wanderin-der-welt: via Cultural Vistas facebook page Some of these “rules” aren’t as strict as they sound and some of them only apply in formal or business situations. So  here are some things I want to add: Visits: You don’t have to bring a gift if you are just casually visiting your friend. However, bring a small gift if you are invited for dinner or a party. Sitting: The rule (wait until others sit) only applies in very formal situations. Suit jackets: See above!  Tipping: It’s also okay to give a smaller tip - especially if you are younger. Back in the day when I had to live from pocket money, I often didn’t tip at all. Smoking: I never heard about this superstition! Maybe that’s only because I don’t smoke, but I wouldn’t take this rule too seriously. Toasting: My friend is studying abroad and told me her friends there look at her like she were mad whenever she tries to make eye contact before toasting. However, I never heard that it’s supposed to bring bad luck if you don’t do it but “seven years of bad sex!” I guess that’s why everyone is sticking to that rule so passionately.
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wanderin-der-welt:

via Cultural Vistas facebook page

Some of these “rules” aren’t as strict as they sound and some of them only apply in formal or business situations. So  here are some things I want to add:

  1. Visits: You don’t have to bring a gift if you are just casually visiting your friend. However, bring a small gift if you are invited for dinner or a party.
  2. Sitting: The rule (wait until others sit) only applies in very formal situations.
  3. Suit jackets: See above! 
  4. Tipping: It’s also okay to give a smaller tip - especially if you are younger. Back in the day when I had to live from pocket money, I often didn’t tip at all.
  5. Smoking: I never heard about this superstition! Maybe that’s only because I don’t smoke, but I wouldn’t take this rule too seriously.
  6. Toasting: My friend is studying abroad and told me her friends there look at her like she were mad whenever she tries to make eye contact before toasting. However, I never heard that it’s supposed to bring bad luck if you don’t do it but “seven years of bad sex!” I guess that’s why everyone is sticking to that rule so passionately.

(via dasallesist-deutschland)

Source: wanderin-der-welt

Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info
Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”. If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia. (Click for more photos.)
Zoom Info

Yesterday, I already talked a little about different “May tree” traditions. For those who missed it: It’s a custom in Germany to put up a decorated birch in the garden or in front of the house of your “beloved”. In this case these trees are called “Liebesmaien”.

If your German skills are good, you can read more about it at Wikipedia.

(Click for more photos.)

Source: anders-anziehen.blogspot.de

Q:What can you tell me about the realtionship between beer and Germany? :)

Anonymous

I’m not sure what you want to know exactly. If you are interested in the history of beer in Germany and the like, I’d recommend using Wikipedia.

In general one can say that beer is VERY popular in Germany. It’s what wine is to France. Germans basically grow up with it. I can’t remember when I had my first little sip of beer, but I’m almost sure that I probably wasn’t older than 10.

I wasn’t allowed to drink more than that until I was a teenager though. When you are 14-15 years old, you are officially allowed to drink beer/wine/champagne in your parent’s company here in Germany. You are allowed to drink beer/wine/champagne without your parents as soon as you are 16, but many teenagers start a lot earlier of course. And commonly they start with beer (instead of wine or champagne).

On an average, every German drinks more than 100 litres of beer per year according to this article. There it’s also said that German men drink about 7 times as much beer as German women.

Q:How popular is summer camp for children in Germany? What are popular games to play at summer camp?

kliapatra

It’s really not as common as I think it is in other countries. I connect summer camps with the U.S. because of all these movies and I’m not even sure if huge camps like that exist here.*

The “camps” in Germany aren’t such a big thing and they are usually organized by (sports) clubs or maybe by your church. They also don’t last for weeeeks but only for a week or two.

I used to be in a dance group when I was a kid and they offered these holiday “camps” that I participated in a few times. Our group was joined by other groups of the same club from other areas. We always just went to a hostel though. So during the day our “leaders” would take us somewhere else (swimming, sight seeing, etc.). And I remember that we went on a “spooky” night walk once or twice.

*I googled for camps in Germany and it looks like there are at least some that could be compared to what people know as “summer camp” in the U.S. but I never knew anyone who was sent to something like that (not being part of a sports group or anything else).

katyavsmarburg: So I know I haven’t been posting lately, because there hasn’t been that much going on. But here are some pictures from my everyday life here. One weird thing I’ll mention is that they stack plastic-wrapped drinks in 4 or 6 packs, but you’re supposed to open the plastic and take one or two or whatever. Still strikes me as odd.
Zoom Info
katyavsmarburg: So I know I haven’t been posting lately, because there hasn’t been that much going on. But here are some pictures from my everyday life here. One weird thing I’ll mention is that they stack plastic-wrapped drinks in 4 or 6 packs, but you’re supposed to open the plastic and take one or two or whatever. Still strikes me as odd.
Zoom Info
katyavsmarburg: So I know I haven’t been posting lately, because there hasn’t been that much going on. But here are some pictures from my everyday life here. One weird thing I’ll mention is that they stack plastic-wrapped drinks in 4 or 6 packs, but you’re supposed to open the plastic and take one or two or whatever. Still strikes me as odd.
Zoom Info

katyavsmarburg:

So I know I haven’t been posting lately, because there hasn’t been that much going on. But here are some pictures from my everyday life here.

One weird thing I’ll mention is that they stack plastic-wrapped drinks in 4 or 6 packs, but you’re supposed to open the plastic and take one or two or whatever. Still strikes me as odd.

(via fuckyeahdeutsch)

Source: katyavsmarburg

Q:Is there any problem if you carry a german flag (or anything patriotic) in Germany? In some places of Spain for example, it's really bad and you could be in trouble...

Anonymous

No, not really.

Before the World Cup in 2006 it was really uncommon to put up the German flag in any “private” place. You could see it in front of some hotels, official buildings etc., but most likely not in the window of a private home and so on. That changed in the past few years thanks to soccer. During the World Cup or the European Championship it has become completely normal to put up flags and you can see German flags everywhere (in cars, gardens, on porchs, and so on). But most of them disappear again after those seasons have ended. However, not everyone removes the flags! So even if there isn’t any major sports event going on, you can see a few “private” flags around if you’re lucky.

Walking around holding up a German flag - just like that, without any obvious reason - is something no one would do though. I have never seen it at least. Anyhow, I don’t think you’d get into trouble. Only if some antifa activists spotted you… they might ask you for your reason and confront you about it.

There is a special version of the German flag, the federal service flag, that you are not allowed to use as a private person. It’s seen as an infringement because that flag is only supposed to be used by public authorities.

Germany vs. USA - Religion

So I found this video again in which Jim is saying that they prayed in school… which was one of the “sources” I probably got the idea from. Thanks again for letting me know that having to pray in schools is banned now!

Anyway, I think the importance of religion is one of the most striking differences between American and German culture. I’m always surprised to see American politics talking about god in their speeches or to see people on TV commenting on certain news referring to heaven, god, etc. That’s something that would be regarded as super weird here.