Germany’s traditions and customs (2024)

FAQs

What are Germany's customs and traditions? ›

Contemporary German traditions include 'Kaffee und Kuchen', the equivalent of an English Afternoon tea whereby families and friends stop working to come together in the afternoon for coffee and cake. The annual Munich Beer Festival, known the world over as Oktoberfest, is also a key tradition.

The world's largest folk festival, the Munich Oktoberfest, has a long history. At the end of September, guests from all over the world arrive in the Bavarian capital to enjoy Munich's hospitality over a Maß of beer and Weißwurst (Bavarian veal sausage).

Several of the most familiar elements of the American Christmas celebration, from the Christmas tree to the gift-giving Santa Claus, were gifts from the Germans, as was the Easter bunny.

Christian church, including both Catholicism and Protestantism, is the dominant church in Germany. Still, there are many other religious practices such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism that are popular in Germany.

The Bundeszollverwaltung (Federal Customs Service) is the customs service of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Whilst there are regional variations in food culture, most German recipes focus heavily on bread, potatoes, and meat, especially pork, as well as plenty of greens such as types of cabbage and kale. Cake, coffee, and beer are all highly popular elements of German cuisine too - which will be good news to most!

Oktoberfest | September, 17

For many moving to Germany, the idea of the Oktoberfest holiday appeals more than the many religious festivities. With plenty of beer, fairground rides, and traditional music, most Oktoberfest events start in late September and run until around October 3rd.

The national flag of Germany is a tricolour consisting of three equal horizontal bands displaying the national colours of Germany: black, red, and gold (German: Schwarz-Rot-Gold). The flag was first sighted in 1848 in the German Confederation.

Dwight David “Ike” Eisenhower was born in Texas to a family of German immigrants who first arrived in America in 1732 and settled in York, PA. Eisenhower joined the U.S. military and served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe in World War II and was made the first Supreme Commander of NATO.

What religion were German immigrants? ›

The groups included Swiss Mennonites, Baptist Dunkers, Schwenkfelders, Moravians, Amish, and Waldensians; most German immigrants belonged to the main Lutheran and Reformed churches. The central colonies received the greatest part of this immigration, especially Pennsylvania.

Dirndls and lederhosen may quickly come to mind as traditional German clothing. These outfits originated in Bavaria but have been widely adopted elsewhere. A dirndl is a dress consisting of a blouse, bodice, skirt, and apron. Dirndls were originally worn by servants or peasants.

When a particular gesture, behavior, event, or act is repeatedly performed, it becomes a custom. When this is done for a long time and passed down to future generations, it becomes a tradition. Customs are common social practices that are followed by the majority of people in a society.

Dirndls and lederhosen may quickly come to mind as traditional German clothing. These outfits originated in Bavaria but have been widely adopted elsewhere. A dirndl is a dress consisting of a blouse, bodice, skirt, and apron. Dirndls were originally worn by servants or peasants.

In Germany, corporate culture is hierarchical, and meritocracy is valued; people who have risen to the top should be appreciated as individuals who have worked hard. Decisions are mostly made at the top, and employees are expected to obey orders. This means there's much less room for personal input.

The dress code in Germany depends on the industry

Not necessarily torn trousers and flip-flops, but casual trousers such as chinos or maybe jeans. A pro tip: many employees keep it casual on a day-to-day basis and have their chic jacket or shiny shoes hanging in their locker at work.