Festivals & Traditions
Focus on Culture - Festivals & Traditions
Feste feiern, wie sie fallen.
German-speakers tend to make distinctions between their working and private lives. However, German-speaking people certainly know how to celebrate with many public festivals, as well as marking significant moments in their private lives. Not all festivals and traditions are common across D-A-CH-L, but they are all fun.
Reflections of Culture
Public festivals and holidays reflect aspects of the diverse cultural heritage of different regions. Aspects of culture are reflected in the rituals and traditions of both public and private life.
Holidays
Public holidays reflect the values and traditions of the dominant political culture, who had or have the power to declare a public holiday. They vary within regions from country to country over time.
- Holidays in German-speaking Europe - German About (English)
- Australia Day Celebrations in Hannover - Report on SBS Audio and Language
World Religions in Germany
Germany, as is Europe, is characterised by diversity. Find out about five of the religions of the world represented in Germany.
Festivals
Many public festivals are steeped in tradition, others more recent in response to changing circumstances, and many drawing on the economic benefits related to hosting the festival.
- Volksfeste in German-speaking Europe - a list of festivals with links
- Brauchtum in Deutschland - collation of selected festivals
- Karneval der Kulturen - a multicultural festival in Berlin
- Berlinale - international film awards in Berlin: Goldener Bär the top prize
- Tollwood - a twice-yearly largely free festival in Munich with a cultural program of music, theatre, performances and arts, alongside a focus on environmental protection and ecological awareness
- Brechtfestival - in Augsburg, the birthplace of German poet, playwright, and theatre director Bertolt Brecht
- Wave-Gotik-Treffen - largest Gothic Festival in the world held in Leipzig
- Eurovision - a European song contest; Lena Meyer-Landrut - performing winning song in 2010
- Karl May Festtage - honouring the German author of American Old West adventure novels with the hero Old Shatterhand, later adapted to films about Winnetou.
- Passionspiele in Oberammergau - this world famous festival draws tourists from around the world (German + English)
- Wiener Festwochen - a cultural highlight in Vienna since 1951
- Bayreuther Festspiel - honouring the music of Richard Wagner (German + English)
- Hafengeburtstag Hamburg - the biggest harbour festival in the world
- Kieler Woche - a famous regatta
- Japan-Tag in Düsseldorf - the largest population of Japanese live in Nordrhein-Westphalen
- Weihnachtsmärkte - Christmas markets originated in German-speaking Europe in the middle ages
- Weihnachten in Deutschland - VuVox presentation created by Tina Wilkinson (turn on sound, give time to load, click on hot spots)
- Weihnachten - on UK Voyage, many links, videos and information
- So feiern die Deutschen Weihnachten - video by Stern
- Ritter-Fest - remembering life in the middle ages
- Karneval - Fastnacht - Fasching on Wikipedia - and on Euromaxx - Carnival
- Walpurgisnacht - night of the witches in the Harz mountains
- Jahrmarkt - Kirmes - an annual fair dating back to the middle ages
- Schützenfest - a tradition since the middle ages
- Oktoberfest - another tourist favourite held in September
- Internationale Museumstag - 6500 Museums in Germany alone
Traditions
Culture is also reflected in routines, rituals and pastimes.
- Rituale und Feste (German - an archived site, but still good)
- Knigge - Suggested etiquette for life in Germany, may not apply to all
- Geburtstag feiren - birthdays are special
- New Year in Germany and Austria - traditions
- Dinner for One - a New Year staple
- Totensonntag - a religious holiday protected in all German states except Hamburg
- Einschulung - starting out in formal education is given great fanfare
- Eine Schultüte basteln - give to stuents to celebrate
- Basteln - craft, a pastime for all seasons
- Erzgebirgischer Holzarbeit - traditional woodcraft
- Litfaßsäule - origin of the advertising column
- Schrebergarten - allotment gardens
- Marktplatz - a middle ages market tradition for local produce continuing today
- Flohmarkt - trash and treaure (flea) market
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Clubs - Deutsche-Welle
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Knighthood - Deutsche-Welle
- Euromaxx The Truth about Germany: Beer - Deutsche-Welle
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Tradition - Deutsche-Welle
Culinary Traditions
The traditional eating habits of German-speakers are influenced over time by migration, globablization and more recently - climate change.
- Die deutschsprachigen Länder - interactive map on the Hueber website beginning with food and leading to much more
- Eβgewohnheiten in Deutschland - eating habits of Germans (and other topics)
- Was wir essen - information, tips and links for Germany
- Stammtisch - reserved for the regulars
- Kaffee und Kuchen - a cultural tradition - Opernpalais - Confiserie Rottenhöfer
- Kaffee und Kuchen - historical context explained on the German Missions US website
- Wiener Kaffeekultur (German + English) - Café Wien - Demel
- Kuchen Rezepte - cakes recipes number over a thousand
- German cakes in Melbourne - an historical perspective
- Marzipan – Lübeck
- Spargelzeit - asparagus season is a popular time of year
- Wachauer Marille - apricot season in Austria
- Schoko-Osterhasen - video about how they are made
- Berliner - doughnut
- Brezel - pretzels
- Currywurst - a Berlin favourite
- Döner kebab - a favourite fast food
- Zwischenmahlzeit - explanations of the term in D-A-CH-L
- Germany Food - Information and recipes on SBS Food website
Fact or Fiction?
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Kraut
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Bread
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: German Cuisine
- Euromaxx: The Truth about Germany: Organic Trend
The World of Rituals
- DFG Project: Rituals - investigated the meaning of rituals in a particular culture.
Freizeit Parks
Fun parks are major attractions for tourists as well as local German-speaking communities
- Europa Park - Germany's largest fun park
- Wiener Prater - Austria's famous fun park with the historical Wiener Riesenrad
- Freizeit Parks - list and links for parks in Europe
Fuβball-Fieber
Football (soccer) is described as the world game and is a major part of the lives of German-speakers in Europe.
- Bundesliga - National German football league
- Bundesliga - National Austrian football league
- Schweizerischer Fuβball Verband - Switzerland league
- FIFA World Cup - world soccer competition for men and women
- Schland o Schland - World Cup 2010 video clip of official song by Uwe Lena
- Fuβball ist immer noch wichtig - Fettes Brot song about the tradition of football
- Euromaxx: The truth about Germany: Football - Deutsche Welle
Autos
German-speaking countries host Grand Prix events for the Formula1 competitions
Freizeit Parks
Theme parks are major attractions for and visitors as well as German-speaking communities
- Europa Park - Germany's largest fun park
- Wiener Prater - Austria's famous fun park with the historical Wiener Riesenrad
- Freizeit Parks - list and links for parks in Europe
Listings of Events
- whatsonwhen - Germany
- whatsonwhen - Austria
- whatsonwhen - Switzerland
First Australians