Welcome to German Tips

St. Nicklas´ Day

In Germany, the 6th of December is St. Nicklas´ Day (Nikolaustag). The saint brings small gifts to children, who have been good throughout the year. Bad kids get a strap (usually a small bundle of twigs, also sold with bits of candy). The candy is put into polished boots or commercial plastic ones, which kids put in front of their bedroom doors. It is also common for co-workers to distribute candy on that day.

Adventskalender

In Germany, people get ready for the holidays by observing the time of "Advent" (arrival), the "Adventszeit." Children receive an "Adventskalender" (a calendar). It is a colorful flat cardboard box with 24 windows, each filled with a piece of chocolate, or a toy. Each day, a window is opened. Handmade "Adventskalender" are also a popular school project.

Calling hours for private phone calls

As most Germans do not have lunch hours, you will need to call them in the evening. Most people have dinner around 6 - 7 p.m. (not a good time to call). Anything afterwards is fine, unless it is already past 9 p.m. - Calling after nine is either considered rude, or the person called thinks it is an emergency.

German Carnival

German carnival (Fasching or Karneval) traditionally starts at 11:11:11 CET on each November 11 (i.e. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month). It lasts until the dawn of Ash Wednesday the following year. The highlight of the season is Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday. It is not a day of `roses` as the name would imply, but a day of `going wild`
(´rasen´, in German). Fasching is different from north to south. Up north, it is centered around Cologne and also referred to as "Karneval", down south, especially in the Black Forest area, it is called "Fastnacht".
There, its origin is pagan, whereas northern Karneval has Christian roots. What both have in common are the colorful parades, outrageous costumes and special party foods (Krapfen). The last Thursday of Karneval is called "Weiberfastnacht". On this particular day, females can do `anything` they want to do. So watch out if you are male and in one of Germany`s carnival
centers at the time!

The Origin of Easter

The term "Ostern" (Easter) originates from an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess of the dawn, who was named "Eastre", "Eostre", or "Ostara". Eostre, apparently is a European version of Astarte/Isis and some even associate her with the Hindu goddess Kali. Eostara is a lunar holiday, honoring a lunar Goddess at the Vernal Full Moon. The time of celebration is very special and determined by the Church on the Sunday, following the Vernal Equinox. Thus Easter is always the first Sunday, after the first full Moon, after the Vernal Equinox. If Easter Sunday were to fall on the Full Moon itself, Easter will be postponed to the following Sunday instead. Eostre´s chief symbols were the hare, both for fertility and because her worshipers saw a hare in the full moon, and the egg, symbolic of the cosmic egg of creation. Related terms are "estrus" and "estrogen" (the female hormone). Not only is estrus related to reproduction, it is also seasonal and in the case of humans (one of the few animals that does not exhibit strict seasonal reproduction) it is also approximately lunar. Thus, the honoring of Christ coincides with the awakening of nature to new life after the wintry sleep.

German carnival

German carnival (Fasching or Karneval) traditionally starts at 11:11:11 CET on each November 11 (i.e. on the eleventh day of the eleventh month). It lasts until the dawn of Ash Wednesday the following year. The highlight of the season is Rosenmontag, the Monday before Ash Wednesday. It is not a day of `roses` as the name would imply, but a day of `going wild`
(´rasen´, in German). Fasching is different from north to south. Up north, it is centered around Cologne and also referred to as "Karneval", down south, especially in the Black Forest area, it is called "Fastnacht".
There, its origin is pagan, whereas northern Karneval has Christian roots. What both have in common are the colorful parades, outrageous costumes and special party foods (Krapfen). The last Thursday of Karneval is called "Weiberfastnacht". On this particular day, females can do `anything` they want to do. So watch out if you are male and in one of Germany`s carnival
centers at the time!

Conduct at the post office

Most post offices have lines to give the person on the counter some privacy. It is considered rude to overstep the mark at the end of the line (usually a sign on a post). Wait until the post office clerk indicates that you should advance. Have your papers, postcards, money etc. ready. Germans are just as hectic as New Yorkers and do not like to wait.

Glossary of German Christmas terms

St. Martin's Day (November 11): For many Germans and Austrians, St. Martin´s Day (Martinstag) marks the start of the Christmas season.
Advent (December 1 – December 24): Advent begins on the first Sunday after Nov. 26. Four Advent Sundays lead up to Christmas Eve. Advent is the Latin for "arrival, coming".
Adventskranz: A wreath with four candles, which are lit on the four Advent Sundays.
Adventskalender: The calendar has 24 windows and counts down the days up to Christmas Eve (Heiligabend) starting on Dec. 1.
Nikolaustag (December 6): St. Nikolaus brings gifts for children. Dec. 6 is also the date when Christmas markets (Christkindlmaerkte) open in many German towns.
Heiligabend (December 24): Germans open their Christmas gifts in the evening of Dec. 24th, not on the morning of Dec. 25th.
Weihnachtsmann: On December 24, Santa Claus brings gifts and candy to small kids (a popular job with German students).
Weihnachtsfeiertage (Dec. 25 and 26): The two days after Christmas Eve are public holidays.
Silvester (December 31): The end of the year (New Year's Eve) is celebrated with parties and fireworks.
Dreikoenigsfest, Epiphany (January 6): The day marks the arrival of the three Wise Men (die Heiligen Drei Koenige). It is the end of the Christmas season in Germany.

Ostern

Easter derives from the concept "Ostara" (Easter), "Eoastrae" or "Eostre", the Anglo-Saxon name of the teutonic Goddess of the morning redness. For Christians, the ressurrection of Jesus is a central happening for their belief. His death is seen as a beginning of a new life rather than an end. The holiday coincides with the beginning of spring in Germany. Easter time lasts 50 days until pentecost.
The holy/passion week and Easter Sunday are important days in the christian holiday calender. Passion Saturday is a day of mourning in remembrance of the Easter night. Easter Monday rounds off the Easter feast. Friday and Monday are public holidays. There are Easter egg hunts, picnics and outdoor activities. Many Germans use the weekend for a short spring vacation.

German Easter Activities

On Easter weekend, many German children try to outdo each other in rolling colored eggs down grassy slopes. The fastest egg wins. They may also knock their egg´s pointed ends together ("Eierpecken"), and the child whose egg does not shatter gets the broken egg too. Since lots of eggs are needed for those activities, German families sometimes eat hard-boiled eggs for weeks afterwards. Eggs with green sauce (German: "Gruene Sosse" or "Beiguss") is a post- Easter favorite.

Holiday food

Favorite snacks during the holiday season include "Dresdner Stollen" (a rich cake made with yeast), "Lebkuchen" (ginger bread cookies),
"Zimtsterne" (cinnamon stars), "Marzipankartoffeln" (marzipan potatoes), nuts, candied apples, and "Weihnachtsschokolade," a particularly creamy
and spicy chocolate made with ginger and cinnamon.

Behaviour on guided tours

As a general roule, try to keep a low profile. Do not take pictures of people without first asking their permission. Do not descend on sights like a swarm. Tip the guide. Try to read up a little on what you are going to see beforehand, so you´ll get more out of the tour. Do not expect the guide´s English to be absolutely flawless. Be patient.

Das Karnivalsregister

Das Karnevalsregister
http://www.karneval.org/

This portal is great for a virtual tour of the Fasching phenomenon. It features links to Karnival and Fasching pages all over Germany. You will find local news from Cologne, Aachen, Mainz, Duesseldorf, and many other towns. There is a guide to events, music and festivities, a history section and a search function. The page is in German. It is well organized and comes without all those frills, which make some other German pages so slow and irritating.

Behaviour at movie theaters

In general it is advisable to arrive early, as most theaters do not reserve seats. If you arrive late, an usher might show you the way. If not, say quietly "Entschuldigung" ("I am sorry" is also understood) to the people in the seats you are passing and try to reach a seat ASAP. Most people resent being stepped on, or to be shown your backside, as you pass. Face them, anything else is considered rude.

Buying rounds in bars

Buying rounds in bars is not as common in Germany as it is in the UK. However, if you are with friends or new acquaintances, you might ask them what they would like, and you´d get it for them from the bar. They would be expected to reciprocate when it is their turn. If you are uncertain as to what is appropriate, clear this first, before you go into the bar. Note: noisily splitting up the bill in front of the barman or waiter is called "doing the German" - even in Germany. It means you have no manners.

Private dinner invitations

It is customary to bring a small gift when you are invited to lunch or dinner at a private home. The best bet is to bring the host´s wife some flowers, but it is also common to bring a bottle of wine (choose from midrange prices). You do not bring beer. If the occasion is semi-formal or business related, you may want to send your host a thank you note afterwards.

Fastnacht Photos

Fastnacht Photos
http://www.rottweil.de/tourismus/thema5/fasnetpa/bilder.htm

Go here if you want to see how Fastnacht is celebrated in the town of Rottweil.

Tipping

Cleaning personnel in hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts expects to be tipped. You leave a bill (usually 10 - 20 DM, according to the length of your stay) in your room, possibly with a note, e.g. "Fuer das Zimmermaedchen". Tipping in restaurants is also very common. You give your tip directly to the waiter when you pay the bill. Do not leave it on the table, as is customary in the US. If you are displeased with the service, you do not have to leave a tip at all.