Albanian culture
or the
culture of Albanians
(
Albanian
:
kultura shqiptare
[kultu??a
?cip?ta??]
) is a term that embodies the
artistic
,
culinary
,
literary
,
musical
,
political
and
social elements
that are representative of ethnic
Albanians
, which implies not just Albanians of the country of Albania but also Albanians of Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro, where ethnic Albanians are a native population. Albanian culture has been considerably shaped by the
geography
and history of
Albania
,
Kosovo
, parts of
Montenegro
, parts of
North Macedonia
, and parts of Northern
Greece
, traditional homeland of Albanians. It grew from that of the
Paleo-Balkan
cultures, including
Proto-Albanian
,
Illyrian
,
Thracian
,
Dacian
, with their pagan beliefs and specific way of life in the wooded areas of far
Southern Europe
. Albanian culture has also been influenced by the
Ancient Greeks
,
Romans
,
Byzantines
and
Ottomans
.
The name 'Albanian' derived from the
Illyrian tribe
of the
Albanoi
and their capital in
Albanopolis
that was noted by
Ptolemy
in
ancient times
.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
Previously, Albanians called their country
Arberi
or
Arbeni
and referred to themselves as
Arbereshe
or
Arbeneshe
until the sixteenth century as the
toponym
Shqiperia
or
Shqypnia
and the
endonym
Shqiptare
or
Shqyptare
gradually replaced
Arberia
and
Arberesh
.
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
The terms
Shqiperia
and
Shqiptare
are popularly interpreted respectively as the "Land of Eagles" and "Children of Eagles" / "Eagle-Men".
Medieval Latin name of the country called by its inhabitants Shqiperi (literally "land of eagles", from shqiponje "eagle") is also believed to come from Medieval Greek 'Albania', possibly stemming from a pre-IE word *alb "hill" (also proposed as the source of Alps) or from the PIE root *albho- "white".
[10]
Therefore, the lands of the Albanians might be named after the hills or mountains, or white snow-peaked mountains.
Another connection between the etymology of 'Albanian' and the word "white" might be found in 'alb', one of the liturgical vestments of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian/ Reformed and Congregational churches, an ample white garment coming down to the ankles and is usually girdled with a cincture (a type of belt, sometimes of rope similar to the type used with a monastic habit, such as by Franciscans and Capuchins), from the Latin albus, meaning white. It is simply the long, white linen tunic used by the ancient Romans. As a simple derivative of ordinary first-century clothing, the alb was adopted very early by Christians, and especially by the clergy for the Eucharistic liturgy. In early Medieval Europe it was also normally worn by secular clergy in non-liturgical contexts. Nowadays, the alb is the common vestment for all ministers at Mass, both clerics and laypersons, and is worn over the cassock, but underneath any other special vestments, such as the stole,
dalmatic
or chasuble.
[10]
The most dominant traditional Albanian folk costumes and dresses are indeed white with black vertical lines, same colors as the liturgical Christian vestment, the 'alb', which might be what the people whose traditional fold costumes resemble the 'alb' were named after.
In addition to the connotations to 'white' color in garments, costumes and dresses, the word 'white' is found in traditional Albanian phraseology (traditional phrases like "Fat bardhe", "faqe bardhe", "ardhshit te bardhe", etc. ) and Albanian oral traditions and mythology ("Bardha", figure of Albanian mythology similar to Zana, white maidens or spirits of the mist).
The word 'white', both in its figurative meanings and the white color in traditional Albanian costumess, dresses and clothing are certainly one of the recognisable element of traditional Albanian culture.
The
double-headed eagle
is the national and ethnic symbol of all
Albanian-speaking
people. The symbol appears in a stone carving dating from the tenth century as the
Principality of Arbanon
was established. It was also used as a heraldic
symbol
by a numerous
noble families
in Albania at that time. The double-headed eagle appears as a symbol for bravery, valor, freedom and heroism. The symbol is now commonly displayed on jewellery amongst the Albanian diaspora.
Albanians
can be
culturally
and
linguistically
separated into two groups such as the northern
Ghegs
and southern
Tosks
.
[11]
[12]
The line of demarcation between both groups, based on dialect, is the
Shkumbin River
that crosses Albania from east to west.
[13]
Outside of Albania, Gheg is mostly spoken by the Albanians of
Kosovo
, northwestern
North Macedonia
,
Montenegro
and
Croatia
(
Arbanasi
). On the other hand, Tosk is spoken by the Albanians of
Greece
(
Arvanites
,
Chams
), southwestern
North Macedonia
and southern
Italy
(
Arbereshe
). The diversity between Ghegs and Tosks can be substantial, both sides identify strongly with the common national and ethnic culture.
Home of
Muslims
and
Christians
,
religious tolerance
is one of the most important values of the tradition of the
Albanian people
. It is widely accepted, that Albanians are well known about those values, about a peaceful coexistence among the believers of different
religious communities
in the country.
[14]
[15]
Thanks to its long
history
, Albania is home to many valuable monuments such as among others the remains of
Butrint
, the medieval cities of
Berat
and
Gjirokaster
, the
Roman amphitheatre
of
Durres
, the
Illyrian Tombs
and
Fortress of Bashtove
. Other examples of important contributions to architecture may be found in
Apollonia
,
Byllis
,
Amantia
,
Phoenice
,
Shkoder
and many others.
[16]
Despite being a small country, Albania has
three sites
on the
UNESCO
World Heritage Site List
and
one
Intangible Cultural Heritage
element. The
Codices of Berat
are eminently important for the global community and as well the development of ancient
biblical
,
liturgical
and
hagiographical
literature.
[17]
Therefore, it was inscribed on the
UNESCO
's
Memory of the World Register
in 2005.
Lifestyle
[
edit
]
Kanun
[
edit
]
The
Kanun
, a comprehensive compilation of Albanian traditional
customs
and cultural practices, was codified by
Leke Dukagjini
in the
Middle Ages
. Scholars have conjectured that the Kanun might have derived from
Illyrian
tribal laws, while others have suggested that it has retained elements from
Indo-European
Prehistoric
eras.
[18]
[19]
The Kanun reflects notably the historic development of Albanians through its turbulent
history
and encompasses in a real statute regulating various aspects of life including customs, traditions and wisdom in Albania.
[20]
Besa
, "to keep the promise", is the Albanian
code of honor
and a major component of Albanian culture.
[21]
It is among the highest and most important concept of the
Kanun
with a moral and ethic connotation. The term contains the given word or keeping of a promise or obligation and the guaranteed agreement among honorable men.
Most notably, Besa means taking care of those in need and being hospitable to every single person. Albania saved and protected almost 2000
Jewish people
during the
Holocaust
. Rather than hiding the Jews in attics or the woods, the Albanians gave them clothes, gave them Albanian names and treated them as part of the family.
There is no trace of any discrimination against
Jews in Albania
, because
Albania
happens to be one of the rare lands in
Europe
today where religious prejudice and hate do not exist, even though
Albanians
themselves are divided into
three faiths
.
[22]
-
Herman Bernstein
Fis (clan)
[
edit
]
The traditional Albanian social structure is based on clans (
Albanian
:
fise
) characterized by a common
culture
, often common
ancestry
and shared
social ties
. In past times most of them defended their territory and interests against other clans and external forces.
[23]
The Albanian tribal society clearly crystallized in the
mountains of northern Albania
and adjacent areas of
Montenegro
, and it was also present in a less developed system in
southern Albania
.
One of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the
Kanun of Leke Dukagjini
.
[25]
This social structure was inherited from the ancient
Illyrians
,
[27]
thrived until the early years of the 20th century, and remained largely intact until the rise to power of
communist regime
in 1944.
Oda
is a typical large room in an
Albanian
traditional house used by the host to receive and entertain the guests.
[28]
[29]
Traditionally, the host and the guests in the
oda
are old men and married men. Till the end of the 20th century, woman and young boys were not allowed to enter the room. In the
oda
, the men talk, take political discussions and sing
epic songs
until late hours. During an
oda
"session", historical events and traditions are transmitted orally through discussions and songs.
[30]
Holidays
[
edit
]
In consideration to the long and eventful
history of Albania
, there are several cultural and religious holidays throughout the country.
Albanians
, either in Albania,
Kosovo
and
other countries
, celebrate their
Independence
and
Flag Day
on November 28. Various ceremonies, festivals and concerts take place to celebrate the historic day in major cities amongst them in
Tirana
and
Pristina
, holding festive and military parades.
Christmas
is celebrated by those following the religion of
Christianity
.
Bajram
is considered by Muslims as the holiday of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, fellowship and unity. They sacrifice a sheep for this holiday, giving the meat to their family, friends and to the poor people.
Another
pagan
holiday is
Dita e Veres
, particularly popular in
Elbasan
and
Gjirokaster
.
[32]
It is celebrated on March 14 and is intended to commemorate the end of winter, the rebirth of nature and a rejuvenation of spirit amongst the Albanians. The ritual of the day begins on the previous day with the preparation of sweets such as
ballokume
cooked in a wood oven. During the evening ballokume, dried
figs
,
walnuts
, turkey legs, boiled eggs and simite are distributed to members of the family.
Dita e Mesuesit
is celebrated on March 7 since 1887 and is regarded by many Albanians as one of the most important holidays of the country. It honors the opening of the first school that taught lessons in
Albanian
in
Korce
.
Cuisine
[
edit
]
The
Albanian cuisine
, a representative of the
Mediterranean cuisine
, has developed through the centuries of social and economic changes and more importantly referable to different factors that stands in close interaction with each other such as the small and mountainous
territory
of the country with virgin forests, narrow valleys, vast plains and a favourable
climate
that offers excellent growth conditions for a variety of
vegetables
,
herbs
and
fruits
.
Food is for
Albanians
an important component of their culture and is deeply rooted in the
history
, traditions and values of the country. The cooking traditions of the
Albanian people
are diverse and nevertheless
olive oil
is the most commonly used
vegetable fat
in Albanian cooking, which has been produced since
antiquity
throughout the country particularly along the coasts.
[34]
Albanian cuisine uses a variety of ingredients which include a wider availability of vegetables such as
zucchini
,
eggplant
,
peppers
,
tomatoes
,
cucumbers
,
potatoes
,
cabbages
and
spinach
, as well as
cereals
such as
wheat
,
sweetcorn
,
barley
and
rye
. Herbs and
spices
include
oregano
,
mint
,
garlic
,
onion
and
basil
. Widely used meat varieties are
lamb
,
goat
,
beef
,
veal
,
chicken
and other
poultry
. Considering the direct proximity to the sea,
seafood
specialties are particularly popular along the
Albanian Adriatic
and
Ionian Sea Coasts
.
Hospitality
is a fundamental
custom
of Albanian society and serving food is an integral to the hosting of guests and visitors. It is not infrequent for visitors to be invited to eat and drink with locals. The medieval Albanian
code of honour
, called
Besa
, resulted to look after guests and strangers as an act of recognition and gratitude.
[21]
Religion
[
edit
]
Christianity
,
Islam
and
Judaism
are the traditional
religions
of Albania. The
constitution
extends
freedom of religion
to all citizens and the government generally respects this right in practice. Albania have always been considered as a unique country in terms of religion and
religious tolerance
is one of the main characteristics of
Albanians
.
Christianity
has a long and eventful history in the country whereby it belongs to one of the most ancient countries of Christianity. There are thought to have been about seventy Christian families in
Durres
as early as the time of the
Apostles
.
Paul the Apostle
was the founder of the Archbishopric of Durres while he was preaching in
Illyria
and
Epirus
.
[36]
[37]
In the eleventh century, Albanians first appeared in
Byzantine
sources and at this point, they were already fully Christianized. The first known
bishop
of Albania was the
Bishop of Scutari
founded in 387 in
Shkoder
. In the late seventeenth century,
Pope Clement XI
served as the
Pope
from 1700 to 1721. He was born to an Albanian father descended from the noble
Albani family
from the region of
Malesi e Madhe
in Albania.
The history of
Judaism
in the country can be traced back to the
classical era
. Jewish migration from the
Roman Empire
is considered the most likely source of the first Jews on the country's territory. It may have first arrived in Albania in the first century BC.
[38]
They build the first synagogue in
Sarande
in the early fifth century. In the sixteenth century, there were Jewish settlements in most of major cities such as
Berat
,
Elbasan
,
Vlore
,
Durres
and as well as in
Kosovo
region.
Albania was the only country during
the Holocaust
in Europe where
Jewish
population experienced growth.
[39]
After the mass emigration to
Israel
following the fall of communist regime, only 200 Albanian Jews are left in the country today.
[40]
[41]
In 2010, a new synagogue "Hechal Shlomo" started providing services for the Jewish community in
Tirana
.
Islam
arrived for the first time in the ninth century to the region, when Muslim Arabs raided the eastern
Adriatic Sea
.
[42]
In the fifteenth century, Islam emerged as the majority religion during the centuries of
Ottoman
rule, though a significant Christian minority remained. After
declaration of independence
on November 28, 1912, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later the communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom.
Arts
[
edit
]
Painting
[
edit
]
The
art of Albania
has a long and memorable history, represented in many forms such as
painting
,
sculpture
,
mosaic
and
architecture
. It show a great variety in style, in different regions and periods. Nonetheless, the country also has a tolerable heritage in
visual arts
, specifically in
frescoes
,
murals
and
icons
, which often can be seen in many of the older structures in the country.
[
citation needed
]
The surviving monuments of
Illyrian
,
Ancient Greek
and
Roman
art are notable for a tradition concentrating on the human figure and decorations. Through the many archaeological discoveries, in different areas of Albania have been found numerous of
pottery
,
terracotta
and
metalworking
belonging to the
Illyrians
and several sculptures and mosaics belonging to the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
Albanian medieval art started with the
Byzantine Empire
that ruled the great majority of Albania and the
Balkan Peninsula
. The first paintings have been icons and frescoes with an admirable use of colour and
gold
.
[
citation needed
]
The most famous representative of Albanian medieval art were
Onufri
who was distinguished for its rich use of colours and decorative shades with certain
ethnographic
national elements that are more visible with his successors
David Selenica
,
Kostandin Shpataraku
and the
Zografi Brothers
.
[43]
Illuminated manuscripts
were another significant feature of Albanian medieval art. The
Codices of Berat
are two ancient
Gospels
from
Berat
that dates from the sixth and ninth centuries. They represent one of the most valuable treasures of the Albanian cultural heritage that was inscribed on the
UNESCO
's
Memory of the World Register
in 2005.
In the fifteenth century, during the
Ottoman invasion
many
Albanians
migrated out of the area to escape either various socio-political and economic difficulties. Among them, the medieval
painters
Marco Basaiti
and
Viktor Karpaci
,
sculptor
and
architect
Andrea Nikolle Aleksi
and
art collector
Alessandro Albani
from the
Albani family
.
[44]
[45]
The
Ottoman Empire
ruled over the country and most of the
Balkans
for nearly five centuries. This influence were absorbed and reinterpreted with an extensive construction of
mosques
that opened a new section in Albanian art, that of
Islamic art
.
[46]
In the nineteenth century a significant era for Albanian art begins. The great liberation acts starting with
League of Prizren
in 1878, that led to the
Independence
in 1912, established the climate for a new
artistic movement
, which would reflect life and history more realistically and
Impressionism
and
Realism
came into dominance.
[47]
[43]
Contemporary Albanian artwork captures the struggle of everyday
Albanians
, however new artists are utilizing different artistic styles to convey this message. Albanian artists continue to move art forward, while their art still remains distinctively Albanian in content. Though among Albanian artist
postmodernism
was fairly recently introduced, there is a number of artists and works known internationally.
Architecture
[
edit
]
The country's
architecture
reflect a rich variety of
architectural styles
and is rooted in its
history
, culture and
religion
. Influences from distant social, religious and exotic communities have contributed to the variety of the architectural landscape in Albania that is richly revealed by
archaeological finds
that nonetheless retains a certain amount of continuity across history.
Some of the earliest productions, notably from
Illyrians
,
Ancient Greeks
and
Romans
, are found scattered throughout the country. The best collection of
Ancient architecture
can be found in
Butrint
in the southwest,
Apollonia
,
Durres
and
Byllis
in the west and
Amantia
and
Phoenice
in the south. Religion and kingship do not seem to have played an important role in the planning of these towns at that time.
In the
Middle Ages
a variety of architecture styles developed in the form of dwelling, defense, worship and engineering structures. The consolidation of
Albanian principalities
gave rise to Varosha, or neighborhoods outside city walls. Examples of such developments are centred in
Petrele
,
Kruje
,
Tepelene
and
Lezhe
originating from the feudal castle. Some inherited historic structures were damaged by invading
Ottoman
forces. It is important to note that
Ali Pashe Tepelena
embarked on a major castle building campaign throughout Epirus.
Much earlier, the introduction of
Christianity
brought churches and monasteries which otherwhile became the center of most towns and cities in the country. Byzantine
churches
and Ottoman
mosques
are also on the best examples and legacies of
Byzantines
and Ottomans, which are specifically exemplified in
Berat
,
Gjirokaster
and
Korce
region.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Albanian medieval towns underwent urban transformations by various Austro-Hungarian and Italian architects, giving them the appearance of western European cities. This can be particularly seen in
Tirana
and
Korce
. They introduced
architectural styles
such as
Historicism
,
Art Nouveau
,
Neo-Renaissance
and
Neoclassicism
.
Clothing
[
edit
]
Traditional Albanian clothing
developed as a result of long processes that has differentiated the country from other countries. Its recorded history of clothing goes back to the
classical times
.
[49]
It includes more than two hundred different forms of clothing in all Albania and
neighbouring countries
that includes without limitation the Albanians in
Kosovo
, Western
North Macedonia
, Southern
Montenegro
,
Italy
and
Greece
.
Nothing less than each cultural and geographical region of Albania has its own specific variety of clothing being particularly colorful and rich in detail. The costumes are often decorated with
pagan
symbolic elements of
Illyrians
among others suns, eagles, moons, stars and snakes, but predominantly the zig-zag and concentric circles decoration, found in ancient times throughout the Balkans but also in national costumes of other Balkan peoples.
[50]
These clothes are most often worn with connection to special events and celebrations, mostly at ethnic festivals, religious
holidays
, weddings and by dancing groups. Some conservative old men and women mainly from the high northern as well as southern lands wear those traditional clothes in their daily lives.
They were made mainly of products from the local
agriculture
and
livestock
such as leather, wool, linen, hemp fiber and silk. The textiles nowadays are still embroidered in very elaborate ancient patterns. Among the most important parts of clothing includes the
Qeleshe
, or also known as
Plis
, the
Albanian hat
, the Qylafe, the
Fustanella
, the
Xhubleta
, the
Xhamadan
, the
Brez
, the
Corape
, the
Opinga
and many others.
One of obvious common cultural trait of Gheg, Tosk and Cham Albanians is the predominance of white color in their national dress/costume, with variations in the shapes and designs (Gheg Albanians traditionally wore white trousers while Tosk and Cham Albanians traditionally wore white kilt). The white color seems to have a special place in Albanian culture, as many phrases include the term "white" ( alb. "bardh"), both literally and figuratively ( "fatbardh" -lit. "white fate"- fig. "good luck", "faqe bardh" - lit. "white" face - fig. "clean face" - "intact honor", "rrofsh sa male te bardha" - "May you live as long as white mountains" - "snow-peaked mountains", etc.).
The white Albanian scull cap, popularly knows as
qeleshe
, or
plis
, etymologically related to Greek
Pilos
or
Pileus
cap, is one of the well known Albanian cultural brands.
Music
[
edit
]
The
Albanian music
is very diverse and comes from its indigenous sounds and heritage.
Folk music
is a prominent part of the national identity with major stylistic differences between the traditional music of the northern
Ghegs
and southern
Labs
and
Tosks
. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the rugged and heroic tone of the north and the relaxed form of the south. Albanian folk music has been influential in neighboring areas such as Kosovo, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, all home to significant numbers of
Albanians
.
[51]
[52]
The
Ghegs
are known for a distinctive variety of sung epic poetry. Many of the songs are about the ancient
history
of the country and the constant Albanian themes of honour, hospitality, treachery and revenge. In contrast,
Tosk
music is soft and gentle, and
polyphonic
in nature. Notably,
Albanian iso-polyphony
from the south has been declared an
UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
.
[53]
Along with the def,
cifteli
and sharki are used in the north in a style of dance and pastoral songs. Homemade
wind instruments
are traditionally used by
shepherds
in northern Albania; these include the zumare and
lahuta
. The southern people are known for ensembles consisting of
violins
,
clarinets
, lahuta and
def
as well.
Music in Albania extends to ancient
Illyria
and
Greece
, with influences from the
Roman
,
Byzantine
and
Ottoman Empire
.
[54]
It is evident in
archeological findings
such as arenas,
odeons
, theatre buildings and amphitheatres, all over Albania. The remains of temples, libraries, sculptures and paintings of ancient dancers, singers and musical instruments, have been found in territories inhabited by the ancient Illyrians and ancient Greeks.
[54]
The tradition of
church singing
was performed throughout the
Middle Ages
in the country's territory by choirs or soloists in
ecclesiastical
centers such as
Berat
,
Durres
and
Shkoder
.
[55]
The Middle Ages in Albania included
choral music
and
traditional music
.
[55]
Shen Jan Kukuzeli
, a singer, composer and musical innovator of Albanian origin, is one of the earliest known musicians.
[56]
Albania has experienced another wave of
Western cultural
influence, which led to the development of many previously unknown phenomena. The most vivid example is the Albanian rock, hip hop and pop music, with some performers gaining international recognition of Albanian origin from
Albania
,
Kosovo
or
Albanian diaspora
, such as
Action Bronson
,
Ava Max
,
Bebe Rexha
,
Dua Lipa
,
Era Istrefi
,
Elvana Gjata
,
Dafina Zeqiri
, Albert Stanaj,
G4SHI
,
Ermal Meta
,
Enca
,
Noizy
and
Rita Ora
.
Classical music
became immensely popular in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and was known across even the most rural sections of the country. It was defined by the tension between classical composer Martin Gjoka along with
Fan Noli
and
Mikel Koliqi
, who embraced national identity and added religious and folk elements to their compositions.
[57]
Most notable Albanian sopranos and tenors have gained also international recognition, among the best known are
Inva Mula
,
Marie Kraja
,
Saimir Pirgu
and
Ermonela Jaho
.
Dance
[
edit
]
The
Albanians
have a rich tradition of
dances
with a great diversity of choreography and styles varying on the region due mainly to the fact that
Albania
is a country with a diverse
topography
thus the different varieties of dance developed. A couple of dances are ancient and to a certain extent persist nowadays.
[58]
The dances of the Albanians specifically of the
Ghegs
from the north have more a solo character than those from the southern
Tosks
that have more social character, expressed in line and semi circle dances.
Language
[
edit
]
Albanian
is the most widely spoken language in
Albania
. It has two major distinct dialects:
Tosk
spoken in the south and
Gheg
spoken in the north. The geographical dividing line between those dialects appears to be the river of
Shkumbin
. Moreover,
Albanian dialects
are traditional local varieties and are traced back to the different Albanian tribes.
Albanian is an
Indo-European language
and occupies an
independent
branch within this family. Scholars and linguists argue that Albanian derives from the ancient
Illyrian language
, which were spoken in the western part of the
Balkan Peninsula
by
Illyrian tribes
.
[59]
Today, the language is spoken primarily in
Kosovo
,
North Macedonia
,
Greece
and
Montenegro
as well.
[60]
Due to the large
Albanian diaspora
around the world, centuries-old communities speaking Albanian-based dialects can be particularly found scattered in Greece (
Arvanitika
,
Cham
), Italy (
Arbereshe
), Southern
Serbia
and in Croatia (
Arbanasi
). However, the total number of speakers is much higher than the native speakers in
Southern Europe
. The four dialects include
Tosk Albanian
,
Gheg Albanian
,
Arberesh
and
Arvanitika
.
[61]
Most
Albanians
are multi-lingual, speaking many regional and foreign languages such as
Greek
,
Italian
,
Serbo-Croatian
,
English
and others.
Mythology
[
edit
]
The mythology of Albania consist of
myths
,
legends
,
folklore
,
fairy tales
and
gods
of the
Albanian people
. Many characters in its mythology are included in the
Songs of the Frontier Warriors
(
Albanian
: Kenge Kreshnikesh or Cikli i Kreshnikeve). It is divided into two major groups such as legends of metamorphosis and historical legends. The Albanian mythology has its origin to the ancient
Illyrians
, that inhabited the modern area of Albania during the
classical time
.
[62]
Some of the legends, songs and characters include
Bardha
,
Baloz
,
E Bukura e Dheut
, E Bukura e Qiellit,
En
,
Perendi
,
Prende
,
Tomor
and
Zana e malit
.
Literature
[
edit
]
The cultural renaissance was first of all expressed through the development of the
Albanian
in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the
catholic
region in the North, but also of the
Eastern Orthodox Church
in the South. The
Protestant
reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric
Gjon Buzuku
translated the
Catholic liturgy
into Albanian, trying to do for Albanian what
Luther
did for German.
The
Meshari
(
The Missal
) by Gjon Buzuku, published in 1555 is considered one of the first literary works of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised
orthography
must be the result of an earlier tradition of written Albanian, a tradition that is not well understood. However, there is some fragmented evidence, pre-dating Buzuku, which indicates that Albanian was written from at least the 14th century.
The earliest evidence dates from 1332 AD with a Latin report from the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae,
Archbishop
of
Antivari
, who wrote that Albanians used Latin letters in their books though their language was quite different from Latin. Other significant examples include: a
baptism formula
(
Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit
) from 1462, written in Albanian within a Latin text by the Bishop of
Durres
,
Pal Engjelli
; a glossary of Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th-century fragment of the Bible from the
Gospel of Matthew
, also in Albanian, but written in Greek letters.
Albanian writings from these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist
Marin Barleti
, who, in his book
Rrethimi i Shkodres
(The Siege of Shkoder)
(1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (
in vernacula lingua
) as well as his biography of Skanderbeg
Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis
(History of Skanderbeg)
(1508). The History of Skanderbeg is still the foundation of Scanderbeg studies, and is considered an Albanian cultural treasure, vital to the formation of Albanian national self-consciousness.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the
catechism
E mbesuame krishtere
(
Christian Teachings
) by
Leke Matrenga
in 1592, Doktrina e krishtere (The Christian Doctrine) in 1618, and
Rituale romanum
in 1621 by
Pjeter Budi
, the first writer of original Albanian prose and poetry, an
apology
for George Castriot in 1636 by
Frang Bardhi
, who also published a dictionary and
folklore
creations, the theological-philosophical treaty
Cuneus Prophetarum
(
The Band of Prophets
) in 1685 by
Pjeter Bogdani
, the most universal personality of Albanian
Middle Ages
, were published in
Albanian
.
Today, Albania's best-known contemporary writer is
Ismail Kadare
, born in 1936, whose novels have been translated into 45 languages.
[63]
With his novels
The General of the Dead Army
(1963),
The Siege
(1970),
Chronicle in Stone
(1971),
The Three-Arched Bridge
(1978),
Broken April
(1980),
The File on H.
(1981),
The Palace of Dreams
(1981),
The Pyramid
(1992); and
The Successor
(2002), Kadare brought Albanian literature into the mainstream of modern European literature.
The central theme of Kadare's works is totalitarianism and its mechanisms.
[64]
His work represents an artistic encyclopedia of Albanian life. The philosophy, beliefs, dramas, and historical and cultural traditions of Albania, filtered through the artistry of the writer, in Kadare's work express the vitality of the spiritual culture of the Albanian people. Kadare creates a modern prose making wide use of historical
analogies
,
parables
and associations, Albanian legends and mythology. Starting from the
epic
world of
medieval
legends and
ballads
, the prose of Kadare brings ancient
folk traditions
'up to date' by showing their relevance to the modern world.
In 1992 Kadare was awarded the
Prix mondial Cino Del Duca
; in 1998, the
Herder Prize
; in 2005, the inaugural
Man Booker International Prize
; in 2009, the
Prince of Asturias Award
of Arts; and in 2015, the
Jerusalem Prize
. He was awarded the
Park Kyong-ni Prize
in 2019, and the
Neustadt International Prize for Literature
in 2020.
[65]
In 1996, France made him a foreign associate of the
Academie des Sciences Morales et Politiques
of France, and in 2016, he was a
Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur
recipient. He has been nominated for the
Nobel Prize in Literature
15 times. Since the 1990s, Kadare has been asked by both major political parties in Albania to become a consensual
President of Albania
, but has declined.
His nominating juror for the Neustadt Prize wrote: "Kadare is the successor of
Franz Kafka
. No one since Kafka has delved into the infernal mechanism of totalitarian power and its impact on the human soul in as much hypnotic depth as Kadare." His writing has also been compared to that of
Nikolai Gogol
,
George Orwell
,
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
,
Milan Kundera
, and
Balzac
. Living in Albania during a time of strict censorship, Kadare devised cunning stratagems to outwit Communist censors who had banned three of his books, using devices such as parable, myth, fable, folk-tale, allegory, and legend, sprinkled with double-entendre, allusion, insinuation, satire, and coded messages. In 1990, to escape the Communist regime and its
Sigurimi
secret police
he defected to Paris.
The New York Times
wrote that he was a national figure in Albania comparable in popularity perhaps to
Mark Twain
in the United States, and that "there is hardly an Albanian household without a Kadare book." Kadare is regarded by some as one of the greatest writers and intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries.
[66]
[67]
[68]
Wedding traditions
[
edit
]
The dress of the Muslim bride is characterized by its elegance and transparency, in that of the Catholic one can see full colors. The Catholic bride's dress is characterized by its picturesque effects and harmony. There are two types of Muslim wedding dresses. One is worked on a "shajak" (large piece of wool) and with floral motives worked with "gajtan" (kind of rope) black cotton, sometimes mixed with green. The other one is worked in the same material but with red color. Different from the first here the motifs are enriched with full colors. The difference between this two dresses that at the first dress the motifs occupy all the area, at the second it occupies a little part in the front and back. These dresses have a belt worked with gold and grain necklaces in red, rose, orange creating all together a warm surface. Here the motifs are very small.
- Dress of Catholic Shkodran Bride
The dress is tripped from the transparent white, shiny, soft, which spreads all over the body, and is intended to suggest tranquility and a warm purity. This concept of tradition is achieved through the white of the base material and the gold thread over. This dress is composed by the "barnaveke": some kind of very long pants which seem a skirt.
- Paja
Ritual songs name various elements which contain "paja" (pronounced
paya
) of the girl, which are the goods parents give to the daughter to wear, to furnish the house, gifts for her husband and the intimate cousins. Elements are typically made by
weaving
clothes using
looms
. The preparation of the "paja" for the parents of the bride is a pleasure which means also accomplishing the obligations toward the daughter.
- Dhuntia
"Dhunti" in Shkodra means the gifts that the groom prepares for the bride during the engagement, mainly clothes, jewelry, gold ornaments and tricks, which are sent to her a few days before the wedding.
In addition to those received by the family of his father, the bride takes many gifts from the groom and his family. "Dhuntia", which had a considerable monetary value, was prepared with great care by the family of the boy, because in some way embodied respect and love for his young bride, to whom these gifts were made, love for their son that he married at the same time was also a representation of the family in its economic and aesthetic. In "dhunti" there were enough clothes and items for use at all times, in joy and in sorrow, which expressed particular attention to the role of women.
Sports
[
edit
]
Sport is a popular culture activity in Albania and really popular amongst the population. Albanian's participate in several sports activities and this since the 19th century.
Association football
is the most popular sport in Albania. It dates back to before the early 20th century.
The Football Association of Albania was founded in June 1930. It was accepted as a
FIFA
member in 1932 and was a
UEFA
founding member in 1954.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Lloshi 1999, p. 277. "The Albanians of today call themselves shqiptare, their country Shqiperi, and their language shqipe. These terms came into use between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. Foreigners call them albanesi (Italian), Albaner (German), Albanians (English), Alvanos (Greek), and Arbanasi (old Serbian), the country Albania, Albanie, Albanien, Alvania, and Albanija, and the language Albanese, Albanisch, Albanian, Alvaniki, and Arbanashki respectively. All these words are derived from the name Albanoi of an Illyrian tribe and their center Albanopolis, noted by the astronomer of Alexandria, Ptolemy, in the 2nd century AD. Alban could he a plural of alb- arb-, denoting the inhabitants of the plains.
- ^
Malcolm 1998, p. 29. "Nor is there any mystery about the origin of this name. In the second century Ptolemy referred to a tribe called the 'Albanoi', and located their town, 'Albanopolis', somewhere to the east of Durres."
- ^
Meniku & Campos 2012, p. 2. "Albanian is an Indo-European language, but like modern Greek and Armenian, it does not have any other closely related living language. Within the Indo-European family, it forms a group of its own. In Albanian, the language is called shqip. Albania is called Shqiperi, and the Albanians call themselves shqiptare. Until the fifteenth century the language was known as Arberisht or Arbnisht, which is still the name used for the language in Italy and Greece. The Greeks refer to all the varieties of Albanian spoken in Greece as Arvanitika. In the second century AD, Ptolemy, the Alexandrian mathematician, astronomer and geographer, used the name Albanoi to refer to an Illyrian tribe that used to live in what is now central Albania. During the Middle Ages the population of that area was referred to as Arbanori or Albanon. It is clear that the words Arberesh, Arvanitika, and even Albanian and Albania are all related to the older name of the language."
- ^
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Ismail Kadare: La grand estratagema
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ISBN
978-84-947802-0-2
.
Y que este libro sea el principio de toda una serie de ensayos que pueda cosntruir para abundar y ahondar en la obra del escritor que considero como mas importante del Siglo XXI, y uno de los mas importantes de la segunda mitad del Siglo XX.
External links
[
edit
]
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