German Culture

Germany is home to over 80 million people – as well as a diverse array of religions, customs, and traditions that make up the rich national psyche. Germany is known for its long and rich history, one that has put it at the forefront of European thought, politics, and art for over 1,000 years. This history has shaped a culture that combines predominantly Christian values with literature, art, philosophy, logic, reason, and, of course, a love of beer and sausages.

Consider this article a handy overview of German culture that will touch on the most notable points and facts regarding German values, lifestyle, customs and traditions, and will help you understand Germans better.

German People, Traditions and Facts

The German people face their fair share of stereotypes...

...such as how they like to save their space on a deck chair with a towel whilst on holiday or ensure that public transport (and, well, everything) runs on time. These things should be seen as a testament to their dedication to good planning and time-keeping. Secondly, there is, of course, a bit more to this nation’s populous than this.

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What are the characteristics of German people?

It is true that many Germans tend to place punctuality as a high priority. Hence the global observation that German trains often run perfectly on time. German people tend to be thrifty, be sensible, and respect one another’s privacy, and they typically respect the structure and laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of ‘order’ is more apparent than in German business culture.

Traditionally, German people tie a lot of importance to notions of family and community. Regarding the latter, this is partially where the well-known ‘rule-following’ and orderly nature of the German people comes from: if everyone in the community follows the rules and does things the right way, the neighborhood/town/city/country will be a nice place for all residents to live, hence why many might seem like sticklers when it comes to correct recycling and late-night noise - they take it seriously for the sake of everyone.

What is the culture of Germany?

Considered a country of thinkers, poets, and, nowadays, businesspeople, German culture and people are, to a large extent, all about reason and logic. Germany shares a lot of culture and tradition with neighboring countries, especially the Germanic-speaking Austria and Switzerland.

An important thing to know about German culture is that residents are expected to respect order and structure. It’s important to be on time, not just for work but for social events too, and to follow rules that are in place for the greater good of everybody who lives there.

German culture has been shaped over thousands of years. It was originally a pagan country, and then an important seat of the Holy Roman Empire. It was also the birthplace of the Protestant reformation. Today, Christians, Catholics, and Muslims coexist happily in Germany - you can read more about the religious diversity of the country on our Religions in Germany page.

What is German Culture known for?

Some of the key characteristics of German culture that the nation is famously known for include the aforementioned timeliness and order that is apparent in most parts of German society. From an onlooker’s viewpoint, good beer (and Oktoberfest), delicious sausage, hiking, traditional ‘Oom-Pah’ folk music, and holiday-making make-up a key part of the country’s identity.

At closer inspection, there is a larger array of food, drink, history, and leisure activities that are also important aspects of their culture. And on a more serious note, in the modern era, Germany has grown to become a large and stable economy that contributes to global development and peace.

German culture symbols

As a historically Christian country, many cultural symbols have emerged from religion. This includes obvious symbols such as the crucifix and indirect symbols such as the shape of a pretzel (said to represent the Holy Trinity). With a large Muslim population, the Moon and Star of Islam is now also considered an important culture symbol in Germany.

Other symbols of German culture are famous names from the arts, politics, and philosophy such as Goethe, Beethoven, Klee, Kant and Marx (and David Hasselhoff probably belongs on this list, too – quite seriously). Modern culture symbols include both the German flag and the flag of the European Union.

 

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German Lifestyle

Most German’s neither live to work nor work to live

But a lot of Germans find that the two can be enjoyed harmoniously (the rest of the world should probably take note). The average working week in Germany is around 35-40 hours, one of the lowest in Europe. Productivity, however, is high, and whilst at work, most Germans take pride in doing a good job. And when not at work, they partake in a range of leisure activities and pastimes.

Board games

Germany is one of the world’s biggest producers of board games and has been responsible for the invention of many of the biggest names in the realm of so-called Eurogames (strategy-based board games). German-invented board games also include Carcassonne, The Settlers of Catan, and Ticket to Ride although you will also find German versions of most top games in local game shops, such as Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, and Cluedo.

Most German households will have a number of board games at their disposal, and playing them is considered an excellent way to spend time with friends of all ages.

Travel

Many Germans are passionate about international travel, and taking foreign holidays is an important part of the lifestyle. In fact, Germany spends more per capita on international travel than any other country in Europe.

The biggest holiday destinations for Germans are Italy, Spain, and Austria, but thanks to the country sharing nine land borders with other countries, it’s really easy to take a European trip from Germany.

Sport

Sport is an integral element of German society, both in terms of participation and spectating. A third of all German residents belong to a sports club or organization and hundreds of thousands watch football, ice hockey, and handball games every week.

Find out more about the most-played and -watched sport in Germany on our German Sport page.

Gardening

With three quarters of all Germans living in cities, urban gardening has become very popular and even those who live in high-rise apartments will find a way to add greenery to their apartment.

Many Germans have their own plot in a communal garden (similar to an English allotment), known in Germany as a Schrebergarten, that city dwellers travel to during the holidays or weekends.

Food and Drink

German food culture revolves around the preparation of hearty meals. Meat in Germany is very popular and is typically eaten with most meals, along with bread and potatoes. German cooking includes national dishes such as Rouladen, German noodles (Spätzle) and Schnitzel.

On a day-to-day basis, a cooked breakfast, a cooked lunch, and a dinner of bread, ham, cheese, and pickle could be considered typical. Dining out is popular, and cities and towns are all home to a range of fast food stops, bakeries (namely German or Turkish), deli outlets, and German and international gourmet restaurants as well as (increasingly in the bigger cities) food markets, pop-ups, and street food.

Alcohol consumption is fairly high and is enjoyed in both bars and at home. By far the most popular drink is beer, followed by wine, schnapps, and brandy. Get a better idea of German food and drink culture on our German Food page.

Cars

As the country that invented the modern motor car and the birthplace of Audi, Volkswagen, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, it’s little wonder that Germans take great pride in their motor vehicles.

Many Germans view driving as a relaxing pastime as much as a means of getting from A to B. And you can often get from A to B quickly, thanks to the lack of a national speed limit on the Autobahn (motorway) and an excellent road network.

German customs and traditions

There is a wide number of historic and traditional German customs. There are also a number of customs that have emerged in the modern postwar era

What are some of Germany’s traditions?

As a Christian country there are many protestant and catholic traditions which are observed and celebrated throughout the year. To make sure you are familiar with Germany’s calendar of national and regional holidays and celebrations, make sure to take a look at our German Holidays and Celebrations page.

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.

Traditional clothes

Traditional clothing in Germany includes the world-famous Lederhosen, an outfit once worn by rural men, traditionally those undertaking farm work or manual labor. A knee-length set of breeches complete with braces, worn over a short sleeve shirt, Lederhosen are traditionally associated with Bavarian and Tyrolean culture.

For women, traditional German clothes include the Dirndl, a dress made from a bodice, pinafore and full skirt. The shirt underneath is usually low cut and made with short puffy sleeves. Today these clothes are no longer seen on farm workers but on the staff and partygoers at beer festivals.