Europe Day
Europe Day was introduced in 1985 by the European Communities, which was later renamed to be known as the European Union. May 9th is the day that commemorates the Schuman Declaration which was given in 1950 by French foreign minister, Robert Schuman. He proposed to unite the French and West German coal and steel industries, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, which was the first of the European Communities. His goal was to create political cooperation making it so that war between European nations was unthinkable. After the formation of the European Union in 1993, the celebrations of Europe Day have significantly increased. Currently, it is even an official public holiday in some countries. This day celebrates peace and unity within Europe while educating people about the benefits of an organization like the European Union. To celebrate this day, European Union institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg open their doors to the public in early May. Other local EU offices around the world organize a variety of events for people of all ages. Every year, there are thousands of people who take part in visits, debates, concerts, festivals, and other activities that raise awareness and celebrate the European Union.
In honor of Europe Day we want to present to you some interesting facts to broaden your knowledge and give you a new perspective:
- There are 44 countries in Europe.
- Russia is the largest with 146 million people, while Germany is the second largest with 84 million.
- Over 200 languages are spoken in Europe and 24 of them are official. The most common languages include English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian.
- Famous landmarks located in Europe are the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Parthenon, La Sagrada Família, Stonehenge, and Saint Basil’s Cathedral.
- St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Rome is the largest church in Europe being 222 meters long, 152 meters wide, and 137 meters tall. It boasts a capacity of 60,000 people, making it the largest in the world. It is also located in the city that is the home of the Pope.
- The Louvre is the most visited attraction in Europe. In 2018 there were 10.2 million visitors! Another fun fact about the Louvre is that even if one spent only a mere thirty seconds per each artwork piece there, it would take you 35 days straight to see every piece. Is that not incredible?
- There are no mosquitoes in Iceland.
- Brussels Airport sells more chocolate than anywhere else in the world. An astonishing 800 tonnes of chocolate is sold every year there.
- Denmark holds the place of being the oldest monarchy in Europe. It was founded in 935 and has been in ruling since then.
- The Czech Republic holds the most castles in Europe. There are 932 castles and 1,187 stately homes. A fun fact is that it would take you two and a half years to visit every castle even if you visited one each day.
- The longest coastline in Europe is in Norway being over 100,000 kilometers long! Within the world, it is only beat by the coastline of Canada.
You can celebrate Europe Day by:
- Learning how to say hello in the five most common languages spoken in Europe.
- Making a yummy lunch featuring European food. There are so many cuisines to choose from that you are bound to find something perfect for your taste buds!
- Playing a game that was introduced by Europeans such as Backgammon, Chinese checkers, rugby, tennis, or cricket.
- Visiting a European bakery nearby. If you are in the Spokane area you can choose from miFLAVOUR, Rind and Wheat, Yummy Snamy European Food & Deli, or Rockwood Bakery.
- Reading works by classic European writers such as Franz Kafka, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, and Johanna Spyri among many others.
- Watching a movie that depicts Europe and its beautiful geography such as Room With a View, Sound of Music, A Good Year, Local Hero, The Girl on the Bridge, and so forth.
- Following the event on social media using #EuropeDay
