Category: Culture & Etiquette

One thing to prepare yourself for is the slap of candor: Germans can be rather blunt when they offer stern advice or criticism.

As you can probably gather from the above, Germans tend to believe strongly in the concept of a right place and right time for everything.

Closely aligned to this formality is the obligation to use the “Sie” form of address with people you don’t know that well.

Making generalizations about any society is difficult, but if you are a newcomer in Germany you will likely notice many small and seemingly large cultural differences.

One of the more flavorful aspects of German culture is its cuisine. It is often all to easy to fall back to the familiar … particularly when it comes to food.

One of the most impressive and lively variations of the Straßenfest is the Weihnachtsmarkt or Christkindelmarkt (Christmas market).

Another favorite way for Germans to amuse themselves is the Straßenfest (street or block party). These are pleasant events organized and sponsored by local governments and local businesses.

As is true of most nations, more people in Germany tend to be fascinated by sports than there are active participants. Armchair experts abound, with the airwaves full of sports shows, sports reports, and live broadcasts of sporting events.

You’ve often heard about the Germans’ strong skills for organizing. Well, they are even adept at organizing fun and free time.