Tag: Balkans
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Albania: Tradition and resilience in the Western Balkans
Albania is a small country of 2.5 million people, well worth visiting, known for its striking natural landscapes, rugged mountains dominating much of the interior, and coast offering some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. In the north, the Albanian Alps attract hikers and travelers seeking dramatic scenery, while traditional village life in…
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Montenegro: The Black Mountain
Montenegro is a small Balkan country of fewer than 700,000 inhabitants. It has rugged mountains, medieval villages, and a narrow strip of beaches along its Adriatic coastline. Venetian merchants travelling along its coast named the country Monte Negro from the dark, forested mountain peaks of its inland, and the Slavs translated this as Crna Gora,…
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A traditional practice in baby care: salting
Sinem ÇakaSakarya, TurkeySümeyra TopalKahramanamaras, TurkeyNursan ÇınarSakarya, Turkey In many societies, there are traditional practices performed to protect babies from magic, witchcraft, or the evil eye. At first, it may seem that these practices would have no particular effect on health. Some of these traditions bring psychological relief for the family, but some may delay the…