Traditional customs in Liechtenstein

The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein), referred to as Liechtenstein, is a landlocked pocket country in central Europe. It is located between Switzerland and Austria. It is one of the only two dual landlocked countries in the world. Only about one-third of the country's west area is located in flat river valleys, and most of the rest of the area is mountainous. With a total land area of 160.5 square kilometers, Liechtenstein is the sixth smallest country in the world, less than 1% of Shanghai's size. It is said that skateboarding on large slopes is prohibited in Liechtenstein. Because the land area is too small, if the slope is not carefully controlled, you will arrive in Switzerland.

The territory of Liechtenstein was once part of the Roman province of Raetia. In January 1719, Charles VI, the then Holy Roman Emperor, merged the Schünelberg Estate with the County of Wadutz to form an independent small grand duchy, named Liechtenstein; during the Napoleonic Wars from 1800 to 1815, Liechtenstein was invaded by the First French Empire and the Russian Empire; in 1806, Liechtenstein became a sovereign country and gained independence in 1866.

Liechtenstein is the only country in the world whose official language is German but has no border with Germany. Although standard German is taught in schools and written, people's spoken language is the Uemannic dialect. This dialect is somewhat similar to Swiss, which sounds difficult to people in other German-speaking countries. There are differences in speech from one village to another. The Tiesenberg Mountain tribe was founded in the 13th century by residents of southwestern Switzerland, so their descendants still speak the Walser dialect. The foreign languages taught in foreign schools are English and French.

People in Liechtenstein are generally well-dressed and tidy. They prefer European fashion, which is more colorful than American fashion. Rough appearance and overly casual clothes are not welcome here. Traditional national costumes are only worn on specific occasions, and are mainly women. A typical women's national costume consists of a combination coat, long skirt, apron and headscarf. Men's national costumes include breeches, horse clips and flat-topped black hats.

Chinese lunch in Liechtenstein is usually arranged at noon, and dinner is usually held at 6:00-7:00. Eating out usually takes place at 8:00 p.m. The way to eat is common in continental Europe, with a fork in your left hand and a knife in your right hand. Soft foods such as potatoes and fish are usually served with forks. Eating leftover food is often seen as impolite. If you ask for another serving after eating, it means praising the chef's skills. After using, place the cutlery one by one on the plate. When eating in a restaurant, you don't take leftovers home. Many people drink mineral water, white wine or beer with meals. However, rice is generally not served when drinking soft drinks.

Breakfast usually consists of bread, jam and coffee, and there are many types of bread. Chinese food usually consists of a soup or salad, a main course, and some desserts. Dinner is often cream sandwiches and meat. Dinner is more sumptuous when hosting a dinner party or dining in a restaurant. Riebel is a national dish. It is made by mixing corn flour with beef, water, salt and frying in a frying pan. Other representative national dishes include Ktisknopfle, Rosti, etc.

Greeting and shaking hands are a common greeting method in Liechtenstein. Waving or nodding to someone on the roadside is also an acceptable way to greet. Verbal greetings are also common on the street or in shops. Greeting strangers is usually done in Swiss German Grilezi or Austrian German Griiss Gott, both of which mean welcome. Hoi is usually used to greet friends and acquaintances. People often use their surnames to address each other, and young people call each other by their first names, but this is only suitable for local residents and not for foreigners. The Duke is called Ihu}chlaucht, a name other than German; it is considered impolite to remain silent. English, French and Italian are generally acceptable.

Try not to use gestures when talking to people in Liechtenstein, but it is impolite to keep your hands in your pockets during conversation. Remove your gloves before shaking hands. Pointing your index finger at someone's head is a contemptuous gesture. Avoid personal hygiene such as clipping nails in public places. Always cover your mouth with your hands when yawning. Cross your legs when sitting.

People from all over the world often drink alcoholic beverages. Whether at home or in a restaurant, a toast is essential. It is extremely impolite to start drinking before the host makes a toast. The host can only start toasting when all guests 'glasses are full. After the first glass of wine is served, all guests can drink and toast freely.

Liechtenstein people believe that punctuality is very important at business gatherings. Guests invited to dinner should not exceed a quarter of an hour at the latest. They usually bring flowers, candies, or a bottle of wine when visiting. When presenting flowers to the hostess, the flowers must be unwrapped, except for other small gifts. Red roses are only suitable for romantic occasions. On formal occasions, guests can only sit after being invited. Even for a short visit, the host will prepare drinks such as coffee, beer, white wine or mineral water for the guests. It is necessary to say hello before visiting. Only neighbors, relatives and friends can become uninvited guests. Those invited to dinner can stay until night and visit during the day should not be too long.

Many Catholic holidays are regarded as public holidays in Liechtenstein: Epiphany is on January 6, Candelas is on February 2, STJoseph is on March 19, Easter, Ascension, Whitmonday, Corpus Christi, Nativity of our lady is on September 8, All Saints is on November 1, Immaculate Conception is on December 8, Christmas is on December 24-26. Christmas is the biggest festival of the year in the country. During Christmas, the whole family gathers under the Christmas tree to give each other presents. People celebrate Christmas and visit relatives and friends on December 26. In addition to religious holidays, New Year's Day and May Day Labor Day are also public holidays. August 15th is National Day. The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day. Many ancient folk festivals survive, such as Funkasunntig and Fasnacht.