Top ten German customs and traditions
Published: 5 Dec, 2011 CET.
Updated: Mon 5 Dec 2011 12:25 CET
Germany may bear similarities to many other Western countries, but below the surface you’ll find a cornucopia of mad customs. For this edition of The Local List, we count down our favourite national quirks.
Whether being greeted by strangers in lifts or knocking on a desk instead of clapping, being a foreigner in Germany means facing new customs almost daily.
And ranging from the superstitious – melting lead on New Years, to the socially practical – shaking hands, Germans have their traditions written in stone. Forget to look someone in the eye as you say 'cheers,' for example, and you're apparently risking seven long years of bad sex.
The Local has put together its list of the most interesting and unusual customs that make Germany German.
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Whether being greeted by strangers in lifts or knocking on a desk instead of clapping, being a foreigner in Germany means facing new customs almost daily.
And ranging from the superstitious – melting lead on New Years, to the socially practical – shaking hands, Germans have their traditions written in stone. Forget to look someone in the eye as you say 'cheers,' for example, and you're apparently risking seven long years of bad sex.
The Local has put together its list of the most interesting and unusual customs that make Germany German.
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