/r/AskEurope

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Ask Europeans questions about their countries!

Got a question for a European, about Europe or anything Europe related? Then you came to the right place!

Select a flair (flag) by clicking the flair edit button above. If you are having trouble, use our stickied daily thread.

Please remember our premier rule: be polite and courteous to everybody. Let people express their opinions. We're not only here to answer questions, but also to encourage healthy discussions.

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Rules

  1. Be polite and courteous to everybody.
    No attacks on other users, doxxing, harassment, or trolling. Racism, discrimination or other bigotry (offensive content, hate speech, genocide denial, dehumanisation...) and endorsement of violence will not be tolerated.

  2. Keep comments relevant and of decent quality. Top-level comments must answer the question that has been asked. Humorous comments are of course allowed, as long as the question is answered. Low quality comments ("shitposting") will not be accepted.

  3. Submissions must be a question with a clear title. Submissions must be relevant to the subreddit. They must be a question and have the question in the title, ending with a question mark. Use the text box to clarify the question further if needed.

  4. No low effort and unsuitable questions. Questions that are unsuitable will be removed as well as low effort questions. This includes overdone topics, low effort question itself, yes/no-questions, joke questions, and questions which can be easily answered using Google or by visiting the sites linked in the sidebar.

  5. No agenda pushing. Don’t push an agenda with your questions: stay neutral. This is a politically neutral sub. You are obviously still allowed to express an opinion as an answer, as long as you respect others' opinions.

  6. No similar questions that have been asked in the last two weeks. To keep questions from becoming too repetitive, questions that have been asked during the last two weeks are not allowed. Use the search bar and refrain from asking questions that have already been asked.

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10

Traditionnaly, which is favored in your country, cats or dogs ?

In france, it is dogs. Man's best friend, known for their loyalty and bravery, helping its owner in his works, while cats are sneaky bastards who were killed and seen as rats (tho helpful to catch mices)

40 Comments
2024/10/31
19:20 UTC

27

Do people in your country stock up on supplies before every bank holidays?

Tomorrow we have bank holiday, most shops will be closed (but corner shops, food delivery and restaurants will be working). And because the shops will be closed for one day people act like they don't expect them to ever be open again.

There was a huge line to my favourite bakery early in the morning and people were buying a week's worth of bread, they run out of bread by noon although normally they're open till evening. People in supermarkets are queuing with their carts full to the brim. Everyone just went nuts.

And it's not like tomorrow's holiday is connected with some feast like xmas or easter.

So what is it like over in your country?

61 Comments
2024/10/31
17:10 UTC

10

Europeans who celebrate Halloween, what is generally seen as the least desired candy?

According to polls from America, it’s a candy we call Candy Corn. To describe it is a waxy candy that is divided into the colors of white orange and yellow. It has flavors of honey, sugar, butter and vanilla.

So what is your country’s candy corn?

80 Comments
2024/10/31
11:51 UTC

3

Any travelling restrictions in Czech Republic / Poland after the flood?

I can't find any newspaper articles about it, but I was wondering whether travelling these countries still brings some restrictions with it, like limitted travel options or damaged towns in the valleys. Specifically, I would be interested in the region around Liberec / Krkonoše National Park / Krkonošský národní parkKrkonošský národní park. Thank you very much for your help!

3 Comments
2024/10/31
14:03 UTC

51

What is your favorite fact about your native language?

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257 Comments
2024/10/30
19:31 UTC

10

What makes something a good country in your opinion?

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49 Comments
2024/10/30
18:04 UTC

0

Can a bank in Europe legally refuse to change old Euro bills?

I want to ask if it's normal or even legal for a bank, (or multiple banks) to refuse to change old 200 Euro bills (2002 edition) to recently issued bills? From what I've read, the Central European Bank states that the old bills are valid and hold value but will gradually be replaced via the banking system.

I have been refused by ING, Raiffeisen, and two more Romanian banks, which I find totally questionable, if not even illegal. I don't think that any bank that is part of the European banking system should be able to refuse such a demand. It's their job!

Anyway, I'm not gonna let them get away so easily, but I wanted to consult with my folks in Europe.

58 Comments
2024/10/30
17:35 UTC

14

Have you ever had cloudberries? How do you eat them?

I'm grew up on them, being from Northern Europe, and I eat them with oatmeal for breakfast, or paired with desserts or appetisers.

34 Comments
2024/10/30
17:18 UTC

4

Daily Slow Chat

Hi there!

Welcome to our daily scheduled post, the Daily Slow Chat.

If you want to just chat about your day, if you have questions for the moderators (please mark these [Mod] so we can find them), or if you just want talk about oatmeal then this is the thread for you!

Enjoying the small talk? We have a Discord server too! We'd love to have more of you over there. Do both of us a favour and use this link to join the fun.

The mod-team wishes you a nice day!

13 Comments
2024/10/31
05:00 UTC

21

What is the second most popular sport in your country after Football?

Here in the UK it is Cricket followed closely by Rugby (Union and League).

106 Comments
2024/10/30
23:12 UTC

84

If Lord of the Rings was to be refilmed in Europe, which location in your country would you suggest to suggest to reimagine a key location in Tolkien's work?

While I am not suggestion anyone should refilm LotR by any stretch of the imagines, and New Zealand is forever immortalised in Peter Jackson's films, I was thinking about this recently as a thought experiment.

184 Comments
2024/10/30
20:32 UTC

16

Who's the most recent leader of your country that you don't know a single thing about other than their party affiliation?

For me it's Alec Douglas-Home, PM from 1963-1964.

I couldn't tell you a single thing about his policies, what crises/major events in British politics he presided over, or any kind of weird factoid about him, at all. He is a total mystery to me.

Even for Jim Callaghan I think I have something - he presided over a whole load of strikes, I think? And then retired to be a pig farmer.

Edit: He wasn't even a pig farmer apparently! Who am I confusing him with?

33 Comments
2024/10/30
19:58 UTC

24

What does your country that makes it so special?

Friendliness, food etc.

165 Comments
2024/10/30
16:42 UTC

12

How often do you send and receive mail (letters, parcels) via national postal service?

Do you receive any meaningful mail requiring your attention? Would your life change if letter deliveries were only twice a week?

33 Comments
2024/10/30
15:17 UTC

65

To those of you with dual citizenship: which country feels like home?

Hi! I’m an italian - romanian dual citizen but sometimes I feel guilty because I only ever really feel at home in Romania (despite having an italian name, speaking the language and staying for long periods of time). I even got the opportunity to go back to Italy for an exchange year (which I already took!) but I don’t know, I can’t really call this country my home. I spent most of my time wishing I could go back. Maybe it’s because I was also born & raised & lived most of my life in Romania. Don’t get me wrong, I will forever be grateful for my parents giving me dual citizenship but I was wondering if other people feel the same way.

117 Comments
2024/10/30
14:28 UTC

0

Can I Take a bus ride to Italy, While Living in Germany with on a Student Visa and a Russian Passport?

I dislike Russia and its government so please no hate comments. But yeah I’m wondering if it’s possible to travel outside of Germany with these documents. Thanks,

30 Comments
2024/10/30
12:21 UTC

42

How to cycle in normal clothes?

Am british and am always impressed by the amount of people who commute by bike in many countries across europe. I notice that the vast majority wear normal clothes rather than cycling gear. How do you deal with getting to hot and sweaty when you get to work? Do you just cycle slower or do people not care?

I want to cycle more, but moved buildings where there's no shower.

Edit: Thanks for all the responses. I can't answer all of them, but I get the overall message: cycle slower, wear fewer clothes and maybe change your top when you get to work.

I do have an e-bike as the commute is 15 km and I cruise at about 20 km/h.

108 Comments
2024/10/30
11:07 UTC

7

Most financial advice out there is US centered. What is the best financial advice you've got?

Credit score, buying stocks, how to pay back your students loans or hospital bills... Not really a big thing over here. But also our financial education is not a big thing!

I always heard to live bellow your means so you can save money and to buy a house as soon as you can (of course this is not always doable in all European economies).

What do you think everyone should know?

5 Comments
2024/10/30
09:22 UTC

143

What’s a small, everyday tradition or habit in your European country that might seem oddly charming or confusing to someone from outside Europe?

I'm curious about the everyday habits, routines, or tiny traditions in Europe that might fly under the radar but would seem unique to someone outside of Europe.

423 Comments
2024/10/30
08:30 UTC

31

Is there any country in Europe that forces by law presidential candidates to publicly declare who their top money contributors are before the presidential elections, not after said presidential elections?

any country that forces by law presidential candidates to publicly declare who their top money contributors are before the presidential elections, not after said presidential elections? Thank you

44 Comments
2024/10/30
05:27 UTC

3

Daily Slow Chat

Hi there!

Welcome to our daily scheduled post, the Daily Slow Chat.

If you want to just chat about your day, if you have questions for the moderators (please mark these [Mod] so we can find them), or if you just want talk about oatmeal then this is the thread for you!

Enjoying the small talk? We have a Discord server too! We'd love to have more of you over there. Do both of us a favour and use this link to join the fun.

The mod-team wishes you a nice day!

43 Comments
2024/10/30
05:00 UTC

1

In your personal opinion, which video game(s) feature your nation in the most interesting ways?

I haven't had the opportunity to travel as much as I would like, and I often play video games to get a small sense of a different location. (Tomb Raider is great for this!)

Which video games feature your nation in the most interesting ways? That doesn't mean the most accurate ways, necessarily, or the most serious. I'm referring to games that make you smile because they pick up on aspects of your country that are appreciable and entertaining.

Thanks for your suggestions!

0 Comments
2024/10/30
01:39 UTC

4

People living in republics that used to have a monarch, when did the movement for restoring the monarchy become politically fringe/irrelevant?

Hi all,

Almost all European republics either had a monarchial system of government at one point and the monarchy had been abolished since, or became independent from a foreign empire which often had a monarchy.

If your country went from being a monarchy to a republic (like France did), when did the movement supporting the monarchy be restored become politically irrelevant? I believe in France it took until WWII for the monarchists to become completely fringe/seen as eccentric politically, so it took more than 70 years for France between the last monarch abdicating, to the point that no one was seriously entertaining any thought of bringing the monarchy back.

Thanks.

9 Comments
2024/10/29
21:11 UTC

49

What kings and queens did the most good for your country and who would you label the worst in your countries?

I enjoy reading about them and wanted to know what you think.

155 Comments
2024/10/29
19:03 UTC

22

It's halloween importantly celebrated in your country?

I'm Spanish and here, kids usually go house by house asking for candies dressed up.

Apart from this, in schools, that day is like for watching movies and etc. At least until secondary school.

It is celebrated but not as in other countries.

115 Comments
2024/10/29
15:42 UTC

1

Are Ring doorbell and other consumer grade security cameras common in your country?

Here in the US, Ring doorbell cameras are quite common, as are home security cameras, in general.

When I studied in France some 5 years ago, I don't recall having seen any Ring doorbell cameras on homes. In fact, I didn't see many cameras anywhere.

This is sort of related, but I stayed with a host family, and their one daughter explained that CCTV isn't allowed in most places, which is why you'll have a dedicated manager or employee following potential shoplifters around the store instead of having people man a bunch of cameras in the back. Furthermore, a German friend of mine also recently told me that dash cams in cars aren't legal, which is what further prompted me to write up this post. These examples have lead me to believe that some European countries have vastly different laws as it relates to privacy and filming the general public.

0 Comments
2024/10/29
12:44 UTC

33

In lieu of the post about wine consumption, how common is it to drink socially with the purpose of getting drunk where you live?

As a Brit, I am curious. Also I'm talking here where you go out to a pub or something or have a house party and just drink and drink until you throw up. I hear this is pretty common across the Irish Sea but I wondered if it was a thing elsewhere on the continent.

119 Comments
2024/10/29
11:15 UTC

11

Is study skills it’s own subject in schools in your country?

Title.

38 Comments
2024/10/29
11:11 UTC

0

Italy: hotels/airbnbs ask for pictures of passports?

Hello!

The place that my wife booked from booking.com which is actually an Airbnb asked her to send him a picture of our passports after we checked in. We are pretty concerned about it as it violates the GDPR law. We have only encountered this in Italy, never have we ever been asked for passport photos in Germany and Sweden.

Is it possible that we can say no to the host? Or is there any other more secured website from the Italian officials that we can go to fill the passport info instead of giving the host the picture of our passports?

Thanks ahead!

43 Comments
2024/10/29
09:37 UTC

98

Does Fanta have high fructose corn syrup in any European country?

My daughter loves Fanta when we go to Germany. So, I buy her some for Christmas.

I just got this year's and while it is listed as 355ml cans, it has high fructose corn syrup as the 2nd ingredient, no fruit juice, and Atlanta GA is distribution location.

** Update

Thank you. The picture of what I bought said 330ml. I cannot return, but I did get a refund.

Now off to find another place to buy.

231 Comments
2024/10/29
09:09 UTC

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