© René Pfeiffer / RTL
Friday marked the first Day of the Luxembourgish Language, with a host of events planned by the Ministry of Culture in celebration.
Among the events was a concert performed by a children's choir singing Luxembourgish songs, as well as other musical performances and conferences in the capital, and even an exhibition.
Minister of Culture Eric Thill joined education minister Claude Meisch at a press conference on Friday to highlight the importance of promoting Luxembourgish within the education sector.
26 September marks the European Day of Languages, and this year is the first time Luxembourg has celebrated. Thill said it should become an annual event going forward.
"We want to expand and strengthen this over the next few years and make a tradition out of it, to show people that the Luxembourgish language is close to our hearts, we cherish our heritage. It is a very important part of our Luxembourgish identity."
Luxembourgish as a language and an identity should be encouraged in the education sector, as well as the cultural component. For some time now, Luxembourgish lessons have been offered as part of the secondary school curriculum from fourth year, with the aim of introducing young people to its culture and history, as well as grammar and spelling, Meisch explained.
The Minister of Education continued: "This subject exists to convey elements of our culture, history and literature to a new generation. Luxembourgish has an important function in our very heterogeneous society to keep us together, to connect us, to grow together, and that will only continue to be possible if we pass it on to the next generation."
Meisch added that a bill is being developed to ensure Luxembourgish is introduced to the curriculum in private international schools in future.
