You're right, but it goes even beyond that, before communism. It's a tradition that comes from smaller communities, from older times. Small villages, even today, have a market day each, so travelling salesmen can go to each village on a specific day. For example, around Pogradec, the market day on Wednesday is held in the village of Hotolisht. On Thursday they gather at the village of Qukes, on Monday in Librazhd, and so on. On the market day, while many businessmen would go and try to make some bargain, many others, especially young people or mothers who had young daughters for marriage, saw it as the only chance for some social networking. Basically, single girls would get dressed nicely and parade the market along with their mothers or other female relatives, looking at the goods, but it was mainly so that everyone could notice them, even if they had nothing to buy. It was that day or no other day. For the rest of the week they'd be closed up at homes doing chores. So they'd be walking around the market from the early hours and until it was closed. In some areas, when parents had decided the daughter was old enough to get engaged, they'd buy her clothes in red motives. A father wouldn't allow a girl to wear a dress with too much red in it if he thought she was too young for marriage. The same was for young single boys, who would go in groups of friends just to look at the girls and play the fools. They would get their best clothes, give themselves the best hair style they could. If they had something flashy, like a golden chain, fancy sunglasses or something like that, they would make sure that everyone was noticing it. Sometimes they'd get too flashy and too cocky and end up in a fight with rivals and ruin everybody's day. Boys would gather at some busy corner and throw witty lines to girls, whenever they could avoid the protective Moms. It was the best day of their week. When these boys and girls would move and form towns like Pogradec, there they had the great chance to do this every evening, after everybody finished work. While older, non-single people, would go out to meet their friends, learn about their latest updates and discuss business. So, it was not just a walk, it's also an urge rooted from the past. It's just like scrolling people on social media today, but without the technology. I know it seems like something of the distant past, but in some areas it used to be like that even 10, 20 years ago. Boys would see a girl they'd go crazy about, but at those times they couldn't just ask her on a date, like today. First thing they'd do, they'd meet someone they knew on the promenade and ask them "did you see the girl with the red dress and blonde hair? Whose daughter is she? Is she engaged? How old is she, what does she do", and things like that, just like checking today her bio on her profile. If they felt it was a good match, they'd ask their parents to go and meet her parents to organize a date. That's how people used to get married at those times and everyone couldn't wait to go out and have that walk, during the warm seasons. During the communist times, women in cities started meeting boys at work or at schools, but there wasn't too much change in villages. After the communism people started getting more social freedom. But the thing is that this is also stress relieving, good for your health and free of charge. That's why people keep doing it even today, whenever they can. Especially older generations, they have it rooted in their soul. They grew up with that urge. :) My 70-year-old father does it every day with friends who use to be his schoolmates. They have a coffee for an hour at their favorite cafe, and then they start walking up and down, just like they used to 50 years ago, and just like his father and grandfather used to. And I think that keeps them healthier.

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

Wow. That’s some really interesting information! Funny enough, doesn’t seem like too much has changed with the “dating” aspect of it.... guys often still do the same thing, and I always hearing questions about girls that they saw. 😂

@waitaminute2015

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for sharing this. Even in the US my parents would take me for walks after dinner and now I carry on the tradition. I'm glad to see it still strong in Albania. My father was from blush near korce.

Great content as always James. Also your Albanian is spot-on the few words you say are native quality.

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

Wow, thanks!

Well it is more then a tradition. Its an art of life. You meet ppl you see ppl. You said it on point. Love you bro.

Hey James, might sound like a silly question, but is this all of your footage and editing? This entire video is extremely high quality. I've seen a few of your other videos as well and they are awesome. As a native Albanian living in America almost all my life, I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the awesome work!

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

Most videos are entirely my own footage. This particular video has a few clips from other people but the majority is mine!

Xhiro is like go for walk and probably socialise and back after sometime,there is no time just a healthy excuse for it.Usually is evenings but can be mornings as well. Great vlog as always, cheers.

Man ur videos are so addactive

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

thanks! that’s a great compliment

Thanks for the info! My Albania trip was postponed due to COVID. Hopefully 2021!

Wow, great video. I've been subscribed to your channel for ages but only just seen this. I've been quite obsessed with Albania, and trying to learn the language, for over a year. We're coming out to Tirana for our first visit at Easter. I so hope my wife likes it, as I'd love to make it our new home one day. Thanks for everything you put into these videos. And I really appreciate the Albanian subtitles too!

@JamesLeithart

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind comment David! I appreciate you watching my videos about Albania. I hope your wife enjoys it as much as you do!

My Beautiful city I miss pogradec, I haven’t xhiro since 2009 when I used to walk there I felt like I know everybody time flies

The expression is "dal xhiro", that is "go out to xhiro"

Please make a video about "Mirdite". Its a place in Albania. It has a great history and people. Love your videos!❤

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

i’ll start looking into it!

Im Oslo an albainerr and it’s so amazing

I think you were talking about "turizmi" at 01:29 😆

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

definitely was, but didn’t want to take the time to explain it 😂

We like xhiro bro,its kinda chilling 🤣😂😁🤷🏻‍♂️

I love walking by at night at the lake. it's so relaxing although sometimes people can get annoying too lol I like how you've picked up Albanian language pretty good but know something though, your Albanian learned in Pogradec stands out by the way we speak haha

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

haha i’ve heard that a lot, but i’m okay with it. this is my Albanian home so it makes sense

Hallo from North Macedonia

@albanboy1994

3 жыл бұрын

Albanian food tour..Korce..kzread.info/dash/bejne/nYdspJavY5TIops.html

Great video👌👌👍

Great video, I would love to see a list if your favourite Albanian dishes if you have any in particular.

@JamesLeithart

3 жыл бұрын

that could be a great video!

Xhiro was the best way to "flirt" with your crush 😍. 😆

you are good at it you can do as much as I do though I am alban you explain well oxå, thank you very much you always make good video

i miss my city its been 1 year since i moved here in Sweden 😍

This was great 🤣🤣now if u excuse me I have some xhiro to do🤣🤣I remember we used to love walking at evenings with friends, looking at girls, smiles and eyes contacts, oh miss those times

Albania is really nice

you are good at it you can do as much as I do though I am alban you explain well oxå, thank you very much you always make good video

Nice video

good point and is true i grow up with this

giro in pogradec is better then anywhere else because of the lake.

in kosovo its the same we dont say xhiro tho but Shetit

👍👍👍

😃😎🙌

Xhiro derives from Girare (going on circles) also Giro in italian which literally means Going for a walk 😂

@dardan2905

3 жыл бұрын

...po. Me mirë do ishte te thuajmë "shetitje", në Shqipë. Se kuptoja une ketë, pse marrinë disa Njerz Fjalë te huaja. Ju duket vetvetja më të mirë, që ditëdy Fjalë te huaja dhe mburren tani, duke mosë vlersuar Gjuhen e vete.

@eviad4827

3 жыл бұрын

@@dardan2905 they do not do it just because and its definitely not for bragging. You have to understand the history behind each action. The Italian kingdom with Re Emanuele the Third was King of Italy and Albania in 1939. They came in Albania and did what every conqueror usually does. The origin of Some words derives from this occupation. I can say the same with turkish language, that has influenced other words and ways of saying in albanian and they stayed for 5 centuries in this area. This doesn’t mean that all albanian is full with foreign words and expressions 😂 these words are now part of the common vocabulary and language, thats way you are going to hear more people say Xhiro rather than Shetitje... none of them is wrong.

@dardan2905

3 жыл бұрын

@@eviad4827 ...u writte a lot but u say nothing! ...sa i perketë Historis ke të drejt patjeter, por kjo nukë është një excuse per te ndrruar Fjalë Shaiptare me Fjalë te huaja,se perndryshe nukë do te kisha shkruar une ty ketu. Dhe kurë thua se xhiko dhe shetitje janë te drejta te dy Fjalë tani bën si i pranin Fjalet te huaja në Gjuhen tënde! ...nukë te kuptija une ty. Ti vetem ke deshirë te ke te drejt apo nukë ke kuptuar se cfare po ndodhë me Kulturen tënde. Apo te them keshtu: Ti nukë ja dinë vleren Kulturen tënde. ... ...gjdo te mir...Mosë më shkruaj më

Hello bro, am so glad I found this channel. Have started subscribing. Will touch base with you via Gmail soon. God bless you

Xhiro or giro originally it cames from italian language

You're not Albo if you don't itch for the daily xhiro

Ec njher pr xhiro nga durrsi

Broo

Haha are you living in Buçimas village?😂

Does this word remind u of something? LET'S take a GJIRO With se Vlla ki, and eat while walking 🚶‍♂️

@tcc3569

3 жыл бұрын

Xhiro comes from Italian Giro meaning going around. We call gyros here "Sufllaqe" or rarely "Gjiro"

@kenikriezispirasspatas8982

3 жыл бұрын

@@tcc3569 no. Plus our language is older then ITALIAN anyway. He probably was Albanian anyways

I dont think the word xhiro is actually an albanian word, its probably italian and it also sound italian

Albania🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱

Man are you German decent ? 😁 Because your surname sounds very German 😄

@GenosGlory

3 жыл бұрын

He is Danish descent I think.

...i belive "xhiro" an Italian word, but definetly not an Albanian...dont know how to writte it. In Albanian we actualy we say "shetitje".

🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱🇦🇱👍🇽🇰🇽🇰🇽🇰🇽🇰👌✌️