"Heimat"
Roots of Belonging: a German perspective on home country! Since I moved from Iran to Germany five years ago, I often have to introduce myself to people to tell where I am originally from, which is translated into German: "Mein Heimatland ist Iran". The word Heimat or Heimatland means home country. At first sight, it sounds understandable but do we really know what home country means? For a school project on the issue of how people feel about their home countries, I have informed myself about the German perspective on Heimat. The word definition in the dictionary In the German dictionary "DUDEN", a home country is explained as a country where you were born and raised or a place, which feels like home to you and gives you a sense of belonging. Although this word has not been used for a long time, it has become widespread these days. "Heimat" and politics Two of the most populated states in Germany, Bayern and Nordrhein-Westfalen, already have two departme...