Second up in our parade of nations is Albania (check out the post on Afghanistan for kids if you missed it!). I’ll admit to knowing almost nothing about Albania, so let’s learn together.
Albania Basics
To begin with, Albania is officially the Republic of Albania, and it’s located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro, and also has the Adriatic Sea on its western border. The capital is Tirana. It was estimated in 2022 that nearly 2.8 million people lived there.
Albanian is the official language, but people there also speak Greek, Aromanian and Macedonian.
Albania has spent much of its history ruled by other nations and empires, and it has been an independent nation since 1912. The nation covers 11,100 square miles (or 28,748 square kilometers) and includes mountains, plains and coastal regions.
Mother Teresa was born in Albania and is the only Albanian to have received a Nobel Prize.
National Symbols
The Albanian flag has a red background with a two-headed eagle silhouette in black. The flag was adopted in 1912. Red symbolizes bravery, strength, valor and bloodshed, while the eagle is a symbol of Albania. (Eagles have been used for heraldic purposes in the region for hundreds of years and the double-headed eagle was used by Albanian nationalists during their fight for independence.)
The eagle is also considered the national animal and symbol of Albania.
“Himni i Flamurit” is the national anthem, which you can listen to below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcjJoBtGBNI?si=2uuM0P0ojSbdGydK]
Albania Activities for Kids
Chasing the Donkey has some fun facts about Albania that kids might enjoy. Activity Village has Albania printables including a flag to color, worksheets, a map and more (these are available to their members). Kids Konnect also has a great collection of free worksheets and fact sheets related to Albania.
Older kids might like the story of Rozafa Castle, which legend has it would not stay standing until a woman was trapped in the walls. Or read the stories of the legendary Mujo and Halil, or listen to the song “Mujo, Halil and the Fairies.”
Want to try some Albanian food? A popular lamb and rice dish called Tavë Kosi is considered the national dish; Jess Eats & Travels has a simplified version. Fërgesë, which is made of tomatoes, peppers and cheese, is another popular dish. Find a recipe at the Foreign Fork. Or try Byrek, a spinach and feta pie that shows the Greek influence on Albania cuisine (try this recipe from Polkadot Passport).
Books About Albania for Kids
I didn’t find a lot of books out there for learning more about Albania, but you can check out My First Book – Albania by Penelope Palette, or this cute Albania Coloring Book with fun facts.
If you know of books or other resources for kids learning about Albania I’d love to know about them!
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