Europe is chock full of interesting and novel stuff, that’s for sure. From chasing wheels of cheese, to swimming in icy waters, and then fighting over said cheese in a friendly bout of fisticuffs? Well, it’s safe to say that touring over Europe definitely feels like touring over in a different world.
But really, how would Europe be Europe without the quirky and fun stuff? And if anything, why not bring Europe into your own place, no matter where you are in the world? Sounds impossible? Think again! Here’s three unusual trends that only exist in Europe that you should consider doing.
Schultüte
School is fun. Or at least, it should be. To many parents around the world, the first day of school is always challenging. There’s always the crying. Then there’s more crying. And then the kid who cries, “Where’s my mommy?” every now and then. (And let’s not even start with how the parents react!)
But not the Germans! When it comes to having well behaved Pupilles, the Germans have it all figured out. How? With a taste of Schultüte, that’s how!
In many places around Germany, parents and grandparents give kids large cones filled with candies and toys on their first day of school. Literally meaning “school cones,” Schultütes are used as a way to make kids ease up to the idea of school… and possibly the first few hours of being away from mommy and daddy.
Drinking coffee in the French way
Nothing beats a good energizer than a well-brewed cup of coffee. Or so how most of the world thinks. Actually, France has found a better alternative: slowly drinking a cup of coffee.
In France, coffee is an important part of everyday life. There’s a particular custom in which different kinds of coffees are meant for different parts of the day. Sure, that’s true. But there’s something more. What’s really important about coffee is how they drink it. They drink it slowly, savoring it. France is really big on slowly sipping your cup while you talk with other coffee drinkers in the same cafe. It’s like a socialization thing.
But if you are drinking alone, that’s still a good way to get your caffeine reserves working right without the crash. By slowly drinking your cup, the caffeine hits you gradually, so it will run out as gradually as it came in. It’s probably the best way to enjoy your morning cup o’ joe.
Spanish siesta
If there’s anything evil that a lack of sleep has ever done besides headaches, angry teachers, spilled coffee, and misplaced papers, well… there’s the fact that you wasted a few ounces of brainpower on telling yourself not to sleep.
But what if you tell yourself that you could sleep, even for just an hour? In Spain, that should be rephrased into, “Why yes. You can sleep, and probably should for an hour.” Almost every establishment there closes at around 2 pm so their employees could get a good afternoon’s siesta every day.
The problem is that not every nation in the world adopts the same siesta rules as Spain does. So, what’s the fix? Take a power nap, that’s how! A thirty-minute nap might not be as long as a Spanish siesta, but if you are looking for a quick fix for your sleep-deprived body, then give yourself a rest and take a nap. Just make sure that your boss is not watching while you do this.
Alright, so that’s three things, but that’s not all of it. Europe is definitely full of fun and unusual surprises. So, if you plan to take a visit sometime, take a moment to look at that offbeat nature… and just imagine how you could use them for yourself!
