Luxembourg

Here are some more ’useful’ phrases in Luxembourgish:

Moyen - Hello, good morning
Addy/Eddy - Goodbye
Merci - Thank you

Eng, svee, dree - One, two, three
Wou kann ech een Ticket kaafen? - Where can I get a ticket?
Ech hatt garen een Ticket fir op..? - Can I have a ticket to...?

Luxembourg is an attractive country with a green and picturesque landscape and many historical sites within easy reach of one another. The northern third of the country is the Ardennes, set in beautiful forested hills and valleys.

Customs of Luxembourg

Knowing the customs of a country is, in effect, a guide to understanding the soul of that country and its people. Luxembourgers cherish their independence and separate identity in Europe. Modesty, friendship and strong national pride are valued. They enjoy a slower pace of life than most of northern Europe. Family is very important. Parents influence every aspect of their children’s lives; however, this is weakening as more young people leave the country to study/work abroad.

Culture of Luxembourg: The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of the small European nation of Luxembourg.

Type: Constitutional monarchy.
Independence: 1839.
Constitution: 1868.
Branches: Executive - Grand Duke (head of state, ceremonial), Prime Minister (head of government). Legislative - unicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies with Council of State serving as a consultative body). Judicial - Superior Court.
Political parties in parliament: Christian Social Union (CSV), Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), Democratic Party (DP), Green Party, Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR).
Suffrage: Universal over age of 18.

After 400 years of domination by various European nations, Luxembourg was granted the status of Grand Duchy by the Congress of Vienna on 9. June 1815. Although Luxembourg considers 1835 (Treaty of London) to be its year of independence, it was not granted political autonomy until 1839 under King William I of the Netherlands, who also was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. In 1867, Luxembourg was recognized as independent and guaranteed perpetual neutrality.

GDP (2006): $33,87 billion (purchasing power parity); $34,53 billion (official exchange rate).
Currency: euro (€). Exchange rate (8. August 2007): €1 = $1,3736.
Annual growth rate (2006): 6,2%.
Per capita income (2006): $71 400.
Inflation rate (2006): 2,6%.
Natural resources: Iron ore, timber.
Agriculture (2005: 0,4% of GDP): Dairy, wine, forestry, animal feed crops. Arable land - 24%; forested land - 21%.
Services (2005: 83,3% of GDP): Banking and financial services predominate.

Area: 2 586 sq. km.
Cities: Capital - Luxembourg City (pop. 83 800). Other cities - Esch-sur-Alzette (pop. 29 100), Differdange (pop. 20 100), Dudelange (pop. 18 000). (2007 figures from STATEC.)
Terrain: Continuation of Belgian Ardennes in the north, heavily forested and slightly mountainous; extension of French Lorraine plateau in the south, with open, rolling countryside.
Climate: Modified continental, rainy, with mild summers and moderate snowfall in winter.