INTRODUCTION
This section includes articles about culture and science from different European countries. Nowadays culture and science are tightly connected and often traditions and culture define each country the best way possible. Culture tells us more about country’s history but science allows us to know more about it’s developments and accomplishments.
Cosmocaixa
Cosmocaixa is a science museum and it is one of the most important museums of its kind in Europe. It was an invention by José Doménech i Estapá (1904-1909) and he designed it for the blind people, but this lasted only one year, from 1979 to 1980, then, in 2004, Jordi Garcés and Enric Sòria remodelled it.
The objective of this museum is to disseminate science in Barcelona. Every year it receives thousands of visitors of all ages who are curious interested in science.
This Museum is divided in six parts and each one of them is devoted to different things that involves science: there is a geological wall, a flooded forest, the room of the matter, children
spaces, a planetarium and temporary expositions.
The flooded forest is devoted to an amazonian forest and the types of fishes that it hosts. An interesting fact is that this forest is a replica of the Amazon rainforest of Brazil, it has 1.000
m², you can see the terrestrial part, the underground and the tropical rainforest.
The geological wall shows different geological structures. The room of the matter exposes samples of the matter and where we can use it to see its evolution. In the children space there are
interactive exhibits for the kids but they are also related to science, one of the interactive game is “Toca Toca” which means touch touch and in this exhibit the aim is to touch different things
to feel the texture, and some things that the kids touch are starfish and sea urchins.
And finally one of the temporary exhibitions is the "The Fibonacci Dream", a game inspired by escape rooms that has mathematical logic as the guiding thread and to get out of the room you have to
pass this tests.
One of the characteristics that makes the museum stand out is the giant tree and this is emblematic because it is surrounded by spiral staircases and it is very old.
Marina Cabrera (Barcelona)
Estonian Sauna
For centuries up to the present day, sauna has been an important part of the local everyday routine for Estonians. An upcoming sauna session with friends or family means that it is going to be a night of enjoying food and spending time with good company. Estonians are equally fond of both the Finnish sauna and the UNESCO listed smoke sauna.
For years, the only type of saunas that you would find in Estonia were smoke saunas and even though technology has now moved on, many people still believe that smoke saunas are the best kind of saunas. The smoke sauna has no chimney, and the smoke from burning wood circulates in the sauna. The tradition is mainly a family ritual, that is done usually on Saturdays but also before important festivals or family events, the main purpose is to relax the body and mind. Nowadays people often enjoy sauna along their friends and not only with their family members. Families take turns hosting each other. It is an easy way to socialize and catch up with each other or even celebrate important events. While heating the smoke sauna, you can smoke fish and meat inside and later enjoy it between saunas sessions. Usually an older family member is in charge for preparing and heating the sauna.
Typical sauna temperatures range between 70 and 100 degrees Celsius. People beat their bodies in sauna with whisks. What's whisking? A light gentle beating with branches from the forest, birch branches are most commonly used. Wet leaves of the whisk flying through the heat help mix the layers of air in the room and that acts as a gentle massage, people also whisk to scrub off dead skin and stimulate blood circulation. The ceiling time one should sit in the sauna is thirty minutes. After whisking and sweating people cool down outdoors and rinse themselves with water, they usually take a swim in a river, lake or pool some even jump in a snowdrift and cover themselves with snow, then they repeat the sauna ritual. Leaving the sauna you will feel relaxed, probably a bit lighter (because you sweated a few kilos) and much more related to Estonian culture.
Triin Lillsoo (Tallinn)
More than a Gold Star
You are at a concert of U2, the popular Irish rock band. Being enchanted by the magic of music and rhythm, suddenly a European flag appears. Why is it there? What is happening?
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U2_on_main_stage_Experience_and_Innocence_Tour_in_Berlin_8-31-18.jpg
U2 have always used their popularity in order to spread their political and social views. They have already revealed their support of the European Union and objection to Brexit. As a result,
during their 2018 tour in Europe and North America, they have been trying to raise their fans’ awareness about the importance of Europe’s unity in this particular historical age. Is there a
better way to make things clear than waving the EU flag?
The gesture gave a lot to talk and think about. Consequently, Bono, a band's leader, gave a speech in which he underlined how the EU plays an important role in our lives. In fact, since its
foundation, the situation has totally changed: we have been living the longest period of peace ever seen, though, there are still some problems. However, in Bono’s opinion, they can be solved by
transforming Europe “from a thought to a feeling”. The singer means that we should start to think of ourselves as Europeans, thus developing a sort of patriotism for this institution. We should
also reinforce the relationships between countries since it’s what keeps Europe united.
Another problem that the U2 face is Brexit: the withdrawal of the UK form the EU was a mistake, it’s a powerful country and it used to play one of the main roles in the EU. Furthermore, looking
from a British point of view, the country may lose the advantages that being a European member brings. Actually, more than a million citizens are asking for a new referendum. They would like to
remain in the EU. But they're not alone. As Bono said in his impassioned speech during the concert in London “All we heard about from Madrid to Berlin to Paris to Amsterdam is that people love
the UK. They all love you and no one wants you to leave. And that’s just the truth. For us, it’s more than just a gold star falling off a blue flag”.
What the U2 are doing is meaningful and necessary. They have been using propaganda as a tool among other Europeans to share their feelings. They can reach anyone and their gestures are easily
noticed and often talked about.
Agnese Fachin, Sara Fabrizi (Rome)
Andrzejki
St Andrew's Day celebration in Poland
Where does St Andrew's Day come from?
Historians to this day haven't found out where St Andrew’s Eve exactly came from. The global extent of the custom proves its ancient origin. It is believed that it comes from ancient
Greece.
What is „St Andrew's Eve”?
St Andrew's Eve is the event organised at night 29th / 30 of November before Advent (lasting until Christmas; it is the time of reflection and prayer to develop spiritual contact with God.)
Henryk Siemiradzki. The Andrew's night. 1867
St Andrew’s Eve used to be the last day when dancing parties were allowed and so it seemed to be the best time for foretelling the future. As a matter, of course, St Andrew became the patron of the event. He was believed to advise young unmarried women about their matrimonial future. Young girls had the chance to discover the name of their future husbands and their opportunities for marriage in the near future. This ritual has now been practised among single men as well – they are also curious about whom they are going to marry. Nowadays, the event has lost its spiritual character and it is more about fun, games and parties organised by young people.
Andrzejki
In Poland, the traditional event got its name - Andrzejki - as Andrzej is a Polish name for Andrew. Similarly to all Polish festivities, youngsters find it a perfect occasion to get together with
a bunch of friends. A party can be thrown during the weekend before or after the actual celebration if St Andrew’s Day falls in the middle of the week.
Naturally, a good fortune telling must happen, so let's learn some of the ways of forecasting the future.
Future predicting customs
Fortune-telling from wax
Fortune-telling from wax is the most popular way to divide. You’ll need liquid hot wax, a key with a hole and a bowl with cold water. You have to pour wax through the hole in the key, then read
the shape from shadow made from wax. The shape is supposed to depict something that will happen to you in the forthcoming year.
Tossing apple skins
To make this type of fortune-telling, you’ll need some apples and something to peel off these fruits. Peel off an apple and then toss the skins over your shoulders. Then you should try to read a
letter, which peels often resemble, that means the first letter of your future partner’s name.
Placing shoes
The fortune-telling should take place in a larger group of friends. Participants of the game have to set their left shoe one after the other, starting from the wall opposite the door. A person
whose shoe will cross the threshold as first will change the marital status as first of the group.
Forecast with plates
You should hide a ring, rosary and a leaf under a plate. Someone has to mix these plates, then you should choose one. If you choose a plate with a ring under it – it means you’ll quickly get
married, the leaf means long-term maidenhood, and the rosary – you’ll enter a monastery.
Oliwia Czerniak, Natalia Duda, Gosia Chmielowska (Cracow)