Albania

SHORT INFORMATION

Languages of Albania

Republic of Albania, Republika e Shqipërisë. 3,154,000. National or official language: Tosk Albanian. Literacy rate: 85%. Blind population: 2,000. Deaf population: 204,565 (1998). The number of individual languages listed for Albania is 7. Of those, all are living languages.

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

Easter in Albania

For a long time, roughly half-a-century, celebrating a religious festivity was a pure act of rebellion in Albania. Former dictator Enver Hoxha in his attempt to create the homo-sovieticus had banned anything from Christmas to Carnivals. Any challenge to the rule and you could be drop-shipped to the gulags as priority mail.

HOLIDAYS AND TRADITIONS

New Years Eve In Albania

New Year in Albania is celebrated in its own way. The country celebrates both the English New Year and the traditional New Year (Nowruz). The English New year is celebrated as usual on the 1st of January throughout Albania. Nowruz - 21 of march.