Learn more about customs and cultures all over the world, from your fellow members of PTPI.
Name: Peter Buchler
Country of Residence: Germany
1. Describe your favorite cultural tradition?
From my point of view it is the favorite special cultural tradition (besides Christmas, Easter…) of the Oktoberfest in Germany. It is a 16-18 day festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, running from late September to the first weekend in October. In 1994 the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that it now goes until October 3 (German Unity Day). The Oktoberfest is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair, with more than five million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold ‘”Oktoberfest celebrations,” modeled after the Munich event. The festival is held in an area named Theresienweise (‘field’ or ‘meadow’), often called wiesn for short. It is located near the center of Munich. Large quantities of German beer are consumed, with almost seven million liters served throughout the festival.
2. In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing your country in the present day?
I see the present significant issues in the following chain of problems in Germany (and probably not only in Germany): as a starting situation, we have all too frequent disorganized adults (too low of an income level, often receivers of unemployment benefits, or as they are called in Germany, receivers of “Hartz 4” benefits). The children of these adults are also disorganized most because they are not educated sufficiently. Without sufficient school education or apprenticeship, the consequence is lack of perspective. Practicing violence and crime is not rare, also as a consequence. When these children become adults and then have children that again lack perspective…???
3. What do you consider to be the most important holiday in your country and how is it celebrated?
I think our most important public day is October 3, the German Unity Day, which has been celebrated since the reunification in 1990. (Previously it was June 17, the day of the uprising in the former GDR.) Our most important holidays are Christmas and Easter in this order. Christmas is the most important celebration particularly for the whole family. The two highlights are Christmas Eve (in the afternoon, it is common to go and see a church celebration, then in the evening exchange presents and sometimes sing Christmas songs), and Christmas Day (with an opulent meal in the large family circle). I often use the Easter holiday for a short vacation with the whole family.
4. Which part of your country’s history do you find most interesting?
From my point of view, the part after World War II. The situation in Germany, specifically in the former western part, was absolutely disastrous, hopeless, and without any perspective or future. An operating type of state was not in sight. Millions of refugees had to be integrated. Two men (Konrad Adenauer and Ludwig Erhard) worked to restore the West German economy from total destruction to a central position in Europe. Adenauer especially put up a truly free democratic society which had been almost unknown to the German people before, and which is now deeply integrated into modern German society. Adenauer and Erhard rebuilt the army, integrated the refugees, and created the requirements for reconciliation with France. They laid the groundwork for Germany to reenter the community of nations and to develop as a reliable member of the Western world. They are regarded as the most prominent German leaders and are acknowledged as the “Fathers of the New Germany.” It can be argued as well that their thanks to their policies, a later reunification of both German states was possible, and unified Germany has remained a solid partner in the European Union and NATO.
5. Who would you say is your country’s most significant historical figure?
For Germany it is not easy to answer this question. A “Germany” exists only since 1871, in so far that the founder of this Empire Bismark would have taken into consideration. Also, the main designer of the “new Germany” after World War II, Adenauer and Erhard, were very important and significant historical figures. However, I go on back in the history and think that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Freidrich Schiller influenced the German language very strongly and decisively and therefor they are both significant historical figures, in a positive manner! But don’t forget, in a negative manner we have a historical figure too: Adolf Hitler…
6. What languages are spoken your country? How many of those languages do you speak and which ones?
The official language is German. In a little area at the border with Poland they speak Sorbian, a Slavic language. In Germany, English is very frequently spoken as a second language; less so French and Spanish. Besides German, I speak English and je parle un peu de Francais.
7. Are there any cultural taboos?
In Germany there hardly exist any cultural taboos. Almost all circumstances are tolerated by the predominant part of the population. The only exception is connected with or NS (National Socialism; Nationalsozialismus; Nazism) past – negative remarks in connection with the Jewish faith can become a problem.
8. What is the customary form of greeting in your country?
In general: ‘good morning’, ‘good day’, ‘good evening’. But there are also regional differences like ‘moi moi‘ in North Germany or ‘gruezi‘ in Bavaria.
9. What is the most popular sport in your country?
According to a survey in the year 2010 there are the following forms of sports in Germany:
1. Football (soccer), with 6.3 million participants
2. The practice of gymnastics, with 5.1 million participants
3. Tennis, with 1.8 million participants
Further on in this order are shooting, track and field, handball, riding, Alpinist association (mountaineering), sport fishing, table tennis, skiing.
9. What is your favorite traditional meal and how do you make it?
There does not exist the traditional meal in Germany. The habit is different from region to region. In Bavaria they usually eat grilled ham hock (Schweinshaxe) or grilled fish on a stick (Steckerlfisch) or sausages along with a pretzel (Brezn). In the southwest, it is bread dumplings (Knodel). In Berlin we are familiar with the curry sausage (Currywurst) or the knuckle of pork (Eisbein) with sauerkraut. In North Germany they eat a lot of fish.
10. Do you have a favorite quote or words that you live by?
My favorite quote is “Everything gets good”. There should be a positive attitude towards life.
11. Where in the world would you most like to visit?
I have personally seen a lot of sights in the world. A visit to Mount Rushmore in the USA and the city of Jerusalem is still open for me.
12. What is your favorite word? What is your least favorite word?
It is not my favorite word, but from my point of view it is the most powerful word of our language: ‘shit’ (in German, ‘schei‘…). My least favorite word is in English: ‘thingumbob’ or ‘thingy’. The application in a sentence (mostly only spoken) is in my mind an act of helplessness.
13. What is the school system like in your country?
I finished my professional career and am a pensioner now. After A-levels, I got an apprenticeship diploma as a bank clerk (banker), then studied economics with a diploma degree at Technical University in Berlin. The professional activity started and ended in the subject of information technology.
In Germany, in principle, school (or better, the education system) is a matter of the federal states, not of the government of Germany directly. Basically it starts after Kindergarten with primary school, which generally lasts six years. It follows with six or seven years of high school, with the possible highest level being A-level. Then there are generally the following possibilities:
1. Courses of study
2. Training in a variety of apprenticeships with a diploma after two or three years. In Germany this dual system of private enterprises in connection with state schools has typically, and until now, very successful.
3. Or, unfortunately, a future with few prospects. (See answer to question #2.)
