Exchange of cultural packages
The project called “Christmas packages along the Danube” consisted of mutual sending of small packages containing a small description of how Christmas is celebrated in a specific country, as well as Christmas sweets, pieces of decoration and Christmas greetings.
The descriptions sent were published on the project’s website (http://bread-wine-herbs.tastes-of-danube.eu/christmas)and were used to analyse the common points of these countries regarding Christmas celebrations. During this action, 156 packages from 56 civic organisations from 11 Danube countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia, Slovakia, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia, Serbia, Ukraine, Hungary and Moldova) were shared. The results don’t give a representative overview of the Christmas customs in these different countries but they allow to gain insight into the specific traditions as they are lived by the respective sender. One can notice that there are many common grounds in the Danube area despite regional and surely personal differences.
Pedagogical Information
On the project website, there is a virtual Christmas tree where the packages and gifts from the Danube-Networkers can be opened and seen. A direct contact had been placed between organizations and individuals from 3 different Danube countriesEuropean Dimension
The package contained representative items regarding Christmas (traditions, recipes, cookies etc), in native language and English and information about own group.
Activity of exchanging Christmas packages between organizations in 11 countries:
56 Partners from 11 Danube countries were involved
156 Packages had been exchanged.
Applied in projects
Tastes of Danube: Bread, Wine and Herbs
People from all generations, different ethnic groups, and from different social and educational backgrounds took part in this Danube project. 101 partner organizations took part in the activities of the project. The focus was not only on enhancing mutual knowledge and finding out more about traditions and values common to all countries, but also to exchange experience and to be able to meet. The participants got the chance to become acquainted to each other within a country or across the borders. Additionally, they got the possibility to create something as a team – an experience that filled the idea of an European identity with life.
