What better way to bring in the new year than with a birthday? As it turns out, one of the most revolutionary French artists of the 20th century, Henri Matisse, was born on December 31st, 1869 in northern France. Although… Read More
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Celebrating Christmas in the Netherlands
This month, we’ve been looking in to the fascinating Christmas traditions and activities of other countries, such as Ireland and Italy. Another country with unique Christmas customs is the Netherlands, land of the Dutch and tulips. Their celebrations closely follow… Read More
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Happy 245th Birthday, Beethoven!
And you thought you were getting old. Ludwig van Beethoven, one of the most widely-known German composers, was born 245 years ago today—on December 17th, 1770. His compositions are not only brilliant, but some of the most elegant pieces were… Read More
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Christmas Traditions of Italy: 3 Weeks of Celebration
Last week we covered Ireland’s interesting Christmas traditions, but what about Italy? With Rome being the Catholic capitol of the world, Italy has a rich three weeks of Christmas celebration. Some of their traditions are similar to those seen other… Read More
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3 Fun Irish Christmas Traditions Only Seen in Ireland
Well, technically, you can ‘see’ these traditions in videos online. Still, there’s nothing like witnessing festive Christmas traditions in person! Ireland, like many countries, has its own special ways of celebrating the holidays. They also share many of the same… Read More
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The Elegance and Mystery of French Perfume—Explained!
Some of today’s most coveted fragrances come from leading French brands such as: Christian Dior, Chanel, and Estée Lauder. France is considered the leader in fashion and fragrance industries, and French perfume certainly is a force to be reckoned with…. Read More
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The Borghese Gallery, a Treasure of Rome
Rome, Italy: a hub of inspiration for aspiring painters and sculptors all around the world. Recognized for its collection of truly classic art, it’s home to some of the most beautiful museums of art and architecture known to man. One… Read More
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Party like Great Britain: It’s Guy Fawkes Day!
If you chose to be Guy Fawkes this Halloween, don’t ditch your mask yet! Even if you don’t have a mask, you can celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with traditional bonfires, mulled wine, and by burning effigies. But why must we… Read More
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Halloween Haunts: Pére Lachaise Cemetery in Paris
Each October AESU likes to explore the strange sides of well-known, destination cities. For our final week, let’s explore the history of the Pére Lachaise Cemetery and its paranormal occurrences. The Pére Lachaise Cemetery Want to see a ghost? The… Read More