Discover Eritrea: Top 13 Fascinating and Unexplored Fun Facts

1. Week-long Independence Day

In Eritrea, the "Party don't stop till... an entire week!" Forget brief bashes, these folks know how to savor euphoria to the fullest: Eritrea's Independence Day celebrations span a joyful week, climaxing on May 24th, complete with carnivals, concerts, parades, tent parties, and flag-waving, highlighting their dedication to rejoicing in a big way.
Source => nationaltoday.com

2. Decline in FGM/C

Move over Freddy Krueger, Eritrea's slashing something scarier: female genital mutilation/cutting rates! Seriously, though: Eritrea has seen a steady decline in FGM/C since 1995, with only 18% of girls under 15 and 7% of girls under 5 circumcised in 2014, while even adopting a law in 2007 against this gruesome practice and ratifying international conventions promoting its abandonment. Progress is nipping at their heels!
Source => fxb.harvard.edu

Discover how coffee beans are the real beanstalks in Ethiopia, supporting the livelihoods of over 15 million people with their top export. ☕🌱

=> Fun Facts about Ethiopia

3. Asmara: City of Dreams

In a land far, far away, where Art Deco buildings and vintage vibes unite to create a time-traveler's paradise, one might stumble upon a hidden trove of golden age Ethiopian hairstyles: Asmara, Eritrea's capital city, proudly dances through the pages of history as the veritable "City of Dreams". Armed with architectural wonders and multigenerational lore, this UNESCO World Heritage Site knows how to rock around the clock tower like Marty McFly in a 1950s barbershop: Asmara's stunning mosaic of Art Deco masterpieces, tradition-rich Orthodox churches, and other era-defining structures provides a mesmerizing backdrop for history buffs and worldwide wanderers alike.
Source => wildjunket.com

4. Symbolic Flag Colors

Feeling blue about marine life and seeing red for freedom's price? Look no further than Eritrea's own colorful spin on the RGB palette: Eritrea's flag features green, red, and blue triangles along with a yellow emblem of 30 olive leaves, symbolizing agriculture, coastal resources, the fight for independence, and the time it took to win their hard-earned freedom.
Source => britannica.com

5. Outstanding Literacy Progress

If Eritreans were Hogwarts students, they'd be getting Outstanding grades in their O.W.L.s for "Increasing Literacy" spellwork: Did you know that UNESCO has acknowledged Eritrea's remarkable progress in boosting youth literacy levels over the past 50 years – making it one of the most significant improvements worldwide?
Source => un.org

6. Tigrigna Film Industry

Move over Hollywood, there's a new Tinseltown in town: Eritrea's Tigrigna film industry is thriving due to its use of the local language, adaptations of fairy-tales, and its ability to tackle social issues through both serious and side-splitting mediums.
Source => shabait.com

7. Coffee Ceremony Gossip

Ah, Eritrea, where gossip is brewed stronger than their coffee, and tiny cups hold tall tales as well as caffeinated elixir: This nation prizes its coffee ceremony, a delightful ritual involving the roasting, grinding, and boiling of coffee beans, served in minuscule cups alongside munchies like popcorn and biscuits, with family members gathered 'round, catching up and bonding anew – all in a mere two hours, not a popcorn kernel's worth of time more.
Source => shabait.com

8. Tour of Eritrea Bike Race

If the "Tour de France" chases the Eiffel Tower, then the Eritrean version must be cycling in pursuit of a cactus: The Tour of Eritrea is a thrilling multistage bicycle race that first began in 1946, with around 100 professional Eritrean cyclists taking on the challenge of navigating desert lowlands, chilly highlands, and breezy coastlines, all under the proud gaze of a zealous local fanbase.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Asmara's Sky-high Altitude

In a world where high altitude capitals are a dime a dozen, Asmara, Eritrea's capital, really raises the bar – or should we say, the mountains: Sitting pretty at 2,325 meters (7,628 feet) above sea level, Asmara is the sixth highest capital in the world, and the second loftiest in Africa. Thanks to its sky-high position, the city enjoys a mild and pleasant climate, along with breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding highlands and Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Delicious Zigni Dish

If you've got beef with traditional hamburgers, take a flavor-fueled trip to Eritrea and prepare your taste buds for a meaty fiesta: The national dish is zigni, a spicy, aromatic stew made with berbere seasoning, featuring beef, goat meat, lamb, or chicken, slow-cooked for hours and served with injera, a flatbread made from teff flour.
Source => endofthefork.com

11. Diverse Landscapes

Heard about Eritrea's capital being a high roller in Africa? No, it's not a jet-setting casino with views—It's Asmara: sitting at an impressive altitude of nearly 2,500m (8,200ft), making it one of the highest capitals on the continent. As if the capital weren't enough, Eritrea's diverse lands span from Red Sea lowlands hosting deserts and volcanoes, to southern highlands teeming with agriculture, and western plains brushing shoulders with Sudan.
Source => worldtravelguide.net

12. Linguistic Smorgasbord

If you're ever tongue-tied in Eritrea, just keep on talking: you're bound to hit a familiar language eventually! Eritrea is home to a veritable linguistic smorgasbord of nine languages, with Tigrinya being the most widely spoken, followed by an eclectic mix of Afroasiatic and Nilo-Saharan languages, as well as some Arabic, English, and Italian fluency for good measure.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

13. Red Sea Underwater Wonderland

If Neptune ever threw an underwater fiesta, Eritrea would be the belle of the ball: This East African country boasts over 11% of the Red Sea's area, making it a maritime wonderland filled with wacky sea life, stunning coral reefs, and a multitude of eager scuba divers and snorkelers just waiting to dive into the party.
Source => us.embassyeritrea.org