It must feel great to be this ignorant, Nonnie, but I can’t let this slide.
I know a thing or two about cultures, as I love them very very much, so allow me to educate you!
Most of white people’s culture is from Europe! It’s a very cool continent, look it up! And therefore I will focus on European countries (I probably forgot 2).
None of these countries have a small culture, so I’ll have to give you some very short, not exhaustive lists.
**I’m also a CFS sufferer, and this is exhausting for me, so here and there you’ll just be linked to Wikipedia articles and lists.**
I suggest you go to e.g. Wikipedia and search “Culture of [European country]” to find out much more. I’m sure you’ll have fun!!
Warning: very long post
Albania
Dances: Shota, Pogonishte, Dance of Osman Taka, full list
Traditional clothing in Albania includes more than 200 kinds of clothing! (examples: fustanella, xhakete)
Music in Albania has been under a lot of different influences. Traditional folk music differs by region. Albanian instruments include Çifteli and Lahuta, and some famous musicians are Inva Mula, Vaçe Zela, Çesk Zadeja and
Aleksandër Peçi.
Architecture of Albania has been influenced by Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Italian architecture, while preserving distinct Albanian features.
Albanian art
Andorra
Literature: Ramon Villeró, Michèle Gazier
Dances: marratxa, contrapàs
Music of Andorra
Armenia
The Armenian dance heritage has been one of the oldest, richest and most varied in the Near East! (examples: Kochari, Berd, Yarkhushta)
Armenian architecture is notable for its churches! Its distinct features have influenced Western church architecture.
Art and music of Armenia are very interesting and huge, please check them out on your own!
Austria
Honestly, if you know nothing about the culture of this country, you’ve been living under a rock. It’s famous and it’s huge, so what I’m mentioning is like 1% of it.
Many people here call Austria, especially Vienna and Graz, the centers of culture, and I agree! Seriously, visit Austria and see its culture and history, it’s everywhere!
Classical music!!
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Strauss, Jr.., c’mon, name some more. I know you know them.
Austrian architecture is famous for its castles, palaces and buildings, among other architectural works!
Science!! Sigmund Freud, psychoanalysis, Anton Zeilinger, Erwin Schrödinger, Quantum teleportation!
Austrian cuisine
Azerbaijan
Architecture in Azerbaijan typically combines elements of East and West.
There are so many dances in Azerbaijani culture!! (examples: Asma kasma, Abayi, Birilyant)
Azerbaijani rugs! Baku, Ganja, Karabakh and Shirvan rugs!
Cuisine, music, literature of Azerbaijan
Belarus
The traditional two-piece Belarusian dress originated from the time of Kievan Rus’, and continues to be worn today at special functions.
Embroidery is important in Belarusian traditions!
Music of Belarus has a rich tradition of folk and religious music.
Belgium
Art of Belgium is big despite the country’s size, and dates back to the Middle Ages!
Music!! César Franck, Henri Vieuxtemps, Jacques Brel, Arno,
Salvatore Adamo, Gotye!!
Adolphe Sax, the inventor of the saxophone, was born in Belgium! The country has also a very active jazz scene!
Brussels waffles! Belgian waffles! Speculaas! Cuisine!!
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Literature of BiH is very rich! Notable people include Matija Divković, Antun Branko Šimić,
Ivo Andrić, Meša Selimović, Semezdin Mehmedinović… and many more!
Bosnian food is closely related to Turkish, Greek, and other former Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisines and often uses small amounts of spices.
Art and music of BiH
Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a rich heritage in the visual arts, especially in frescoes, murals and icons.
Bulgarian music is old, interesting and very complex!
Cuisine
Croatia
Since I’m a Croat who loves this country’s long and interesting culture, I’ll make a post just for it very soon!! For now, here’s your Wikipedia link.
Cyprus
Czech Republic
A Czech diet usually consists of a lot of meat such as pork, beef, poultry, and a lot of organ meat! More about its cuisine
Music is the most popular form of art in the Czech Republic and there is even a saying, “Co Čech, to muzikant”, which means “Every Czech is a musician”.
Czech art and literature
Denmark
Denmark has a lot of culture I gotta say!
Folklore, art, literature Hans Christian Andersen!!!), cuisine… it’s all too big, please check them out yourself!
Estonia
Finland
Germany
German culture began long before the rise of Germany as a nation-state and spanned the entire German-speaking world. From its roots, culture in Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular. Historically Germany has been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the country of poets and thinkers).
Nine Germans have won the Nobel Prize in literature: Theodor Mommsen, Paul von Heyse, Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann, Nelly Sachs, Hermann Hesse, Heinrich Böll, Günter Grass, and Herta Müller.
German music is awesome!! (Austro-german:) Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, Haydn, Händel, Schumann, Johannes Brahms (I could go on forever) and many modern artist! Personally, I’m a big fan of their techno and rap.
Germany’s television market is the largest in Europe, with some 34 million TV households!
Architecture from Germany include the Carolingian and Ottonian styles, important precursors of Romanesque. The region then produced significant works in styles such as the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.
There’s so much more to German culture, please read about it!
Hungary
Hungary is home to the largest synagogue in Europe (Great Synagogue), the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath), the third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica), the second largest territorial abbey in the world (Pannonhalma Archabbey), the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő), and the largest Early Christian Necropolis outside Italy (Pécs)!
The music of Hungary consists mainly of traditional Hungarian folk music and music by prominent composers (Ferenc Liszt, Franz Schmidt, Dohnányi, Bartók etc.).
Traditional Hungarian music tends to have a strong dactylic rhythm.
Traditional dishes such as the world famous Goulash (gulyás stew or gulyásleves soup) are popular. Dishes are often flavoured with paprika (ground red peppers), a Hungarian innovation! Read more about cuisine!
Literature & film
Iceland
Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day anyone?
Everyone knows a thing or two about Irish folklore, literature, language and cuisine!
Italy
Ah, Italy.. where do I even start? Italy has an enormous culture! To not know any of it is literally impossible!
Italy is considered a birthplace of the Western civilization and a cultural superpower!
It’s too much to put in here. Look it up, I’m sure you know more than you think. Maybe I’ll ask my Italian boyfriend to make a post about it.
Kazakhstan
Kosovo
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Lithuanian cuisine features the products suited to its cool and moist northern climate: barley, potatoes, rye, beets, greens, berries, and mushrooms are locally grown, and dairy products are one of its specialities!
Lithuania’s art community is famous for Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Music of Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Moldova’s traditional folk culture is very rich. The ancient folk ballads, such as “Mioriţa” and “Meşterul Manole”, play a central role in this traditional culture. Folk traditions, including ceramics and weaving, continue to be practiced in rural areas.
Moldovan cuisine consists mainly of traditional European foods, such as beef, pork, potatoes, cabbage, cheese, and a variety of cereal grains. Popular alcoholic beverages are divin (Moldovan brandy), beer, and local wine.
Monaco
Montenegro
Dance: Oro (eagle)
Montenegro has a lot of cultural and historical sites, including sites from the pre-Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods! More on its architecture
Cuisine and music!
Netherlands
The culture of the Netherlands is very interesting!
Everyone’s heard of Vincent van Gogh (my fav artist..) right? Dutch art is the best thing ever. Seriously, read about it, I love it a lot!
The Netherlands has multiple musical traditions, ranging from folk and dance to classical music and ballet. Traditional Dutch music is a genre known as “Levenslied”, meaning Song of life, kinda comparable to a French Chanson or a German Schlager!
Music and literature
Norway
Norway’s culinary traditions show the influence of long seafaring and farming traditions with salmon and other sea food, balanced by diary products.
Renowned Norwegian dishes: lutefisk,smalahove, pinnekjøtt, Krotekake, Kompe and fårikål.
Norway has a lot of interesting art, architecture and literature!
Poland
The culture of Poland is closely connected with its thousand-year history and its character developed as a result of its geography at the confluence of various European regions!
Its language is a thing on its own!
Philosophy!!
Witelo, Frycz Modrzewski, Lwów–Warsaw school!
Polish cuisine is very rich and has a lot of traditional dishes (examples:
kiełbasa, pierogi, pyzy, schabowy, Oscypek)
Polish cities and towns reflect the whole spectrum of European styles!
Portugal
The Portuguese participate in many cultural activities, indulging their appreciation of art, music, drama, and dance (Circle dance, Fandango, etc.)!
Architecture of Portugal
Romania
The culture of Romania is a unique culture, which is the product of its geography and its distinct historical evolution!
Its history!!
Romanian culture has many strong folk traditions which have survived to this day due to the character of the Romanian communities, which has resulted in an vital and creative traditional culture. Traditional folk arts include wood carving, ceramics, weaving and embroidery of costumes, household decorations, dance, and richly varied folk music.
More on its folklore!
Romanian cuisine
Russia
I’m sure you know of Russian culture as well. It has a long history and can claim a long tradition of dividend in many aspects of the arts, especially when it comes to literature (Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, I’m sure you’ve heard of them) and philosophy, classical music and ballet, architecture and painting, cinema and animation, which all had considerable influence on world culture!
San Marino
Serbia
Traditional Serbian cuisine is varied and can be said to be a mix of central European, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Notable dishes include: čevapčići, Serbian salad, Sarma and podvarak!
Serbs have many traditions, and a lot of them are religious.
Serbian literature and folklore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
The cultures of Spain are European cultures based on a variety of historical influences, primarily that of Ancient Rome, but also the pre-Roman Celtic and Iberian culture, and that of the Phoenicians and the Moors!
Spain has the third highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 44!!
The cuisines of Spain differ widely from one region to another, even though they all share certain common characteristics.
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. Notable teams include Atlético de Madrid, FC Barcelona, Sevilla Fútbol Club, Athletic Club,Valencia CF, Real Madrid C. F. and Real Sociedad!
Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and is very diverse. Some major movements can be identified within it.
The music of Spain has a long history and has played an important role in the development of Western music. It is also the main basis of most Latin American music.
Spanish architecture
Sweden
The oldest preserved buildings in Sweden, from the 11th century, are made of stone. The earliest brick buildings where erected in the late 13th century. More on Swedish architecture!
Traditional Swedish national costumes are sometimes worn on special occasions, such as Midsummer. All such costumes are brightly colored. Sverigedräkten, a version mainly in blue and yellow, has been the established National Costume since 1983 and is worn by royalty on some official occasions.
Music of Sweden!!
Switzerland
Swiss culture is characterised by diversity, which is reflected in a wide range of traditional customs! Its geographical position played a big role in this.
Folk art is kept alive in organizations all over the country. In Switzerland, it is mostly expressed in music, dance, poetry, wood carving and embroidery.
There is a strong architectural tradition in Switzerland. The Romanesque style of the 12th century can be found in cathedrals. This style, which is rich in expression, can also be found on many castles and fortresses around the country, many of which preserved in a good condition.
Science and technology in Switzerland!
Turkey
Ukraine
Ukrainian architecture reflects distinct features of that particular location and time period, read more on it.
For men, traditional dress includes Kozhukh, Kontusz, Żupan and Sharovary. For women, traditional dress includes Vyshyvanka, Kozhushanka, Ochipok for married women, and Ukrainian wreath for unmarried girls.
Ukrainian cuisine
United Kingdom
British literature, music, cinema, art, theatre, comedy, media, television, philosophy and architecture are influential and respected across the world. The United Kingdom is also prominent in science and technology. Sport is an important part of British culture; numerous sports originated in the country, including football. The UK has been described as a “cultural superpower”, and London has been described as a world cultural capital!!