Registration Opens for Spring 2024 “Let’s Talk Luxembourg” Virtual Program Series
The Luxembourg American Cultural Society has opened registration for its Spring 2024 “Let’s Talk Luxembourg” virtual programming series. This series features three one-hour programs that explore various topics in Luxembourg/ Luxembourg-American history, culture, current events, lasting traditions, and more from the comfort of your home via ZOOM.
LACS Announces Fall 2023 “Let’s Talk Luxembourg” Virtual Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LACS Announces Fall “Let’s Talk Luxembourg” Virtual Programs
BELGIUM, WISCONSIN, SEPTEMBER 10, 2023. The Luxembourg American Cultural Society has opened registration for its Fall 2023 “Let’s Talk Luxembourg” virtual programming series. This series features three one-hour programs that explore various topics in Luxembourg/ Luxembourg-American history, culture, current events, lasting traditions, and more from the comfort of your home via ZOOM. These programs are free to LACS members and $15 each for non-members. All attendees must register in advance at www.lacs.lu/events.
This fall’s programs are:
“Virtual Visit of MUDAM”
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 11 AM CT
This talk takes you on a virtual tour of Luxembourg’s art scene through the exhibits and collections of MUDAM- the Contemporary Art Museum of Luxembourg. MUDAM Executive Director Bettina Steinbrügge will give an overview of the museum, discussing its current exhibits and collections.
“History Talk: The Early Years of Luxembourg”
Friday, November 3, 2023 at 12 PM CT
Typical history lessons only focus on the past 200 years, yet the name/word ‘Luxembourg’ is found in text as early as 963AD. Dive deep into Luxembourg’s rich history with LACS board member Marc Klein as he explores how Luxembourg’s strong fortress kept the Grand Duchy safe from foreign invaders for centuries, starting at the earliest mention of the country through 1443 when the Duchy passed control to the Duke of Burgundy, Philip the Good.
“Holiday Cooking Class”
Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 11 AM CT
Let’s celebrate the holidays together through this cooking class with your hosts, Nicky Krieger-Loos and Marc Weydert. Stay tuned to www.lacs.lu for the announcement of the seasonal recipe we will be making.
Please contact Tara Williams with any press requests.
**The Luxembourg American Cultural Society’s mission is to preserve the roots of our heritage and nurture the leaves of ongoing relationships between Luxembourg and America.**
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Luxembourg American Cultural Society Virtual Auction Offers Five Unique Luxembourg-related Experiences
This year’s annual LACS Virtual Auction has been moved to June! Bidding on five Luxembourg-focused experiences opens Wednesday, June 14th and runs until Friday, June 23rd. Auction proceeds support the LACS mission and help ensure Luxembourg Fest remains strong for years to come.
LACS Auction Open for Bids June 14-23, 2023
The LACS Virtual Auction is coming early this year. Plan to bid on your favorite items June 14-23, 2023.
Luxembourg Immigration to Brazil
Did you know Brazil has a strong Luxembourgish population?
Former Ambassador Carlo Krieger will present on the immigration of Luxembourgers to Brazil, the other America. As the former Luxembourg Ambassador to Brazil, he will explore the similarities and differences between Luxembourg immigration to Brazil and the United States.
This program will be offered through Zoom. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email a day or two prior to the event.
*Tickets are per device. If multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.
About the Speaker:
Former Ambassador Carlo Krieger grew up on a farm outside Mertert, a small Luxembourg village situated on the banks of the Moselle River. He began his studies at the University of Vienna, went on to Miami University (Ohio) to receive a B.A. in social anthropology and continued his studies at the University of Chicago as a Fulbright grantee, before receiving his Ph.D. in Vienna, Austria. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a civil servant. During the last decades he has been posted to several countries representing Luxembourg, and he most recently served in Brazil, until his retirement in April 2022. Among other tasks, he currently chairs the Luxembourg Roots and Leaves organization. He is married to Nicole Krieger-Loos and they have three children.
Exploring Lëtzebuerg City Museum
Join Guy Thewes as he takes us on a virtual tour of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum.
This talk takes you on a virtual tour of Luxembourg through the collections of the Lëtzebuerg City Museum. The museum is located in the heart of the old town since 1996. Its spectacular architecture is much like a metaphor of the city of Luxembourg itself, its jagged relief, its maze of streets and houses, and its various historical layers. A special feature is the big glass elevator, which leads on a journey through the entire length of the museum, from its rocky depths, through the medieval caves, to its 19th century parlours. The turbulent past of the city of Luxembourg is a condensed reflection of European history. The permanent exhibition retraces a thousand years of history of a city, which has gone from a medieval town and fortress to the capital of an independent State and seat of important European institutions. Historical objects, urban models and multimedia tools give insight into everyday life of its citizens past and present. You will discover the first document mentioning the original name “Lucilinburhuc”, the real throne used by the Grand Duke at his inauguration, the impressive panorama painted by the French artist Antoine Fontaine, and many more testimonies of an exciting heritage.
Digitally access the Lëtzebuerg City Museum here.
This program will be offered through Zoom. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email a day or two prior to the event.
*Tickets are per device. If multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.
About the Speaker:
Guy Thewes studied history at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium) and completed his doctorate at the University of Luxembourg. His dissertation on the supply and financing of the army in the Austrian Netherlands in the 18th century was published by Böhlau (Vienna) in 2012. He was appointed historian by the City of Luxembourg in 1993 and was curator at the city’s History Museum. In addition to numerous exhibitions, he is the author of academic publications in the field of urban, social and military history. Since 2018, he has directed the Lëtzebuerg City Museum and Villa Vauban, the city’s art museum.
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Luxembourg
Join us for a discussion with Patrick Dondelinger, Head of Research of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), intangible cultural heritage covers all the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge and skills – as well as the associated instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.
Patrick Dondelinger, Head Researcher of Intangible Cultural Heritage for the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, will explore the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Luxembourg within the framework of the 20th anniversary of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage.
Visit the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Luxembourg website.
This program will be offered through Zoom. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email a day or two prior to the event.
*Tickets are per device. If multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.
About the Speaker:
Patri
ck Dondelinger, Head of Studies at the Ministry of Culture of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, studied history, religious sciences, political sciences, anthropology (PhD) and theology (ThD) in Luxembourg and Paris. Field studies in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and America. Research and Professorship at the Universities of Paris (France), Metz (France) and Lucerne (Switzerland). Museum curator and curator for religious heritage at the Service des sites et monuments nationaux (National Monuments Office) in Luxembourg, then detached to the Centre national de l’audiovisuel (National Center for Audiovisuals). Since 2009 Member Representative of the Minister of Culture with responsibility for heritage protection at the Luxembourg National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO. In charge of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017. National coordinator of the European Heritage Label; member of the European Commission’s expert group on cultural heritage and the Reflection Group “EU and Cultural Heritage”.
Introducing the Luxembourg Online Dictionary (LOD)
Learn how you can use the brand new version of the Luxembourg Online Dictionary with Alexandre Ecker and Sarah Hess from the Center for the Luxembourgish Language.
The Lëtzebuerger Online Dictionnaire (LOD) is used by thousands of people on a daily basis and in 2021 a new record was reached when more than 10 million entries were consulted in a year. What kind of a dictionary is the LOD and how does it compare to other single- or multilingual dictionaries?
This presentation will describe the unique multilingual context the LOD finds itself in and give insights into the story of its creation. Participants will have a look behind the scenes to find out who is involved in the LOD and how it is produced. The brand new version of the LOD website went online on 20 June this year. This presentation will focus on its new design, advanced search options and word categories among others.
Visit the Luxembourg Online Dictionary.
This program will be offered through Zoom. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email a day or two prior to the event.
*Tickets are per device. If multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.
About Our Speakers:
Alexandre Ecker
- Maîtrise Lettres Modernes & Maîtrise Français Langue Étrangère (Université Aix-Marseille, F)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Education – French & German (University of Lancaster, UK)
- Master Lexicographie, Terminographie et Traitement Automatique de Corpus (Université de Lille, F)
Alexandre is a qualified lexicographer. At the ZLS – Zenter fir d’Lëtzebuerger Sprooch (Centre for the Luxembourgish Language), one of his main duties consists in the running and development of the LOD. Alexandre also gives lectures on multilingual lexicography and the maintenance and valorisation of (meta)lingual data at the University of Lille.
Sarah Hess
- MA in English Literary Studies (University of Durham, UK)
- BA (Hons) in English and History (University of Northumbria at Newcastle, UK)
- DTE(E)LLS (Diploma in Teaching English/ESOL in the Lifelong Learning Sector) (Newcastle College, UK)
Sarah is in charge of all things English at the ZLS. This includes translations, correspondence with English-speaking users of the LOD as well as any official documents/issues needing to be dealt with. Sarah is also involved in the preparation and teaching of online Luxembourgish orthography classes.
Fall-ing for Quetschentaart
Join Nicky Krieger-Loos in making a delicious Luxembourgish treat for Fall!
Quetschentaart is a traditional autumnal treat in Luxembourg and now you can make it in your own home with this cooking demonstration provided by Nicky! This fruit tart is made with plums, called “Quetschen” in Luxembourg. The plums in Luxembourg are a little different than in the U.S., but any type of plum will make a delicious tart.
You are welcome to cook alongside Nicky or try on your own later! The list of ingredients is provided below. Nicky has provided two different recipes and you are welcome to try one or both. The full recipe will be sent out in a reminder email a day or two prior to the program.
This program will be offered through Zoom on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 11am Central Time. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email that includes the full recipe a day or two prior to the event.
*Tickets are per device. So if multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.
Quetschentaart – Plum Tart: Recipes by Nicky Krieger-Loos
Ingredients: Yeast dough recipe (for baking sheet 12×15 in)*
- 3 cups (500 g) flour
- 1 pkg (7 g) dry yeast
- 1 stick (113 g) butter, melted
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 1/4 cups (250 g) + 3tbsp (35 g) sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) milk
- 3 lbs plums, pitted and cut lengthwise into quarters
- Powdered sugar and whipped creaming (optional toppings)
*All ingredients should be room temperature.
Ingredients: Sugar Pastry (for a 10″ round tart pan)
- 1 stick (113 g) softened butter
- 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 cups (250 g) flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 lb plums, pitted and cut lengthwise into quarters
- Powdered sugar and whipped creaming (optional toppings)
Streusel (Optional)
- 1 3/4 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 sticks (150 g) chilled butter
- 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar
About Our Host:
Nicky Krieger-Loos is from Dudelange/Luxembourg. In 1987, as a member of the La Ronde Bettembourg folk dancing group, she visited for the first time communities in the Midwest settled by Luxembourg immigrants in the 19th century. Over the years has stayed in touch with numerous descendants of these immigrants. With her husband Carlo and their children Claire, Louis and Lucie, they have moved around the world and lived in the USA, Austria, Russia, China, and Brazil. This way she has discovered many new food styles, recipes and attended cooking classes in many different places. An optician by training, she now pursues her hobbies cooking, baking crazy birthday cakes, quilting, and upcycling all kinds of fabrics from worn-out jeans to her children’s old clothes. She also has taught cooking classes with traditional dishes as well as folk dances with Luxembourg descendants in their communities in Brazil.
Getting Ready for Fuesend!
Join Nicky Krieger-Loos in preparing for Fuesend, or Carnival!
Fuesend (Fuesent), or Carnival, in Luxembourg is celebrated from February 2 – Candlemas Day or Liichtmëssdag – and Ash Wednesday. Learn about the festival’s traditions and all of the sweet treats Luxembourgers make for this time of year. Nicky will provide a cooking demonstration of a couple popular fried donuts, giving you plenty of time to practice the recipe before Fuesend in February.
You are welcome to cook alongside Nicky. However, this is a more advanced recipe as it requires frying. It is also important for the oil to be the right temperature, which may take some time depending on your stove-top and could make it harder to follow along. For some, it may be helpful to watch and ask questions first, and then try the recipe on your own with the program recording. The list of ingredients will be provided at least one week prior to the program. The full recipe will be sent out in a reminder email a day or two prior to the program.
Caution: Please take all of the necessary safety measures when cooking with hot oil. See the USDA’s recommendations for deep frying food safety.
This program will be offered through Zoom on Sunday, January 16, at 11am Central Time. Members, please sign in when requesting your ticket.* The Zoom link will be emailed after ticket purchase, and we will send a reminder email that includes the full recipe a day or two prior to the event.
Ingredients for Fuesent
Nicky will be making two types of Fuesent, one with yeast and one with baking powder. If you are planning on following along with Nicky, please have all of the ingredients out and measured prior to the program.
Yeast Recipe*
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup lukewarm milk (about 100 degrees F)
- 2 tsp dry instant yeast
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup softened butter
- 1 pinch salt
- Oil for frying (canola or sunflower oil work best)**
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Optional: plum jam for filling, or any other fruit jam (apricot, strawberry, raspberry, etc.)
Baking Powder Recipe*
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/4 cup softened butter
- 1 lb Quark or plain Greek yogurt – substitute with a 2-1 mix of Mascarpone & sour cream; or ricotta & plain Greek yogurt
- Zest of one lemon (optional)
- Oil for frying (canola or sunflower oil work best)**
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
*All ingredients should be at room temperature unless otherwise stated.
**For frying use either a deep fryer or a deep pot. If using a pot, the pot should be filled 3 – 4 inches high with oil. The donuts need to be able to float and not touch the bottom of the pot.
About Our Host:
Nicky Krieger-Loos is from Dudelange/Luxembourg. In 1987, as a member of the La Ronde Bettembourg folk dancing group, she visited for the first time communities in the Midwest settled by Luxembourg immigrants in the 19th century. Over the years has stayed in touch with numerous descendants of these immigrants. With her husband Carlo and their children Claire, Louis and Lucie, they have moved around the world and lived in the USA, Austria, Russia, China, and currently in Brasilia. This way she has discovered many new food styles, recipes and attended cooking classes in many different places. An optician by training, she now pursues her hobbies cooking, baking crazy birthday cakes, quilting, and upcycling all kinds of fabrics from worn-out jeans to her children’s old clothes. She also teaches cooking classes with traditional dishes as well as folk dances with Luxembourg descendants in their communities in Brazil.
*Tickets are per device. So if multiple people plan to watch from the same computer, only one ticket is needed.