Culture

Luxembourg is similar to Germany Which is similar to the US. Here are some key things you might need to know about Luxembourg. Luxembourg is very proud of their art and architecture.

ETIQUETTE AND CUSTOMS

Meetings and Greetings

• Greetings are reserved and formal until a relationship has been established.
  
• The most common greeting is a brief handshake.


• Very close friends greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks three times, starting with the left cheek and alternating. This can be between women or a man and a woman. Men never kiss other men; they always shake hands
  
• Surnames with the honorific titles Monsieur or Madame are used in most social situations.
  
• Wait to be invited before using someone's first name and always use the formal pronoun for you, "vous" rather than the informal
  

Gift Giving Etiquette

• If you are invited to someone's home, bring a box of good chocolates or flowers to the hostess. . Invitations to tea are formal and require the same gift as would a dinner party


• Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is considered an unlucky number.


• Do not give chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.


• A small gift for the children is always appreciated.


• Gifts are not usually opened when received if there are other guests present.
  

Traditions and Holidays

The annual high points of Luxembourg culture are the Oktav, the Revue and the Fouer, says a local comic. And in a way, he’s right. Three times a year, custom compels Luxembourgers from the country to go on a pilgrimage to their capital: to the Octave, for eight days of prayer dedicated to Our Lady, Consolatrix Afflictorum; to the Revue, a satirical revue of the political year; and to the Schueberfouer, or Fouer, a funfair during several weeks.
Take a closer look, and it’s clear that most holidays have developed out of the country’s religious tradition.

Luxembourg Also celebrates christian holidays like Christmas and Easter.

National Holiday

History tells us that Luxembourg has been independent, with a dynasty of its own, for a relatively short period of time. In the XIXth century, Luxembourgers celebrated their national holiday on Kinnéksdag (King’s Day: the birthday of the Dutch king). The new country’s first real patriotic holiday was Groussherzoginsgebuertsdag (the Grand Duchess’s Birthday). Grand Duchess Charlotte who reigned from 1919 to 1964 was born on 23 January, but to take advantage of the better summer weather, her birthday celebrations were postponed by six months, to 23 June. After Grand Duke Jean ascended the throne, 23 June became the official national holiday.

Burning the Buerg

Buergsonndeg is a tradition with a long, venerable past. The blaze symbolises the driving-out of winter, the beginning of spring and the triumph of warm over cold, of light over darkness. Some claim it is one of the last vestiges of the Inquisition, when witches were burned.