German Culture Facts: Read This To Know More About The Bavarians

Germany, in central Europe, is one of the most important countries in the world.

The capital of Germany is Berlin, and Germany has a population of over 83 million. Being a student-friendly country, Germany welcomes a large number of international students every year.

Germany has Denmark on its north border, Poland, the Czech Republic on its eastern edge, Austria and Switzerland to its south, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands on the west. Germany is a significant economic power and its financial center in Frankfurt.

Check out these interesting facts about this fascinating country to know what makes this country so unique!

German Language

The German-language plays an integral role in the world today. It is one of the main languages spoken in many central and western European countries. The German language area or the German Sprachraum consists of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, and others. Apart from being a national language, it is also a co-official language in Belgium and Luxembourg.

German is among the world's most spoken languages. In the European Union, German is the most spoken native language. German is an inflected language meaning it changes the ending or, at times, the form of some words when the way they are used in sentences changes. It has three genders - feminine, masculine, neuter, four cases for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. A majority of the German dialects come under the umbrella of High German, which is the language of Southern Highlands, and Low German, which is spoken in the lowlands of Northern Germany.

The earliest stage of the German language is said to be Old High German. This term was used as an umbrella term that included a group of Germanic dialects. This can be dated from around 750 to 1050. The defining period of the Old High German was the Second Sound Shift. This brought about major changes in the pronunciation of both voiced and voiceless stop consonants. In specific phonetic settings, the voiced stops became voiceless. The mute stop became germinated and turned into affricates in a word-initial position.

During the Old High German period, German mainly was still a spoken language. Middle High German developed from Old High German. The Middle High period signified the expansion of the geographical territory and the growth of German speakers. In 1901, the Second Orthographic Conference ended and brought upon a complete standardization of the Standard High German language. The Duden Handbook was declared its standard definition.

This language was primarily spoken in the lowlands of Northern Germany. This bears a close resemblance to English and Frisian. Unlike its counterpart, the High German, the Low German has not been subjected to consonant shifts. This evolved from Old Saxon.

German Literature

Germany's literary legacy is extraordinary. The contributions by Germans to the world of literature have been immense, to say the least. German literature consists of the literary works by German-speaking people of Central Europe. German literature has gained international recognition as well. Not only this, the Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded 14 times to German-language authors.

There have been three distinct periods of German literature - The High Middle Ages, the turn of the 18th to the 19th century, and the turn of the 19th to the 20th. In the modern period, most German literature is in standard German. Medieval German literature spans two to three centuries. This included Old High German literature, Middle High and Late Medieval. The Early Modern Literature consists of Humanism and Protestant Reformation, Baroque, and Enlightenment. Then comes Modern German Literature and 20th-century German literature, which consists of remarkable literary works like Sensibility, Weimar Classicism, Biedermeier, Dada, and Symbolism.

Hildebrandslied, the earliest poetic text in German, is perhaps the most critical work in Old High German. This talks about the tragic encounter between a father and son during a battle.

Middle High German was when the 'Golden Age' of medieval German literature or mittelhochdeutsche Blütezeit took place. This period was marked by lyric poetry and courtly romances, and the heroic traditions also underwent major changes.

German literature truly flourished during the Baroque period. The traumatic effects and stories of the Thirty Years' War were widely talked about in prose and poetry. 'Simplicius Simplicissimus' is the most famous work during the Baroque. Writers such as Daniel Caspar von Lohenstein, Andreas Gryphius, Sibylle Ursula von Braunschweig-Luneburg wrote remarkable works as well.

German romantics brought about the synthesis of science, philosophy, and art. In the later years, German romanticism came to symbolize the strain between the expectations of the everyday world and the irrational projections of the creative people. Few notable romantics are Friedrich Hölderlin, G.W.F. Hegel, Ludwig Tieck, E.T.A Hoffman, Ludwig Uhland, Heinrich von Kleist.

The 20th century period marked Weimar literature, Expressionism, Dada, Symbolism, and New Objectivity. Some famous writers of the 20th century are Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, Robert Musli, Anna Seghers.

German literature in the 21st century is marked by various genres that hadn't seen much popularity before, like Pop literature, science fiction, and thriller.

German Cultural Symbols

The country of poets and thinkers (Das Land der Dichter und Denker) signifies Germany's Culture. Like most countries of Europe, Germany's culture has been greatly influenced by the intellectual movements throughout the continent. Be it science, philosophy, or music. Germany has a highly developed social market economy when it comes to the economy. Germany also boasts of being the largest national economy in the European continent.

During the Renaissance, painters like Lucas Cranach the Elder, Albrecht Altdorfer, Albrecht Dürer laid the foundations for a rich art culture in Germany. Since then, Germans have made their name famous in visual arts and contemporary art.

Home to geniuses and famous composers like Wolfgang Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, it comes as no surprise that Germans have made a mark in music. Apart from these classical music masterminds, many Germans have also developed and composed hymns and Lutheran chorales. In the 21st century, Germany still holds its place. It boasts of being the most prominent music market in the European continent. The country hosts several music festivals around the year and sees youngsters worldwide coming to attend.

Christianity is the dominant religion in Germany, with 59.4%of its population. 29% are Protestants and 30% Roman Catholic, and Muslims constitute about 4.4% of the total population.

Germans are known all over the world for their orderliness. German workers are diligent and highly skilled at what they do. Engineers especially are highly respected for their technical expertise.

The official language of the country is German. Approximately 100 million native German speakers and about 80 million non-native German speakers. The younger generations are introduced to the language through the wide usage of spoken and written German and naming customs.

The study of western philosophy would remain incomplete without mentioning the famous German philosophers who have made massive contributions. Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, to name a few, have changed the course of history with their invaluable writings.

Celebrations are significant in German culture. Germans sure know how to celebrate, and they make the most out of every festival, especially during Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is an autumn festival that spans two weeks. This festival originated from the celebration of the marriage between the Crown prince of Bavaria and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

German Lifestyle

Punctual, sensible, honest, and respectable. These words perfectly describe the Germans, and these words also give us an idea about their lifestyle.

Germans believe in direct communication. They do not like beating around the bush and speak straight to the point with utmost honesty. At times, this may result in them being called 'harsh.' Still, Germans prefer being honest and having a clear and direct conversation. Some Germans may appear serious at first glance, but once you get to know them more, you'll find out that they are actually very friendly.

Germans are very punctual, and they might take offense even if you are a few minutes late. German people like certainty, and being punctual helps them in avoiding uncertainty. Germans strive for perfectionism, and being punctual also helps them achieve that.

In Germany, the importance of nature is widely talked about. Hiking in nature is a common occurrence in the country.

Most households in German society consist of nuclear families. Children below 18 live with their parents, whereas extended families stay in separate houses. Both parents are usually working in the German household.

Cuisine

Delicious, hearty, and fabulous, these three words encapsulate the essence of German cuisine. While Bratwurst, Pretzel, Schnitzel are some of the famous German food items you may have heard about, German cuisine is more.

German food and cuisine vary from region to region. Different types of foods, flavors, and protein choices can be observed as you tour the country. Food preservation is more or less very popular for German foods. Preservation techniques like curing, smoking, salting, or pickling can be found for recipes even today. Sauerkraut, a type of fermented cabbage, is perhaps among the most popular recipes that use ancient preservation methods. An average day consists of three delicious meals like the rest of the world.

For breakfast or Frühstück, a slice of toast or bread rolls served with tasty marmalade or honey with eggs on the side is comfort food at its best. When filled with the specialty deli meats like Salami ham paired with various cheeses, it really doesn't get any better than that. A typical German lunch Mittagessen is had anywhere between 12 and 2 pm. A starter like a delicious potato salad will be followed by a hearty cooked meal. Meat, fish, vegetables all play an integral role in this meal. Germans like to keep it lighter than the hearty lunch and have light meals for dinner. Some, however, may choose to do the opposite and opt for a cooked dinner with significant portions of meat or fish. Dinner can sometimes also be accompanied by a chilled and refreshing glass of beer.

Some of the absolutely lip-smacking and appetizing German dishes that need to be tried once are as follows:

Kartoffelpuffer is German potato pancakes that will have your heart from the very first bite. These are delightfully crisp and super easy to prepare. Kartoffelpuffer may also be known as Reibeplätzchen, Reibekuchen, Grumbeerpannekuche, and Reiberdatschi in different country regions. This recipe is made with grated raw potatoes mixed with egg onion and then fried until a delightful light golden.

If cakes are your thing, you would surely know about Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. This black forest cake is a marriage between beautiful cherries and scrumptious chocolate. You will find alternating layers of lip-smacking cherry filling, delectable chocolate cake, and softly whipped cream in a single slice of this cake.

Apfelstrudel, a traditional food, is delicious at its best. Perfect for all apple lovers, this dessert features a flaky and buttery crust with a delightfully spiced apple filling. Often served with vanilla ice cream, this dish is a must-try.

Brezeln, or pretzel as we know, is a soft bread with a distinct knot shape. These are usually served with grated cheese or a simple sprinkling of salt on top. Still, their sweeter counterparts, topped with cinnamon sugar or chocolate sauce, are hard to beat. This soft bread is a must-try if you find yourself in Germany.

This list would remain incomplete without mentioning the famous grilled sausage, Bratwurst. Perhaps there's no one better that does sausage than Germans. So it is only fair that you treat your tastebuds to this scrumptious treat. Made with beef, ground pork, or veal, these are cooked until they are perfectly crispy.

Labskaus is a specialty from Northern Germany made with corned beef, onion, and potatoes. Newer versions may include beetroot, coriander, and various other condiments.

FAQs

Q. What are some facts about German culture?

A. Germany has a rich cultural heritage. Germans are known worldwide for their expertise in automobiles, contribution to music, art, philosophy, love for life, celebration, and admiration for good food and beer.

Q. What are Germans known for?

A. Being a culturally rich country, German people are famous for many things. But it's perhaps the most famous for its beer, football, cars, sausages, and bread.

Q. What do Germans do for fun?

A. German people usually listen to the radio or watch tv. They also attend parties or festivals to have fun or, at times, even play board games with their family and friends.

Q. What is German heritage?

A. German ethnicity has emerged from peoples of Central Europe like the Saxons, Franks, Frisians, Alemanni.

Q. What human characteristics does Germany share with nearby countries?

A. Germans are respectful, sensible, and have respect for privacy and German law, which are characteristics that can be observed in other countries in the European continent as well.

Q. What trend in German culture did artist Albrecht Dürer represent?

A. Albrecht Durer represented humanism and self-portrait during the German Renaissance.

Q. What is German culture?

A. Germany has a rich history and culture. Along with being an important and robust economy, Germany also boasts a rich cultural heritage spanning from philosophy and science to music and performing arts.

Q. How has German culture influenced music in America?

A. German immigrants brought a variety of music genres like waltzes, oom-pah, and polkas. Songs in the German-Pennsylvania culture show an exciting mix of British tunes with South German.

Q. What is the difference in Culture between German and Swiss German?

A. Swiss German is not a language on its own but a collection of dialects. This dialect is used in writing personal letters as well as text messages. The difference between this dialect and the German language lies in spelling and pronunciation.

Q. How did Prussia affect modern German culture?

A. Prussian virtues have also played a role in shaping German Culture. It is widely believed that Germans' austerity, discipline, and efficiency come from Prussian values.