LEEUWARDEN, The Netherlands — “Buter, brea en grine tsiis is goed Ingelsk en goed Frysk.” Look familiar? This is Frisian, reckoned to be the closest continental European language to English. It is spoken by about half-a-million people in the far north of the Netherlands. Spoken out loud, the handy phrase sounds uncannily similar to its English translation: “Butter, bread and green cheese is good English and Good Frisian.”

BRUSSELS, Belgium — “Herman, Herman, he’s not English, French or German” begins a tribute version of the very popular (in Belgium) song “Potverdekke! It’s great to be a Belgian,” by Brussels-based English singer-songwriter Mister John. For those not on a first-name basis with Europe’s newest boss, the song honors Herman van Rompuy, who this week started his term as the European Union’s first president.

CHICAGO — It’s hard to think of anything wackier than honoring the birth of Jesus — a man who preached peace, love and charity — by maxing out your credit cards, gorging on turkey, fighting with in-laws and drinking yourself into a stupor. But that’s largely what we Americans do.

BRUSSELS, Belgium — For months, European allies have said they wanted to hear U.S. President Barack Obama’s plans for Afghanistan before they made any new commitments of troops to the eight-year-old war, now led by NATO. "I think most countries are waiting for the American decisions," Dutch Defense Minister Eimert Van Middelkoop said in October at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Bratislava.