10 Surprising Facts About Albanian Culture

Albanien is a small country in the heart of the Balkans, but it cherishes many traditions and beliefs that have been preserved through the centuries. You’ve probably heard of some of them from friends or locals, or there’s a chance you’ll find these facts new and surprising.

Ready to find them out?

Hvidløgs beskyttende kraft

In Albania, garlic isn’t just used in cooking as a staple ingredient. It is also believed to be a powerful amulet against evil. This goes to the extent where some Albanians carry a clove of garlic with them to protect against the “evil eye”, or you might find them hanging somewhere in doorways, for example, in homes or restauranter.

Denne tro er dybt forankret i den albanske folklore, hvor hvidløg ses som en stærk kraft, der kan afværge ulykke og skade. Så bliv ikke overrasket, hvis du bliver vidne til denne overtro og kulturelle tradition i Albanien.

Kludedukker (Dordoleca)

Rag dolls, or, as they are called in Albanian, ‘dordoleca’, are found in many rural households. These dolls or stuffed figures, often crafted from old clothes and materials, are placed on buildings, houses, and even fields.

The primary purpose of a dordolec is to protect property from envy. These figures are believed to guard against the ill intentions of those who might wish harm upon the household or its possessions.

Kaffe-kultur

Coffee is more than just a beverage in Albania. People here love to spend hours in coffee shops, chatting with friends and family, working, or reading a bog. To me, it’s like a hobby.

Coffee culture is also significant during household visits, where it’s common to be welcomed with Turkish coffee and desserts.

Paja - Brudens medgift

An interesting tradition in (some parts) of Albania is the “paja,” or the goods a bride brings to her husband’s house upon marriage. The paja typically includes household items, clothes, and other valuable possessions.

This tradition symbolizes the bride contributing to the new household and is an important part of many Albanian wedding ceremonies. Nowadays, it is not very common, especially among couples who don’t prefer carrying out a traditional ceremony.

Traditionelle bryllupsritualer

Albanian weddings, held in traditional settings, are full of rituals. One such tradition is throwing rice and money at the newlyweds to wish them prosperity and abundance.

Another unique custom involves putting honey at the front door of the couple’s new home, symbolizing a sweet and happy marriage.

Gæstfrihed

Hospitality is a very important trait for Albanians, known as “mikpritja.” Guests are treated with utmost respect and generosity, often being offered the best food and accommodations available. This tradition of hospitality is deeply ingrained in Albanian culture and reflects the importance of samfund and family.

Stirrer

Besøgende i Albanien vil måske bemærke et usædvanligt kulturelt fænomen: stirren. Det er almindeligt, at de lokale stirrer åbenlyst på folk, især nyankomne. Denne praksis er generelt harmløs og skyldes nysgerrighed snarere end uhøflighed.

I et land, hvor alle kender alle i små samfund, tiltrækker et nyt ansigt naturligvis opmærksomhed. Selv om det kan føles ubehageligt i starten, kan en forståelse af dette aspekt af albansk social adfærd hjælpe med at lette det første ubehag.

Kanun og æreskodekset

Den nordalbanske kultur er dybt præget af Kanun, et sæt traditionelle love og regler, som har styret den sociale adfærd i århundreder. Kanun dækker forskellige aspekter af livet, herunder familie, ejendom og personlig adfærd.

Et af de mest bemærkelsesværdige elementer i Kanun er begrebet "besa", som betyder "tro" eller "løfte". Besa er et helligt løfte om loyalitet og beskyttelse, og at bryde det betragtes som en af de alvorligste lovovertrædelser. Dette æreskodeks respekteres stadig i mange dele af Albanien og spiller en vigtig rolle i opretholdelsen af social harmoni.

Religioner eksisterer side om side

Religiøs tolerance og frihed er udbredt i Albanien. Forskellige religiøse samfund lever fredeligt side om side. Denne harmoni er en stolthed for mange albanere, fordi den afspejler et samfund, der værdsætter mangfoldighed og gensidig respekt.

Dyre biler

One surprising sight in Albania is the prevalence of expensive cars, particularly Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Despite the country’s economic challenges, expensive cars are a common choice among Albanians, and it’s common to find these cars everywhere in the country.

Fun fact: For many years, owning a car in Albania was not normal at all. Until the early 1990s, private car ownership was heavily restricted under the communist regime. Cars were not something people could simply buy; they were reserved almost entirely for government officials and those close to the ruling system.

Konklusion

Albaniens kultur er fuld af interessante overbevisninger og skikke. Selv om mange mennesker måske finder dem overraskende, har sådanne traditioner været kernen i det albanske samfund i århundreder, og de fleste af dem har overlevet den dag i dag.

Have you noticed similar customs during your stay here? Let us know in the comments below. We’d love to hear your experience!

You might also want to read: 10 interessante fakta, du ikke vidste om Albanien