National traditions of Germany. Habits, mentality and the way of living

German mentality is associated with pragmatism, discipline, and pedantry. Lawmaking, diligence and a logical approach to everything allow the country to constantly develop and successfully move forward in both cultural and economic spheres. The Germans are very hardworking people. They are attentive to their work, carrying it out rigorously and conscientiously. They never allow themselves to be late, neither to work, nor to a meeting with friends. The Germans love order in everything. They always follow the rules, instructions, and do not give themselves any carelessness. Thanks to this, the German quality is known to the whole world. Locals consider work to be one of the key values, along with health.

One of the most important aspects of life in Germany is bureaucratic processes. The passion for order is manifested in everything. As soon as the traveler needs to rent a car or register documents, he will have to visit a number of instances and fill a heap of papers. At the same time, Germans do everything attentively, scrupulously, because of what they may seem slow. They honor the laws sacredly. Even the height of the trimming of bushes on the streets is regulated legislatively. However, the myths about the stinginess and greed of the Germans are exaggerated. Rather, they can be called rational and practical. They logically approach budget planning and spend money wisely.

Another typical feature is emotional stinginess. Germans extremely rarely fall in emotions. Relations, especially business ones, are a subject to the strict subordination. They respectfully call colleagues or unfamiliar people herr or frau, which is mister or mistress. Germans necessarily use the titles professor and doctor. They pay a great attention to daily handshakes; both men and women shake hands. An eye contact is important too. When dealing with Germans, it is worth to look them in the eyes. A confident, consistent look speaks about respect and trust. In this country, you need to be ready for honesty and straightforwardness. Even German school children do not allow each other to cheat, because it contradicts the rules. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Germany, it is customary to go to bed early and wake up early. Children begin going for sleep after 7pm. Calling each other after 8pm is considered the sheer tactlessness. However, you can call a German at 7 am, as the locals almost never sleep at this time. Still, this rule does not apply to young people; they can spend time at parties and in clubs all night long. You can be a guest here only by invitation. Even close relatives do not visit each other without a call. During the holidays, the Germans serve soft drinks and sweets first. Only after that, come meat dishes and alcohol. The Germans are always friendly. They uually restrain emotions, which may seem somewhat insincere, but restraint is one of the main national traits.

At the same time, festivities and folk festivals are very popular in Germany. The Germans are quite religious and always celebrate Christian holidays, including Easter, Christmas, and St. Nikolaus day. Christmas is celebrated here on a grand scale. Preparations begin long before its onset. Beer festivals are famous all over the world; the most famous of them is the Munich Oktoberfest. The Germans are very tolerant to foreigners, especially those who come to work in their country. They are also very friendly to tourists. Locals will always appreciate attempts to say hello or ask something in German, taking it as a sign of respect for their language and culture.