.php?id=16%20&L=1 Information for this and the next slide are all from this site. So all credit to them.

Motto:“Für Gott, Fürst und Vaterland""For God, Prince and Fatherland"

Marriage:

Most People in Liechtenstein marry in there late twenties, preferring to complete there education before they take on the responsibilities of raising a family. Though it is not unusual for non married couples to live together before or instead of marrying. There are still a few traditional customs that are practiced at weddings in some villages. One is when the bride and groom leave the church after the ceremony, they often find their way blocked by a rope held by the children in the village, who must be "bribed" by the best man in order to let the couple pass. Other bribes would be paid later if the children are able to get away with one of the brides shoes. Another is done sometimes by the friends of the groom who would “kidnap” the bride, it is then where the groom would have to pay up. Another wedding custom that has been banned for safety reasons is firing guns into the air. Although this is banned it is still done occasionally. A typical family in Liechtenstein normally consists of the parents and on an average of two children, and many married women in Liechtenstein tend to work outside of their home.

As for funerals, I can not find anything on traditional Liechtenstein funerals, or ceremionies, or burials.

The coat of arms of the Princely House of Liechtenstein is also the large national coat of arms. It is the sovereign emblem of the Principality of Liechtenstein, used on seals and stamps as well as on official signs and printed matter. The right to use the large coat of arms is reserved to the members of the Princely House and State authorities. The Government may also grant private individuals authorization to use the large coat of arms, if it is in the interest of the State.The coat of arms is quarterly with chapé in base, charged with per fess or and gules over all. The individual shields united in the large coat of arms indicate the history of the Princely House:

-the family shield of the Princely House is per fess or and gules

-the Silesian shield is or an eagle sable, crowned, armed or, charged with crescent

trefly argent ending in crosses -the shield of the Kuenringe is a barry of 8

pieces or and sable charged with

crancelin vert

-the shield of the Duchy of Troppau is per pale gules and argent -the shield of East Frisia or Rietberg is or a maiden eagle sable with head argent, crowned, armed or

-the shield of the Duchy of Jägerndorf is shown chapé azure a bugle-horn or stringed or. -The shield is surrounded by the Princely cloak (mantle) crowned with the Princely hat, purpure with ermine

lining

Liechtenstein’s National Anthem.

• English Translation.• Up on the Young Rhine • High above the young Rhine

Lies Liechtenstein, resting On Alpine heights. This beloved homeland, This dear fatherland Was chosen for us by God's wise hand. This beloved homeland, This dear fatherland Was chosen for us by God's wise hand. Long live Liechtenstein, Blossoming on the young Rhine, Happy and faithful! Long live the Prince of the Land, Long live our fatherland, United by brotherly bonds and free. Long live the Prince of the Land, Long live our fatherland, United by brotherly bonds and free.

• Official Language.• Oben am jungen Rhein• Oben am jungen Rhein

Lehnet sich Liechtenstein An Alpenhöh'n. Dies liebe Heimatland, Das teure Vaterland, Hat Gotes weiser Hand Für uns erseh'n. Dies liebe Heimatland, Das teure Vaterland, Hat Gotes weiser Hand Für uns erseh'n. Hoch lebe Liechtenstein, Blühend am jungen Rhein, Glücklich und treu. Hoch leb'der Fürst vom and Land, Hoch unser Vaterland, Durch Buderliebe-Band Vereint und frei. Hoch leb'der Fürst vom and Land, Hoch unser Vaterland, Durch Buderliebe-Band Vereint und frei.

The national anthem is sung to the same tune as God Save the Queen