By: Libby D. + Alyssa N.
We think facts are fun. We think learning about other countries is fun. In this article we combined two fun things. Here are facts about 9 countries that we found interesting. Do you have more facts to share? Add your facts in the comment section at the end of this article.
Brazil
- In Latin America, Brazil is the only country that speaks Portuguese.
- Brazil’s national dish is “Feijoada,” which is a stew of beans with beef and pork.
Colombia
- Colombia has a national sport which is called “tejo” and it involves throwing metal pucks or discs which contain gunpowder and explode on impact.
- In Colombia, the legal age to drink is 18.
France
- Wintertime is the a good time to see the views from The Eiffel Tower. The fog in the summertime disrupts the beautiful scenery.
- The French government gives medals to those families who have raised several children with dignity.
- Potatoes were illegal between 1748 and 1772.
Greece
- Greece is often considered to be the world’s first democracy.
- Greece isn’t the real name of the country. The actual name is the Hellenic Republic.
Jamaica
- Jamaica was the first tropical country to enter in the Winter Olympics. They entered in the bobsled event. The movie Cool Runnings tells this story.
- Jamaica was once a colony of Great Britain but is now independent. England’s Queen Elizabeth II is still the Queen of Jamaica by tradition.
- The fastest man alive, Usain Bolt, calls Jamaica home.
Japan
- Square watermelons are grown for easy stackable storage.
- Noodles are slurped loudly to let the restaurant or chef know that the noodles are delicious, slurping also cools down the hot noodles.
- Blowing your nose in public is considered inappropriate.
- Taking a nap at work shows signs of hard work.
The Netherlands
- The Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage and that happened in 2001.
- There is a difference between “Holland” and “the Netherlands.” Holland comprises the Dutch provinces of North and South Holland. All of the 12 provinces together are called the Netherlands.
South Africa
- South Africa is home to many animals such as the world’s largest bird, the ostrich and the world’s tallest mammal, the giraffe. (Which we think is awesome. We 💚 giraffes.) Also, the Least Dwarf Shrew, like a mouse but smaller, lives in South Africa.
- South Africa has inventions that some people might use today in the U.S.. They include the Kreepy Krauly automatic pool cleaner, the CAT Scan, Q20 lubricant, Pratley’s Putty and the Smartlock Safety Syringe.
- South Africa has 11 official languages. The languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Tswana, Sesotho, Tsonga, Swazi, Venda, and Ndebele.
United Kingdom
- The British drink over 163 million cups of tea a day, 20 times America’s consumption.
- The origins of soccer begin in England when Anglo-Saxon farm workers found the skull of a Danish warrior. The workers began to kick around the skull for amusement. The earliest name for soccer was “Kick Dane’s Head” due to this story.
- In 1999, 3,000 people of England were hospitalized from tripping over laundry baskets.
No comments:
Post a Comment