炸土豆竟是比利時文化瑰寶
Are Fried Potatoes a Cultural Treasure?
Belgium is divided into three communities. Each one has its own language and traditions. But the people of Belgium are united in their love for Belgian potato fries. The fries are prepared and sold the same way in all areas of the country.
The Reuters news service reports that potatoes reached Belgium in the 16th century. But it was not until the 19th century that restaurants and others began selling fried potatoes throughout the country as a separate meal.
Recently, a Belgian group launched a campaign aimed at getting the United Nations to recognize the popular treat. The group wants the U.N.'s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to place the food on its cultural heritage list.
The UNESCO list recognizes more than 300 objects, beliefs and practices. They include Turkish coffee and the traditional Chinese theater known as Peking opera. The list also includes a dance, the Argentinian tango, and the singing of the Aka pygmies of the Central African Republic.
UNESCO says the list is "made up of intangible heritage elements that help demonstrate the diversity tage and raise awareness about its importance."
To appear on the list, each item needs an expression of support from a minister of culture. Belgium has three such ministers -- one for each part of the country.
Last year, the government of the Dutch-speaking area of Flanders recognized Belgian fried potatoes as an important part of national culture. The French- and German-speaking communities are expected to debate the issue this year.
Belgian potato fries are traditionally sold in a paper wrapper, or cone, in a "fritkot," a small building or shack. There are about 5,000 fritkots in Belgium. That means they are 10 times more common as a percentage of the population as McDonald's restaurants in the United States.
The national organization of fritkot owners says the small, often unfinished buildings are much like Belgium itself. It says these buildings combine the country's acceptance of disorder with a dislike of structures that all look the same.
The group says 95 percent of Belgians visit a fried potato shack at least once a year.
I'm Christopher Cruise.
This report was based on a story from the Reuters news service. Christopher Cruise wrote it for VOA Learning English. George Grow edited the story.
Words in This Story
practices ? n. something that is done often or regularly
pygmies ? n. a member of a group of very small people who live in Africa
intangible ? adj. not made of physical substance; not able to be touched; not tangible
diversity ? n. the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization
awareness ? n. the state of knowing that something (such as a situation, item, condition or problem) exists
wrapper ? n. a thin piece of paper or plastic that covers or surrounds something to protect it
cone ? n. a container or package that has sides that form a circle at the top and has a pointed bottom
shack ? n. small house or building that is not put together well, or not well built
Are there objects, beliefs or practices from your heritage that you believe should be on the UNESCO list? Do you believe Belgian fried potatoes should be on the list? We want to hear from you. Write your thoughts in the comments section.
-
社區文化工作總結範文
總結是指社會團體、企業單位和個人在自身的某一時期、某一項目或某些工作告一段落或者全部完成後進行回顧檢查、分析評價,從而肯定成績,得到經驗,找出差距,得出教訓和一些規律性認識的一種書面材料,它能夠使頭腦更加清醒,目標更加明確,不如立即行動起來寫一份總結吧。...
-
科技文化節學生髮言稿
在充滿活力,日益開放的今天,我們總不得不需要用到發言稿,通過對發言稿語言的推究可以提高語言的表現力,增強語言的感染力。那麼問題來了,到底應如何寫好一份發言稿呢?以下是小編整理的科技文化節學生髮言稿,歡迎閱讀與收藏。科技文化節學生髮言稿1老師們、同學們:爲弘...
-
教育培訓部文化口號集合
在現實生活或工作學習中,大家一定都接觸過一些使用較爲普遍的口號吧,簡短的句式、樸素的遣詞造句方式、流暢的音韻效果,是口號的一大形式特徵。口號的類型多樣,你所見過的口號是什麼樣的呢?下面是小編爲大家收集的教育培訓部文化口號集合,歡迎閱讀與收藏。1、全能教...
-
文化站個人工作總結範文通用
總結是對過去一定時期的工作、學習或思想情況進行回顧、分析,並做出客觀評價的書面材料,通過它可以全面地、系統地瞭解以往的學習和工作情況,因此十分有必須要寫一份總結哦。總結怎麼寫纔是正確的呢?下面是小編精心整理的文化站個人工作總結範文通用,歡迎大家分享。...