Editing Culture of Albania (section)

== Lifestyle ==

=== Kanun ===
{{Main|Kanun (Albania)|l1=Kanun}}
{{See also|Besa (Albanian culture)|l1=Besa}}

[[File:Theth and Theth National Park, Albania 2017.jpg|210px|thumb|The Kanun is still today applied by [[Gheg Albanian|Gheg]]s in the north of Albania.]]

The [[Kanun (Albania)|Kanun]], a comprehensive compilation of Albanian traditional [[Tradition|custom]]s and cultural practices, was codified by [[Lekë Dukagjini]] in the [[Middle Ages]]. Scholars have conjectured that the Kanun might have derived from [[Illyrians|Illyrian]] tribal laws, while others have suggested that it has retained elements from [[Proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-European]] [[Prehistory|Prehistoric]] eras.<ref>Dukagjini, L., Gjecov, S., Fox, L. ''Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit''. Gjonlekaj Publishing Co., 1989. p. xvi.</ref><ref>{{cite book| last1 = Cancik| first1 = Hubert| last2 = Schneider| first2 = Helmuth| title = Brill's New Pauly Encyclopaedia of the Ancient World. Classical Tradition| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UqE5SwAACAAJ| year = 2002| publisher = Brill| isbn = 90-04-14221-5| page = 92 }}</ref> The Kanun reflects notably the historic development of Albanians through its turbulent [[History of Albania|history]] and encompasses in a real statute regulating various aspects of life including customs, traditions and wisdom in Albania.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Malmö University|author-link=Malmö University|title=THE KANUN OF LEKË DUKAGJINI AMONG KOSOVAALBANIANS IN SWEDEN|url=http://muep.mau.se/bitstream/handle/2043/13841/Master%20Thesis%20-%20The%20Kanun%20among%20Kosova%20Albanians%20in%20Sweden.pdf|website=muep.mau.se|location=Malmö|language=en}}</ref>

[[Besa (Albanian culture)|Besa]], "to keep the promise", is the Albanian [[Custom (law)|code of honor]] and a major component of Albanian culture.<ref name="Kanun"/> It is among the highest and most important concept of the [[Kanun (Albania)|Kanun]] with a moral and ethic connotation. The term contains the given word or keeping of a promise or obligation and the guaranteed agreement among honorable men.

Most notably, Besa means taking care of those in need and being hospitable to every single person. Albania saved and protected almost 2000 [[Jewish People|Jewish people]] during the [[Holocaust]]. Rather than hiding the Jews in attics or the woods, the Albanians gave them clothes, gave them Albanian names and treated them as part of the family.

{{cquote|There is no trace of any discrimination against [[Jews in Albania]], because [[Albania]] happens to be one of the rare lands in [[Europe]] today where religious prejudice and hate do not exist, even though [[Albanians]] themselves are divided into [[Religion in Albania|three faiths]].<ref>{{cite web|author1=The World Holocaust Remembrance Center|title=Besa: A Code of Honor - Muslim Albanians Who Rescued Jews During the Holocaust|url=http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/exhibitions/besa/index.asp|website=yadvashem.org|language=en}}</ref> - [[Herman Bernstein]]}}

=== Fis (clan) ===
{{Main|Tribes of Albania}}

The traditional Albanian social structure is based on clans ({{langx|sq|fise}}) characterized by a common [[cultur]]e, often common [[ancestry]] and shared [[social ties]]. In past times most of them defended their territory and interests against other clans and external forces.<ref>{{cite book|last=Elsie|first=Robert|title=The Tribes of Albania: History, Society and Culture|page=1|year=2015|publisher=I.B. Tauris|isbn=978-1-78453-401-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-EzWCQAAQBAJ}}</ref>

The Albanian tribal society clearly crystallized in the [[Northern Mountain Range (Albania)|mountains of northern Albania]] and adjacent areas of [[Montenegro]], and it was also present in a less developed system in [[southern Albania]].{{sfn|Elsie|2015|pp=1}} One of the most particular elements of the Albanian tribal structure is its dependence on the ''[[Kanun (Albania)|Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini]]''.<ref>{{cite book|editor-first= William A.|editor-last= Parkinson|last=Galaty|first=Michael L.|title=The Archaeology of Tribal Societies|chapter=Modeling the Formation and Evolution of an Illyrian Tribal System: Ethnographic and Archaeological Analogs|pages=109–121|year=2002|publisher=Berghahn Books|isbn=1789201713|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TR8DwAAQBAJ}}</ref>

This social structure was inherited from the ancient [[Illyrians]],{{sfn|Galaty|2002|pp=109–121}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Villar|first=Francisco|title=Los indoeuropeos y los orígenes de Europa|language=es|publisher=Gredos|place=Madrid|year=1996|page=316|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d5NbPAAACAAJ|isbn=84-249-1787-1}}</ref> thrived until the early years of the 20th century, and remained largely intact until the rise to power of [[People's Socialist Republic of Albania|communist regime]] in 1944.{{sfn|Elsie|2015|pp=1}}

=== Oda ===
[[File:Gjakove OdaShqiptare.JPG|200px|thumb|A typical ''Oda'']]
{{Main|Oda (Albania)|l1=Oda}}
''Oda'' is a typical large room in an [[Albanians|Albanian]] traditional house used by the host to receive and entertain the guests.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kostovicova|first=Denisa|title=Kosovo: The Politics of Identity and Space|publisher=Routledge|year=2005|isbn=0-415-34806-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L562PiBM6GEC|pages=113–114}}.</ref><ref name=Lanzinger>{{Cite book|last=Lanzinger|first=Margareth|title=Women's Movements: Networks and Debates in Post-communist Countries in the 19th and 20th Centuries|publisher=Böhlau Verlag Köln, Weimar, Wien|year=2006|isbn=3-412-32205-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j7ePIpI9qVgC|page=244}}.</ref> Traditionally, the host and the guests in the ''oda'' are old men and married men. Till the end of the 20th century, woman and young boys were not allowed to enter the room. In the ''oda'', the men talk, take political discussions and sing [[Albanian folk poetry|epic songs]] until late hours. During an ''oda'' "session", historical events and traditions are transmitted orally through discussions and songs.<ref>{{harvnb|Lanzinger|2006|pp=244}}.</ref>

=== Holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Albania}}

[[File:Independence Day Celebrations 01.jpg|210px|thumb|right|[[100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania|Independence Day]] in Pristina, Kosovo<ref>{{cite web|title=Kosovo celebrates today Albanian Independence Day|url=http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/kosovo-celebrates-today-albanian-independence-day-171519/|website=gazetaexpress.com|location=Pristina|language=en|date=28 November 2016|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083954/http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/kosovo-celebrates-today-albanian-independence-day-171519/|archive-date=12 February 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>]]

In consideration to the long and eventful [[history of Albania]], there are several cultural and religious holidays throughout the country. [[Albanians]], either in Albania, [[Kosovo]] and [[Albanian diaspora|other countries]], celebrate their [[Albanian Declaration of Independence|Independence]] and [[Albanian Flag Day|Flag Day]] on November 28. Various ceremonies, festivals and concerts take place to celebrate the historic day in major cities amongst them in [[Tirana]] and [[Pristina]], holding festive and military parades.

[[Christmas]] is celebrated by those following the religion of [[Christianity]]. [[Eid al-Fitr|Bajram]] is considered by Muslims as the holiday of forgiveness, moral victory and peace, fellowship and unity. They sacrifice a sheep for this holiday, giving the meat to their family, friends and to the poor people.

Another [[Paganism|pagan]] holiday is [[Dita e Verës]], particularly popular in [[Elbasan]] and [[Gjirokastër]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Dita e verës, festimet kanë nisur para Krishtit|url=http://shqiptarja.com/news.php?IDNotizia=73804|website=shqiptarja.com|language=sq|date=14 March 2012|access-date=11 February 2018|archive-date=12 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083616/http://shqiptarja.com/news.php?IDNotizia=73804|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is celebrated on March 14 and is intended to commemorate the end of winter, the rebirth of nature and a rejuvenation of spirit amongst the Albanians. The ritual of the day begins on the previous day with the preparation of sweets such as [[ballokume]] cooked in a wood oven. During the evening ballokume, dried [[Ficus|fig]]s, [[walnut]]s, turkey legs, boiled eggs and simite are distributed to members of the family.

[[List of Teachers' Days|Dita e Mësuesit]] is celebrated on March 7 since 1887 and is regarded by many Albanians as one of the most important holidays of the country. It honors the opening of the first school that taught lessons in [[Albanian language|Albanian]] in [[Korçë]].

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Albanian cuisine}}
{{See also|Arbëreshë cuisine|Kosovan cuisine}}
[[File:Oil-1383546 1920.jpg|210px|thumb|right|[[Olive oil]] has been used since ancient times in [[Albanian cuisine|Albanian cooking]].<ref>{{cite web|title=THE OLIVE AND OLIVE OIL VALUE CHAIN IN ALBANIA|url=http://www.eastagri.org/files/Oil-Albania.pdf|website=eastagri.org|pages=38–39|language=en}}</ref>]]
The [[Albanian cuisine]], a representative of the [[Mediterranean cuisine]], has developed through the centuries of social and economic changes and more importantly referable to different factors that stands in close interaction with each other such as the small and mountainous [[Geography of Albania|territory]] of the country with virgin forests, narrow valleys, vast plains and a favourable [[Climate of Albania|climate]] that offers excellent growth conditions for a variety of [[vegetable]]s, [[herb]]s and [[fruit]]s. 
 
Food is for [[Albanians]] an important component of their culture and is deeply rooted in the [[History of Albania|history]], traditions and values of the country. The cooking traditions of the [[Albanian people]] are diverse and nevertheless [[olive oil]] is the most commonly used [[vegetable fat]] in Albanian cooking, which has been produced since [[Classical antiquity|antiquity]] throughout the country particularly along the coasts.<ref>{{cite web|author1=S. Velo; D. Topi|title=The Production Potential of the Olive Oil from Native Cultivars in Albania|url=http://ijoer.com/Paper-April-2017/IJOER-APR-2017-18.pdf|website=ijoer.com|location=Tirana|language=en}}</ref>

Albanian cuisine uses a variety of ingredients which include a wider availability of vegetables such as [[zucchini]], [[eggplant]], [[Capsicum|pepper]]s, [[tomato]]es, [[cucumber]]s, [[potato]]es, [[cabbage]]s and [[spinach]], as well as [[cereal]]s such as [[wheat]], [[maize|sweetcorn]], [[barley]] and [[rye]]. Herbs and [[spice]]s include [[oregano]], [[Spearmint|mint]], [[garlic]], [[onion]] and [[basil]]. Widely used meat varieties are [[Lamb and mutton|lamb]], [[goat]], [[beef]], [[veal]], [[chicken]] and other [[poultry]]. Considering the direct proximity to the sea, [[seafood]] specialties are particularly popular along the [[Albanian Adriatic Sea Coast|Albanian Adriatic]] and [[Albanian Ionian Sea Coast|Ionian Sea Coast]]s.

[[Hospitality]] is a fundamental [[Norm (social)|custom]] of Albanian society and serving food is an integral to the hosting of guests and visitors. It is not infrequent for visitors to be invited to eat and drink with locals. The medieval Albanian [[Kanun (Albania)|code of honor]], called [[Besa (Albanian culture)|Besa]], resulted to look after guests and strangers as an act of recognition and gratitude.<ref name="Kanun">{{cite journal|first1=Mirjona|last1=Sadiku|title=Page 1 A Tradition of Honor, Hospitality and Blood Feuds:Exploring the Kanun Customary Law inContemporary Albania.|url=http://js.ugd.edu.mk/index.php/BSSR/article/view/861/833|journal=Balkan Social Science Review|date=10 July 2014 |volume=3 |pages=11–14|language=en|format=PDF}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{See also|Religion in Albania}}

[[File:MotherTeresa 090.jpg|170px|thumb|right|[[Mother Teresa]] was an [[Albanians|Albanian]] [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[nun]] and [[missionary]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cannon|first=Mae Elise|title=Just Spirituality: How Faith Practices Fuel Social Action|access-date=3 September 2016|date=25 January 2013|publisher=InterVarsity Press|language=en|isbn=978-0-8308-3775-5|page=19|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LxGECp1gqwwC&q=By+blood%2C+I+am+Albanian.
|quote=When asked about her personal history, Mother Teresa said: 'By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.'}}</ref>]]

[[Christianity]], [[Islam]] and [[Judaism]] are the traditional [[religion]]s of Albania. The [[Constitution of Albania|constitution]] extends [[freedom of religion]] to all citizens and the government generally respects this right in practice. Albania have always been considered as a unique country in terms of religion and [[religious tolerance]] is one of the main characteristics of [[Albanians]].
 
[[Christianity in Albania|Christianity]] has a long and eventful history in the country whereby it belongs to one of the most ancient countries of Christianity. There are thought to have been about seventy Christian families in [[Durrës]] as early as the time of the [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostle]]s. [[Paul the Apostle]] was the founder of the Archbishopric of Durrës while he was preaching in [[Illyria]] and [[Epirus (ancient state)|Epirus]].<ref>{{cite web|first1=Bernhard|last1=Tonnes|title=Religious Persecution in Albania|url=https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/rcl/10-3_242.pdf|website=biblicalstudies.org.uk|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://reformation.edu/albania/pages/early-christianity-albania.htm|title=Early Christianity – Albania – Reformation Christian Ministries – Albania & Kosovo|work=reformation.edu|access-date=2017-07-02|archive-date=2020-09-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918080934/https://www.reformation.edu/albania/pages/early-christianity-albania.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the eleventh century, Albanians first appeared in [[Byzantine]] sources and at this point, they were already fully Christianized. The first known [[bishop]] of Albania was the [[Bishop of Scutari]] founded in 387 in [[Shkodër]]. In the late seventeenth century, [[Pope Clement XI]] served as the [[Pope]] from 1700 to 1721. He was born to an Albanian father descended from the noble [[Albani family]] from the region of [[Malësi e Madhe]] in Albania.

[[File:Clement XI.jpg|170px|thumb|left|[[Pope Clement XI]], the first pope of Albanian heritage]]

The history of [[Judaism in Albania|Judaism]] in the country can be traced back to the [[Classical antiquity|classical era]]. Jewish migration from the [[Roman Empire]] is considered the most likely source of the first Jews on the country's territory. It may have first arrived in Albania in the first century BC.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jewish Virtual Library|title=Albania|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/albania.html|work=Virtual Jewish History Tour: Albania|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|access-date=27 August 2012}}</ref> They build the first synagogue in [[Sarandë]] in the early fifth century. In the sixteenth century, there were Jewish settlements in most of major cities such as [[Berat]], [[Elbasan]], [[Vlorë]], [[Durrës]] and as well as in [[Kosovo]] region.

Albania was the only country during [[the Holocaust]] in Europe where [[Jewish]] population experienced growth.<ref>Samer, Haroey (1997), "Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust", The Jews of Albania, California: Brunswick Press, archived from the original on 2008-05-10, retrieved 21 October 2012</ref> After the mass emigration to [[Israel]] following the fall of communist regime, only 200 Albanian Jews are left in the country today.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3997848,00.html |title=1st chief rabbi inaugurated in Albania – Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews |newspaper=Ynetnews |date=17 December 2010 |publisher=Ynetnews.com |access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first= Ariel |last= Scheib |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/albania.html |title=Albania Virtual Jewish Tour |encyclopedia=Jewish Virtual Library |access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref> In 2010, a new synagogue "Hechal Shlomo" started providing services for the Jewish community in [[Tirana]].

[[Islam in Albania|Islam]] arrived for the first time in the ninth century to the region, when Muslim Arabs raided the eastern [[Adriatic Sea]].<ref>{{Cite book|first1=Jørgen |last1=Nielsen |first2=Samim |last2=Akgönül |first3=Ahmet |last3=Alibašić |first4=Egdunas |last4=Racius |title=Yearbook of Muslims in Europe|chapter=Albania|page=23|volume=5|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ia5AAQAAQBAJ&q=albania&pg=PA351|access-date=12 March 2016|publisher=Brill|year=2013|location=Leiden, Boston, New York|isbn=9789004255869 }}</ref> In the fifteenth century, Islam emerged as the majority religion during the centuries of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule, though a significant Christian minority remained. After [[Declaration of independence of Albania|declaration of independence]] on November 28, 1912, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later the communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom.