The Instituto Cervantes (Spanish Cultural Center) in Dokki transformed into a lively hub of culture and learning as it hosted the European Day of Languages, an annual celebration that underscores Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
This year’s edition brought together 16 European countries, each offering a taste of its language, traditions, and heritage through interactive activities that delighted hundreds of visitors.
The event drew a remarkable turnout of students, cultural enthusiasts, and professionals eager to experience Europe’s multilingual and multicultural richness.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and curiosity as visitors engaged in quizzes, games, performances, and cultural showcases.
The Ambassador of the European Union in Egypt, Angelina Eichhorst, participated in the event. She greeted the audience in several languages before switching to Arabic.
She stressed that the EU’s 24 official languages reflect its diversity and that learning a second language enhances communication and mutual understanding.
The EU ambassador also underscored the importance of languages as a mean of connection between countries.
Furthermore, several diplomats, cultural attachés, and representatives of European embassies and cultural institutes participated at the event. Their presence highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy and people-to-people connections as a bridge between Europe and Egypt.
The European Day of Languages is not only about celebrating diversity but also about building mutual understanding and encouraging young Egyptians to discover new languages and opportunities across Europe.
Each participating country brought a unique flavor to the day, combining learning with fun and creativity.
Austria showcased the richness of the German language as spoken in Austria.
While Portugal delighted the crowd by presenting a book about popular Egyptian dishes, explained in Portuguese, vice versa, blending familiar tastes with a linguistic twist.
Hungary engaged visitors through two types of quizzes, testing knowledge about Hungarian culture, history, and traditions.
The same goes with Poland, Sweden, Slovenia, Lithuania, Czechia, Germany, represented by the Goethe-Institut, Spain, represented by the Cervantes Institute, the Netherlands, represented by Nederlands-Vlaams Instituut in Cairo, and Greece, represented by the Greek Cultural Center in Cairo, which offered quizzes and brief introductions about the culture and traditions.
The French Institute attracted large groups with activities from the Institut Français, including fun games translating French words into Arabic and cultural information about French landmarks.
The British Council drew in learners with five different interactive games focused on Dutch vocabulary and culture.
Turkey's Yunus Emre Institute celebrated its rich heritage through activities spotlighting language, history, and traditions.
Beyond the booths, the day was filled with musical performances, dances, and interactive entertainment that kept energy levels high.
Moreover, many visitors eagerly joined in competitions, showcasing their curiosity and enthusiasm for discovering Europe’s linguistic and cultural landscape.
What stood out most throughout the European Day of Languages was the spirit of unity in diversity.
Each country proudly shared its own identity while coming together under a shared European umbrella, demonstrating that cultural differences can be celebrated as strengths.
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