Editing Alsace (section)

==Culture==
Alsace historically was part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German realm of culture. Since the 17th century, the region has passed between German and French control numerous times, resulting in a cultural blend. German traits remain in the more traditional, rural parts of the culture, such as the [[cuisine]] and architecture, whereas modern institutions are totally dominated by French culture.

===Symbolism===
[[File:BlasonAlsace.svg|thumb|[[Coat of arms]] of Alsace]]

====Strasbourg====
[[File:Greater coat of arms of Strasbourg.svg|thumb|Coat of arms of [[Strasbourg]]]]
[[Strasbourg]]'s arms are the colours of the shield of the [[Bishop of Strasbourg]] (a band of red on a white field, also considered an inversion of the arms of the diocese) at the end of a revolt of the burghers during the Middle Ages who took their independence from the teachings of the Bishop. It retains its power over the surrounding area.

====Flags====
{{Main|Flag of Alsace}}
[[File:Flag of Alsace (historical).svg|thumb|Rot-un-Wiss, the historical flag]]
[[File:Flag of Alsace (old).svg|thumb|The region's flag from 1949 to 2008]]

There is controversy around the recognition of the Alsatian flag. The authentic historical flag is the ''Rot-un-Wiss''; Red and White are commonly found on the coat of arms of Alsatian cities (Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Sélestat...)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unserland.org/dossiers/breve-histoire-dun-drapeau-alsacien/|title=Unser LandBrève histoire d'un drapeau alsacien|work=Unser Land|access-date=29 December 2014|archive-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127040459/http://www.unserland.org/dossiers/breve-histoire-dun-drapeau-alsacien/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and of many Swiss cities, especially in [[Basel-Landschaft|Basel's region]]. The German region [[Hesse]] uses a flag similar to the Rot-un-Wiss. As it underlines the Germanic roots of the region, it was ''replaced'' in 1949 by a new "Union jack-like" flag representing the union of the two départements. It has, however, no real historical relevance. It has been since replaced again by a slightly different one, also representing the two départements. With the purpose of "Francizing" the region, the Rot-un-Wiss has not been recognized by Paris. Some overzealous statesmen have called it a Nazi invention – while its origins date back to the 11th century and the Red and White banner<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.genealogie-bisval.net/Images/Lorraine.gif| title = Genealogie-bisval.net}}</ref> of [[Gérard, Duke of Lorraine|Gérard de Lorraine]] (aka. d'Alsace). The Rot-un-Wiss flag is still known as the real historical emblem of the region by most of the population and the départements' parliaments and has been widely used during protests against the creation of a new "super-region" gathering [[Champagne-Ardennes]], [[Lorraine]] and Alsace, namely on Colmar's statue of liberty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/alsace/2014/11/16/colmar-une-statu-de-la-liberte-en-rot-und-wiss-593102.html|title=Colmar : une statue de la Liberté en "Rot und Wiss" |work=France 3 Alsace|date=16 November 2014 }}</ref>

===Language===
[[File:Linguistic Map of Alsace.svg|thumb|220px|left|Spatial distribution of dialects in Alsace prior to the expansion of [[standard French]] in the 20th century]]
[[File:WIKITONGUES- Dominique speaking Alsatian.webm|thumb|An Alsatian dialect speaker, recorded in [[France]]]]
Although German dialects were spoken in Alsace for most of its history, the dominant language in Alsace today is French.

The traditional language of the ''région'' is [[Alsatian language|Alsatian]], an [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] dialect of [[Upper German]] spoken on both sides of the Rhine and closely related to [[Swiss German]]. Some [[Frankish language|Frankish]] dialects of [[West Central German]] are also spoken in "Alsace Bossue" and in the extreme north of Alsace. [[Language policy in France|As is customary]] for [[regional language]]s in France, neither Alsatian nor the Frankish dialects have any form of official status, although both are now recognized as [[languages of France]] and can be chosen as subjects in [[lycées]].

Although Alsace has been part of France multiple times in the past, the region had no direct connection with the French state for several centuries. From the end of the Roman Empire (5th century) to the French annexation (17th century), Alsace was politically part of the German world.

During the [[Protestant Reformation|Lutheran Reform]], the towns of Alsace were the first to adopt the German language as their official language instead of [[Latin]]. It was in Strasbourg that German was first used for the liturgy. It was also in Strasbourg that the first German Bible was published in 1466.

From the annexation of Alsace by France in the 17th century and the language policy of the French Revolution up to 1870, knowledge of French in Alsace increased considerably. With the education reforms of the 19th century, the middle classes began to speak and write French well. The French language never really managed, however, to win over the masses, the vast majority of whom continued to speak their German dialects and write in German (which we would now call "standard German").{{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=March 2014}}

Between 1870 and 1918, Alsace was annexed by the German Empire in the form of an imperial province or Reichsland, and the mandatory official language, especially in schools, became High German. French lost ground to such an extent that it has been estimated that only 2% of the population spoke French fluently, and only 8% had some knowledge of it (Maugue, 1970).

After 1918, French was the only language used in schools, particularly primary schools. After much argument and discussion and after many temporary measures, a memorandum was issued by Vice-Chancellor Pfister in 1927 and governed education in primary schools until 1939.

During a reannexation by Germany (1940–1945), High German was reinstated as the language of education. The population was forced to speak German and 'French' family names were Germanized. Following the Second World War, the 1927 regulation was not reinstated, and the teaching of German in primary schools was suspended by a provisional rectorial decree, which was supposed to enable French to regain lost ground. The teaching of German became a major issue, however, as early as 1946. After World War II, the French government pursued, in line with its traditional [[language policy in France|language policy]], a campaign to suppress the use of German as part of a wider [[Francization]] campaign. The local [[Alsatian dialect|German dialect]] was rendered a backward regional "Germanic" dialect not being attached to German.<ref>{{cite book|first=Peter|last=von Polenz|year=1999|title= Deutsche Sprachgeschichte vom Spätmittelalter bis zur Gegenwart|volume= Band III: 19. und 20. Jahrhundert|place= Berlin/New York.|pages=165}}</ref>

In 1951, Article 10 of the [[Deixonne Law]] (''Loi Deixonne'') on the teaching of local languages and dialects made provision for [[Breton language|Breton]], [[Basque language|Basque]], [[Catalan language|Catalan]] and old [[Provençal (dialect)|Provençal]] but not for [[Corsican language|Corsican]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]] ([[West Flemish]]) or Alsatian in Alsace and [[Moselle (department)|Moselle]]. However, in a Decree of 18 December 1952, supplemented by an Order of 19 December of the same year, optional teaching of the German language was introduced in elementary schools in communes in which the language of habitual use was the Alsatian dialect.

In 1972, the Inspector General of German, Georges Holderith, obtained authorization to reintroduce German into 33 intermediate classes on an experimental basis. This teaching of German, referred to as the Holderith Reform, was later extended to all pupils in the last two years of elementary school. This reform is still largely the basis of German teaching (but not Alsatian) in elementary schools today.

It was not until 9 June 1982, with the ''Circulaire sur la langue et la culture régionales en Alsace'' (Memorandum on regional language and culture in Alsace) issued by the Vice-Chancellor of the Académie Pierre Deyon, that the teaching of German in primary schools in Alsace really began to be given more official status. The Ministerial Memorandum of 21 June 1982, known as the Circulaire Savary, introduced financial support, over three years, for the teaching of regional languages in schools and universities. This memorandum was, however, implemented in a fairly lax manner.

Both Alsatian and Standard German were for a time banned from public life (including street and city names, official administration, and educational system). Though the ban has long been lifted and street signs today are often bilingual, Alsace–Lorraine is today predominantly French in language and culture. Few young people speak Alsatian today, although there do still exist one or two enclaves in the [[Sundgau]] region where some older inhabitants cannot speak French, and where Alsatian is still used as the mother tongue. A related [[Alemannic German]] survives on the opposite bank of the Rhine, in [[Baden]], and especially in Switzerland. However, while French is the major language of the region, the Alsatian dialect of French is heavily influenced by German and other languages such as Yiddish in phonology and vocabulary.

This situation has spurred a movement to preserve the Alsatian language, which is perceived as endangered, a situation paralleled in other ''régions'' of France, such as [[Brittany]] or [[Occitania]]. Alsatian is now taught in French high schools. Increasingly, French is the only language used at home and at work, and a growing number of people have a good knowledge of [[standard German]] as a foreign language learned in school.

The constitution of the Fifth Republic states that French alone is the official language of the Republic. However, Alsatian, along with other regional languages, are recognized by the French government in the official list of languages of France.

Although the French government signed the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]] in 1992, it never ratified the treaty and therefore no legal basis exists for any of the regional languages in France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/vox/societe/2015/06/05/31003-20150605ARTFIG00157-charte-europeenne-des-langues-regionales-hollande-nourrit-la-guerre-contre-le-francais.php|title=Charte européenne des langues régionales : Hollande nourrit la guerre contre le français|work=Le Figaro|date=5 June 2015}}</ref> However, visitors to Alsace can see indications of renewed political and cultural interest in the language – in Alsatian signs appearing in car-windows and on hoardings, and in new official bilingual street signs in Strasbourg and Mulhouse.

A 1999 INSEE survey, included in the 1999 Census, the majority of the population in Alsace speak [[French Language|French]] as their first language, 39.0% (or 500,000 people) of the population speak [[Alsatian dialect|Alsatian]], 16.2% (or 208,000 people) speak [[German Language|German]], 75,200 people speak [[English Language|English]] (or 5.9%) and 27,600 people speak [[Italian Language|Italian]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=www.epsilon.insee.fr/jspui/bitstream/1/2294/1/cpar12_1.pdf, L'alsacien, deuxième langue régionale de France|publisher=INSEE|date=December 2002|pages=3}}</ref>

The survey counted 548,000 adult speakers of Alsatian in France, making it the second most-spoken regional language in the country (after [[Occitan language|Occitan]]). Like all regional languages in France, however, the transmission of Alsatian is on the decline. While 39% of the adult population of Alsace speak Alsatian, only one in four children speak it, and only one in ten children uses it regularly.

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Colmar - Alsace.jpg|thumb|[[Colmar]]'s old town]]
The traditional habitat of the Alsatian lowland, like in other regions of Germany and Northern Europe, consists of houses constructed with walls in [[timber framing]] and cob and roofing in flat tiles. This type of construction is abundant in adjacent parts of Germany and can be seen in other areas of France, but their particular abundance in Alsace is owed to several reasons:
# The proximity to the [[Vosges]] where the wood can be found.
# During periods of war and bubonic plague, villages were often burned down, so to prevent the collapse of the upper floors, ground floors were built of stone and upper floors built in half-timberings to prevent the spread of fire.
# During most of its history, a great part of Alsace was flooded by the Rhine every year. Half-timbered houses were easy to knock down and to move around during those times (a day was necessary to move it and a day to rebuild it in another place).

However, half-timbering was found to increase the risk of fire, which is why from the 19th century, it began to be rendered. In recent times, villagers started to paint the rendering white in accordance with Beaux-Arts movements. To discourage this, the region's authorities gave financial grants to the inhabitants to paint the rendering in various colours, in order to return to the original style and many inhabitants accepted (more for financial reasons than by firm belief).{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}

=== Cuisine ===
[[File:Tarte flambée alsacienne 514471722.jpg|thumb|''[[Flammekueche]]'']]
[[Alsatian cuisine]], somewhat based on German culinary traditions, is marked by the use of pork in various forms. It is perhaps mostly known for the region's wines and beers. Traditional dishes include ''[[baeckeoffe]]'', ''[[tarte flambée|flammekueche]]'', ''[[choucroute garnie|choucroute]]'', and ''[[fleischnacka]]''. Southern Alsace, also called the [[Sundgau]], is characterized by ''[[carp|carpe frite]]'' (that also exists in [[Yiddish]] tradition).

==== Food ====
[[File:Kouglof.png|thumb|[[Kugelhupf]]]]
The festivities of the year's end involve the production of a great variety of biscuits and small cakes called ''[[bredela]]'' as well as {{lang|fr|[[pain d'épices]]}} ([[gingerbread]] cakes) which are baked around Christmas time. The [[Kugelhupf]] is also popular in Alsace, and the [[Christstollen]] during the Christmas season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les Christstollen de la vallée de Munster|year=2009|url=http://sitemap.dna.fr/articles/200912/21/les-christstollen-de-la-vallee-de-munster,region,000011851.php}}</ref>

A gastronomic symbol of the {{lang|fr|région}} is the [[Choucroute]], a local variety of [[Sauerkraut]]. The word Sauerkraut in Alsatian has the form {{lang|gsw|sûrkrût}}, same as in other southwestern German dialects, and means "sour cabbage" as its [[German language|Standard German]] equivalent. This word was included into the French language as {{lang|fr|choucroute}}. To make it, the cabbage is finely shredded, layered with salt and [[juniper]] and left to ferment in wooden barrels. Sauerkraut can be served with poultry, pork, sausage or even fish. Traditionally it is served with Strasbourg sausage or frankfurters, bacon, smoked pork or smoked [[Morteau Sausage|Morteau]] or [[Montbéliard]] sausages, or a selection of other pork products. Served alongside are often roasted or steamed potatoes or dumplings.

Alsace is also well known for its [[foie gras]] made in the region since the 17th century. Additionally, Alsace is known for its fruit juices and mineral waters.

==== Wines ====
[[File:Riesling grapes leaves.jpg|thumb|right|Riesling grapes]]
Alsace is an important [[list of wine-producing regions|wine-producing ''région'']]. ''Vins d'Alsace'' ([[Alsace wine]]s) are mostly white. Alsace produces some of the world's most noted dry [[riesling]]s and is the only region in France to produce mostly [[varietal]] wines identified by the names of the grapes used (wine from [[Burgundy wine|Burgundy]] is also mainly varietal, but not normally identified as such), typically from grapes also used in Germany. The most notable example is [[Gewurztraminer]].

==== Beers ====
Alsace is also the main beer-producing region of France, thanks primarily to [[brewery|breweries]] in and near [[Strasbourg]]. These include those of [[Fischer Brewery|Fischer]], [[Karlsbräu]], [[Kronenbourg]], and [[Heineken International]]. [[Hops]] are grown in [[Kochersberg]] and in northern Alsace. [[Schnapps]] is also traditionally made in Alsace, but it is in decline because home [[distillation|distillers]] are becoming less common and the consumption of traditional, strong, alcoholic beverages is decreasing.

=== In tales ===
[[File:Cegonha alsaciana.jpg|thumb|Alsatian stork]]

The [[stork]] is a main feature of Alsace and was the subject of many [[legend]]s told to children. The bird practically disappeared around 1970, but re-population efforts are continuing. They are mostly found on roofs of houses, churches and other public buildings in Alsace.

The [[Easter Bunny]] was first mentioned in [[Georg Franck von Franckenau]]'s ''De ovis paschalibus'' (About Easter eggs) in 1682 referring to an Alsace tradition of an Easter Hare bringing Easter eggs.

=== The term "Alsatia" ===
{{Main|Alsatia}}

"Alsatia", the Latin form of Alsace's name, entered the [[English language]] as "a lawless place" or "a place under no jurisdiction" prior to the 17th century as a reflection of the British perception of the region at that time. It was used into the 20th century as a term for a ramshackle marketplace, "protected by ancient custom and the independence of their patrons". The word is still in use in the 21st century among the English and Australian judiciaries to describe a place where the law cannot reach: "In setting up the [[Serious Organised Crime Agency]], the state has set out to create an Alsatia – a region of executive action free of judicial oversight," [[Lord Justice Sedley]] in UMBS v SOCA 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2586539.ece|title=Law Lords slam crime agency for freezing UMBS payments|newspaper=The Independent|date=27 May 2007|access-date=2010-05-30|location=London|first=Paul|last=Lashmar|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001051829/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2586539.ece|archive-date=1 October 2007}}</ref>

Derived from the above, "[[Alsatia]]" was historically a [[Cant (language)|cant]] term for the area near [[Whitefriars, London]], which was for a long time a [[sanctuary]]. It is first known in print in the title of ''[[The Squire of Alsatia]]'', a 1688 play written by [[Thomas Shadwell]].