Sayings of Luxembourg origin
Words are but dwarfs, examples are giants.
When girls whistle, the Holy Virgin cries.
To the fiancé — milk; to the bride — butter; to the husband — cheese.
Your wife and your wheelbarrow — lend them to no one.
Truth is what women do not tell.
In the eyes of its mother every turkey is a swan.
A woman who likes to wash will find water.
Keep your eye on girls that don’t tell their mothers everything.
A man’s eyes are for seeing, a woman’s for being seen.
The wife cries before the wedding, the husband after.
A woman is at her strongest when she faints.
A woman is as old as she wishes to tell you.
You will catch no birds with a club.
Luxembourg, officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a landlocked country in western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. It comprises two principal regions: the Oesling in the north as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland (“good country”) in the south.
With an area of 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi), it is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe. Luxembourg had a population of 524,853 in October 2012, ranking it the 8th least-populous country in Europe.
As a representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is headed by a grand duke, and as of now, it is the world’s only remaining grand duchy.
Luxembourg is a developed country, with an advanced economy and the world’s highest GDP (PPP) per capita, according to the United Nations in 2014. Its central location has historically made it of great strategic importance to numerous powers, dating back to its founding as a Roman fortress, its hosting of a vital Frankish castle during the Early Middle Ages, and its role as a bastion for the Spanish Road between the 16th and 17th centuries. (External link to Wikipedia page on Luxembourg for further reading!)
Three languages are recognised as official in Luxembourg: French, German, and Luxembourgish, a Franconian language of the Moselle region that is also spoken in neighbouring parts of Belgium, France and Germany.
The city of Luxembourg, which is the country’s capital and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the EU. On 18 October 2012, Luxembourg was elected to a temporary seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history.
Our Homeland “Ons Heemecht” is the national anthem of Luxembourg.
Lyrics
Where the Alzette flows through the meadows
The Sura bathes the rocks;
Where the Moselle, smiling and beautiful
We made a present of wine
This is our country for which
We risk everything on earth;
Our homeland and adorable home
Our soul which is fulfilled.
Our homeland and adorable home
Our soul which is fulfilled.
In its dark wood crown
always guarded by peace,
So without pomp and splendor expensive
Comfortable love laughing.
His people can say is happy
And there is no empty dreams:
How nice life here but,
how far is it from home.
How nice life here but,
how far is it from home.
Singing, singing, mountain and valley
The earth that bore us,
The “love has a faithful echo
conducted in each breast.
For a country way too good
Every word that sounds out of it,
Take the soul as sky tome
And our eyes shining like fire.
Take the soul as sky tone
And our eyes shining like fire.
O Thou in heaven that night and day
Leads the nation in the world;
Excludes the country of Luxembourg
The foreign oppression
Children we have received from you
The spirit of liberty;
Let the sun of freedom
To shine forever.
Let the sun of freedom
To shine forever.