< /p> By the standards of Russians, the Germans are a peculiar people and “our complete opposite,” said a Russian tourist and gave five examples on her Yandex.Zen channel of what a German feels good, but a Russian cannot understand.
According to the compatriot, the peculiarity of the German mentality, manifested in scrupulousness, practicality, pedantry and rationality, in particular, affects how they celebrate their holidays. We list unusual examples of holiday traditions in Germany.
Firstly, they do not need surprises, so they order gifts for themselves. “Spontaneity, improvisation? Nope, haven't heard. In the life of a German, everything should be predictable and regulated – this is the only way he feels confident in the future. The Germans do not like surprises, neither in their personal lives, nor at work,” the tourist said and advised asking the Germans about what kind of gift they need.
“Do not be afraid that he will ask for a star from the sky – the list of gifts that can be given, as well as the list of reasons for which it is appropriate to do so, is firmly fixed in the German cultural code. Believe me, they are quite modest, because the Germans believe that an expensive gift can … offend,” the author added. In addition, the Russian woman urged the ladies who meet with the Germans to be ready. As the blogger explained, a question such as: “I would like to give you a gift for 50 euros. What would you like to get for this money” is considered common in a European country.
Secondly, holidays are spent with guests in hotels. Birthdays in Germany do not stand by the stove for several hours in a row and do not worry that their guests are all full and satisfied. Instead of this nightmarish holiday, they prefer to invite guests to neutral territory: a restaurant, a bar, a club, a bowling alley.
“When it comes to celebrating anniversaries, especially solid ones, at the age of 60+, then for these purposes the Germans rent a hotel for the weekend (full or several rooms – depending on the size of the hotel and the number of guests) outside the city, in the mountains, rural or popular tourist area. The expenses are negotiated on the shore: most often, each guest pays for himself – for a room, for food, including at a festive lunch or dinner, ”the author noted. As a rule, such events include a banquet and additional services: excursions to nearby attractions, hiking, cycling in the surrounding area, as well as gatherings in saunas and spa treatments.
Thirdly, they cut logs at weddings. A compatriot explained another strange tradition of Europeans as a tribute to history: “A separate item in the German pre-wedding program is the search for a goat and a two-handed saw. What for? According to custom, after the official registration and the exchange of oaths of allegiance, the newlyweds must saw the log. Goats with him are often installed right in the banquet hall, or in front of the entrance to it. Things do not happen quickly – for the exact observance of the ritual, the log should be 20-25 cm in diameter, and the saw should be rusty. But neither the newlyweds nor the guests are embarrassed. After all, this custom has a deep meaning: if everything works out, the marriage will be long and strong – after all, the new family will be able to cope with all the difficulties! The custom has its origins in the mists of time. Its name sounds like Holzstammzersägen.
Fourthly, they initiate teenagers into youth. For this, the Germans even have a special holiday, Jugendwei, which appeared due to the atheistic alternative to religious confirmation and is widespread in many parts of East Germany. It usually takes place in the spring, at the end of the school year. The perpetrators of the celebration are boys and girls who have reached the age of 14.
Previously, several months were being prepared for this event: teenagers visited various enterprises and institutions with excursions in order to get acquainted with how the socialist state works, as well as how its institutions functioned and what contribution every German could make to the cause of building communism. “The final event took place in concert halls, theaters or town halls, where teenagers were congratulated by local party leaders and teachers. After the festive concert, the initiates, together with their parents, went to a restaurant, ”she indicated the historical background. However, the modern Jugendway takes place almost unchanged, except that now there is no ideological component in the holiday.
As for the western part of the country, as the author puts it, “uncerified Germans” live there, they also have initiation of teenagers into youth, but the celebration takes place in the form of a festive dinner with relatives who give the teenager money or throw off for some more significant gift.
Fifthly, on New Year's Eve, the whole family or company watches a movie. Not “The Irony of Fate”, of course, but the short film “Dinner for One”, which, by the way, according to the plot, has nothing to do with the New Year. “New Year traditions in Germany are not as strong as Christmas ones. Most people expect a quiet family dinner on this day, presenting gifts to children on behalf of Weinakhtsman – the German Santa Claus, and watching the movie “90th Birthday or Dinner for One”.
Help: “90th Birthday or Dinner for One” is a comedy sketch written by English writer Lauri Wylie for theater in the 1920s. In 1963, the German TV channel Norddeutscher Rundfunk recorded a production of the play in English, the original language. This 10-minute comical scene became the most repeated TV show, according to the Guinness Book of Records in the period 1988-1995.
For half a century, the short film has been an essential attribute of the winter holiday for the Germans. Paradoxically, the plot of the film is taken not from German, but from English reality, the main characters – an elderly lady who has lost her mind from aristocratic circles is gathering a party, but only she and her drunken butler are present at it. “It is noteworthy that Dinner for One is always shown on TV in black and white in the original language (English) with subtitles, because all attempts to modernize it (colorize and duplicate) are met with hostility by the audience,” the author said about another the conservative view of the Germans.
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