It has been claimed that, although the Germans are highly respected, they lack humour, are complicated and walk too slowly. And Germany is a juggernaut, too strong and too powerful for most. Well, that my be.

Yet those who experience the hospitality offered by this society know more. Sure there are easier places to live but this country and the folk here have changed much over recent years.

Folks here are more easy going than first meets the eye, the place is peaceful and its citizens mostly generous.

Customs →

Some customs in Germany may appear strange to anyone who is not familiar with them. Tradition is the written or verbal passing on of customs, capabilities and also knowledge. These may be scientific and they can concern fairy tales, myths, religions or crafts.

Humour →

Germans love to laugh and despite all, sensitive humour with deeper meaning has a long tradition in Germany. Many foreigners do wonder though, whether Germans have any sense of humour. Especially considering their down-to-earthiness, regulations and pessimism.

Germans →

Germans can sometimes be hard to meet, except perhaps at work. A high percentage live in single-person households. Nearly everyone is able and normally willing to speak at least some English. A somewhat private folk, they perhaps need a nudge or a drink to do so.

 

Fines

Generally speaking, the Germans are a serious bunch of people and stick to the rules. The levels of fines that can be incurred though are surprisingly low compared to most other European countries. This appears to reflect a high so-called collective responsibility (Vernunft).

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Bribes

The culture of bribing or the offering of a tip to officials and the police is considered abusive and offensive. The corporate world is somewhat different though and heads of companies have rolled. Meanwhile, parliament refuses to implement anti-corruption legislation for its members.

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Tipping

The topic of tipping is fairly simple. It is the custom to round up prices to the nearest euro, to leave two or three euro or up to 10% if in restaurants. A tip is usually given when paying the bill but leaving it on the table before departing is known as the norm for foreigners.

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