How Albanians celebrate differences

Albania, the country of religious harmony

Albania is a multi -religious country, in which for many centuries, have coexisted four traditional religious communities – the Moslems Suni, the Orthodox, the Catholics and the Moslems Bektashi and also many important Pagan days and rituals are celebrated and practiced by Albanians. 14 March is a Pagan day, called "The summer day". It is celebrated in the city of Elbasan and in Tirana. Concerts, activities, old rituals like gathering around fires are organized, saying welcome to Spring and Summer. Other important days like "Saint George" (Shën Gjergji) are celebrated in different areas of Albania, but are characterized with pre-Christian traditions.

The relationships between them are very good ones, characterized by peace, harmony and collaboration. The four traditional religious communities are tolerant and collaborative with other religious groups, which have been established in Albania since the year 1990, when religious life restarted and our country was opened to the World.

In Albania, more than 98 % of the population have their religious identity within the four traditional religious communities – Moslems, Orthodox, Catholics and Bektashi. Despite the difference in their numbers, all believers feel themselves equal and they are equal factors in the life of the country. The four traditional religious communities and the other ones, enjoy the respect of the believers and of the Albanian opinion in general. At the same time they enjoy all the freedom and space for practicing their religious mission.

During all its very ancient history, there have never been significant religious conflicts in Albania. Even when, in certain moments of our history, any delicate problem has appeared, the believers and the intellectual clergymen have been able to resolve them peacefully .Albanians protect this very precious treasure of interfaith harmony, with care and love, as an authentic, extraordinary value that Albania offers to the world history and culture. The relationships between the State and the religious communities in Albania are very good ones and are characterized by comprehension, collaboration and partnership.

In Albania the State considers the religious communities as very important partners in working for the protection of the moral health of the Albanian society, because they educate the generations with the best human virtues, such as the belief in God, love, tolerance, the will for progress etc. The State has created all the spaces for the normal and free activity of all the religious communities.



Catholic church, Tirana

Mosque of Et'hem Beu, Tirana

Teqe bektashiane

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The project "Celebrate the Difference!" is co-financed from the EU programme YOUTH in Action, German national agency.