Every country has its own calendar of unique and interesting holidays, which are not characteristic of other states. Sometimes the names of the celebration coincide, but the traditions and customs of their celebration do not coincide. Germany also has a lot of exciting and interesting events, which you should definitely know about if you want to visit the country. Each month has its own celebrations, the analogues of which cannot be found anywhere, for example:
- September is famous for such a celebration as Oktoberfest;
- In December, Christmas markets are held throughout the country;
- In February, a unique Carnival (Fasching) is held;
- The Berlin International Festival invites everyone in February;
- If you have plans to come to the country in June, then you should definitely visit Kiel Week.
Each of the events noted is unique and requires special attention, so it is worth considering them more carefully.
With the exception of ski resorts, this month there is a lull in tourism, and the country's residents are basically left to their own devices. During this period, when cold and short days are outside, it is best to simply get acquainted with the sights, visit museums and churches.
Neuschwanstein Castle in winter time, Bavaria, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License)
Mountain Madness (Berg Wahnsinn)
But, as noted, even in January there are a lot of people coming to the ski resorts, of which there are a lot. Those who prefer active holidays should definitely grab their skis and go on an exciting journey along the mountain slopes, ranging from luxurious options (Garmisch-Partenkirchen) to tranquil family-type resorts (Bavarian Forest). Regardless of the level of preparation, everyone will be able to find a route according to their abilities.
February
The German carnival, of course, cannot be compared with the celebration in Rio, but it is no less hot here. The ski resorts are simply crowded during this period, as there are school holidays around. Therefore, if you want to visit them, you should take care of booking accommodation in advance.
Filmfestival in Berlin
The event, which is held in February in Berlin, is considered one of the most prestigious film festivals in Europe. This is a unique two weeks for the country, during which the brightest and most successful representatives of cinema walk along the red carpet, from beginning stars to seasoned directors and film critics.
Carnival (Fasching)
The celebration of this event falls on the eve of Lent. People try to spend these days as much fun as possible, so throughout the country costumed performances and processions are organized right on the streets of cities and villages. The largest celebrations are held in Mainz, Rhine, Cologne and Düsseldorf. But for unique events with special traditions, it is better to go to the Black Forest or Munich.
March
Spring has arrived and the days are gradually getting longer and longer. The smell of spring is already in the air. Even the menus at coastal restaurants are showing a hint of spring, as fresh herring begins to appear and food prepared with wild garlic (Barlauch) becomes incredibly tasty and, naturally, popular.
Neighborhood of Brandenburg, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) April
Celebrating Easter in Germany is a magical sacrament that cannot be avoided even by those who have not believed in it for a long time. Easter bunnies. Spring is already appearing in all its glory, because its real personification appears - the flowering of white asparagus. Residents go crazy for this plant.
Walpurgisnacht (Walpurgisnacht)
Special attention should be paid to the pagan celebration - the witches festival, which is held on April 30 in the villages of Harz. This is a real spring revival for this area, as both adults and young people dress up as witches and warlocks and take to the streets to sing and dance in the festive sacrament.
Walpurgisnacht in Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Maifest
April 30 also marks the end of winter, which is celebrated on this day. An important tradition This activity is the cutting of the maypole (Maibaun). Then it is carefully painted, covered with carvings and various decorations. After this, the real party begins with baking, dancing and delicious treats.
May
The warmest and most welcoming month of spring, when in every courtyard and street cafe you can already hear the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversations. Beer houses are especially busy at this time. It is during this period that a huge number of holidays are celebrated in Germany, which for Germans become real mini-vacations, which naturally leads to a large number of traffic jams.
Dresden at night, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Carnival of Cultures
It is in May that a huge number of Berlin residents celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity of parties and exotic foods. The holidays are celebrated with a lot of dancing, magnificently dressed dancers, DJs, and musicians with colorful performances. This whole public is constantly scurrying around the streets of the city, attracting everyone's attention.
Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit)
The Germans made Labor Day in their country public holiday, which is celebrated almost throughout Germany. Many countries organize ceremonial marches in support of workers' rights. And in Berlin, recently, only a large street fair has begun to be held on this day.
Mother's Day (Muttertag)
On the second Sunday in May, mothers are celebrated throughout Germany. On the eve of this holiday, florists and production companies have very busy days. greeting cards and confectioners, whose products are sold in huge quantities. If you want to celebrate a holiday in some restaurant, then you should take care of booking a table in advance.
Festival "Wave-Gotik-Treffen"
This festival has rightfully received the title of the most massive Goth festival, which is held in Leipzig. During this period, which also celebrates Trinity/Pentecost, the city is painted in somber dark colors as thousands of representatives of the Gothic movement gather here.
June
As summer approaches, the pace and frequency of festivals in Germany increases. During this period, gourmets can rejoice at the appearance of a large assortment of fresh products on the market. As the day of the solar equinox approaches, the intensity of holidays and celebrations increases in the northern part of the country.
Garden in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Father's Day (Vatertag)
Many people call this holiday Father's Day, and most call it Men's Day (Mannertag) and is celebrated in the first month of summer. In fact, this day becomes a good excuse for men for their wives to have a good drink in the company of friends. Always a celebration men's day coincides with the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
African Festival (Afrikanische Festival)
Würzburg hosts the largest festival of African culture and music in terms of scale and significance (www.africafestival.org). It stands out for its unique concerts and fairs, which attract more than 100 thousand people.
Kiel Week (Kieler Woche)
Every year a huge number of tourists gather on the Baltic Sea coast, because at this time the city of Kiel hosts a unique sailing festival in the world, which is distinguished by the presence of hundreds of sailing ships, parades of various ships, historical ships, as well as great and unbridled fun.
Christopher Street Day
A unique festival where a huge number of homosexuals gather, even more than at other gay pride parades in Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. But despite your sexual beliefs and orientation, it is still worth visiting such a festivities, because a huge number of interesting events are held here.
July
With the onset of summer begins the most hot time for tourists and residents, since this is the period of vacations and trips, because schoolchildren are already on vacation. But it is worth remembering that at this time, regardless of the chosen vacation spot, you should take care of booking a hotel or other accommodation options. The Baltic and Mediterranean seas are already completely ready to accept everyone who wants to swim.
Samba Festival
In July, Coburg invites everyone to a revelry of songs and dances, because about 100 different groups gather here, and the number of performers on stage is more than three thousand from a dozen countries. The number of spectators sometimes exceeds 20 thousand.
Music Festival of Schleswing-Holstein (Musikfestival Shclezvig-Holstein)
Another vibrant German event, which takes place from July to August in many northern states. Castles, churches and farms offer unique and very interesting concerts to everyone.
August
August is considered the hottest month for Germany, but the sultry heat gradually subsides after thunderstorms in the afternoon. This is a wonderful season for forest lovers – Pfifferlinge. At this time, many go for fresh berries and chanterelles, some look for them in the forests themselves, while others go to the market to buy the treasured delicacy.
Festival of Shooters (Festival Sportschutzer)
Most German men prefer to spend their leisure time visiting shooting clubs to demonstrate their marksmanship skills at the shooting festival, which is held in August. The oldest is held in Düsseldorf, and the largest is in Hannover.
Wine Festival (Weinfest)
August is also significant for the Germans with the ripening of grapes. When the grapes are ripe and full of juice, the festival period begins. This is a huge number of tastings, processions, costumed performances, fireworks. Among the largest events of this kind, Durkheimer Wurstmarkt (www.duerkheimer-wurstmarkt.de) should be highlighted.
Kinderzehe
A unique 10-day German children's festival (www.kinderzeche.de) held in Dinkelbühl, through which the Romantic Road runs. The festival is unique not only for the holding of a huge number of children's events, performances and competitions, but also for the participation of children in the restoration of historical monuments.
Festival of Opera Music of Richard Wagner (Festival der Opernmusik von Richard Wagner)
Even the most elite of the German upper classes come to the small town of Bayreuth to listen to the epic works of operatic nature created by Wagner. All concerts are held in a specially built hall. Not every resident can get here, but some still manage to get the coveted tickets.
September
This month is quite attractive not only for residents, but also for tourists. On such days it is not too hot, but also quite sunny. Even though the tourist season in Germany is coming to an end, life is in full swing thanks to a huge number of wine festivals. By the end of the month, nature is renewed, the trees shimmer with a riot of colors.
Berlin Marathon
Since 1977, in September, a running marathon has been held on the streets of the capital, in which everyone takes part, and their number sometimes exceeds 50 thousand runners. During this event, about 9 world records were set during its existence.
Harvest Festival (Erntefest)
In provincial towns and large villages, colorful celebrations are held to celebrate the harvest. Festive processions (Erntedankzug) are organized with dressing up in national costumes.
Oktoberfest
A unique festival organized for all beer lovers in Munich (www.oktoberfest.de).
Folk festivals, Bavaria, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) October
Autumn is in full swing, as evidenced by a significant reduction in day length, as well as regular cold snaps and heavy rains. It is during this period that the season of trade fairs is in full swing, where you can buy a lot at attractive prices. The largest events are held in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and other large cities. This month there is a significant reduction in the work of travel agencies, museums and attractions, some of them are closed during the winter.
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse)
Frankfurt hosts the largest book fair, which brings together more than 7,300 bibliophiles from 100 countries.
November
At its core, November in Germany is considered a very dreary month; residents try not to leave their cozy, warm homes without any extra reason. But there are also advantages to this calm, because in popular tourist places there are no long queues or crowds of people. It is also worth noting that in November there are a huge number of theater and opera productions. But when attending such events, you should bring warm clothes, umbrellas or raincoats.
St. Martin's Day (Der Tag des Heiligen Martin)
On November 10-11, a unique festival is held, which is dedicated to the modest and generous Saint Martin, who lived in the 4th century. A festive procession with torches marches through the entire city, and the townspeople act out famous scenes from the life of a great man, for example, when St. Martin cut his coat to give half of it to a poor man. The celebration is accompanied by a luxurious feast, which certainly includes roast goose.
Beer barrels during celebration, Munich, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) December
Thanks to the four weeks of Advent, winter evenings and days become brighter and lighter. During this time, Christmas markets are held throughout the country, all streets and houses are decorated with colorful lights, homemade Christmas cookies are baked and Advent-specific events are held. Ski resorts at this time are already completely covered with snow.
Christmas market in Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag)
This unique night from December 5 to 6 is the most awaited for children. They leave their shoes outside the door in the hope that St. Nicholas will fill them with gifts and sweets. And those who behaved badly all year and did not listen to their parents, instead of gifts, may find branches in their shoes, which are left by St. Nicholas' assistant Knecht Ruprecht.
Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmarkt)
German Christmas markets always attract visitors with huge amounts of fragrant gingerbread, mulled wine and shimmering decorations. These are all integral attributes of the Christmas holidays, which begin on December 24th. The Christmas markets in Nuremberg are the most popular and famous.
Christmas market in Dresden, Germany (Photo above © pxhere.com / CC0 Public Domain License) Saint Sylvester's Day (Tag Des Heiligen Sylvester)
In Germany, New Year's Eve is called St. Sylvester's Day. The Pope, in whose honor the celebration is held, lived back in the 4th century. Thanks to his efforts, Christianity was adopted as the official religion in the country. New Year throughout the country it is celebrated with the launch of a huge number of fireworks, which are launched not only by professionals during the holidays, but also by amateur pyromaniacs.
Watch a video about Christmas in Germany at the link below:
(Photo above © paulinasahz /pixabay.com/ Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
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study of historical events, analysis of archival data on holidays of German origin, survey of families of Russian Germans.
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Introduction.
History of German holidays.
Origin and meaning of German holidays.
Distribution of German holidays in the territory of the NPR in the village of Kusak.
Conclusion.
Literature.
Introduction
Where are my roots? Who are my ancestors? Sooner or later, every person asks himself these questions. Finding answers to them is not always easy.
Someone unknown said: “If a people is wise, they collect, preserve and pass on their history as an inheritance to future generations.” Knowing the past of your people is very important. Knowing your ancestry gives you a sense of reliability and confidence.
The life of my ancestors is filled with special historical experiences; their history was written with blood and tears. My ancestors belonged to the plattdeutschen menoniten. The word “Mennonites” serves to designate a religion, but in history it so happened that this word was used to describe an entire people who speak the German dialect “Plautdietsch”. The roots of the Mennonites go back to the distant past - to the 16th century. In the first half of the 16th century, many Mennonites from Holland and Northern Germany, including my distant ancestors, fleeing persecution for their faith, found refuge in West Prussia, many in the Danzig area. In the second half of the 18th century, the well-being and acquired way of life of the Mennonites again became threatened. The manifesto of Catherine II of 1763 served as a good incentive for the mass resettlement of Mennonites to Russia. In the spring of 1789, the first batch of Mennonites arrived on the northern coast of the Black Sea. They founded Khortitsa or Old Colony. However, after decades of quiet life on Russian soil, the situation changes dramatically - in 1874 the government abolished the traditional privilege. Thousands of Mennonites flocked to seek their happiness in the south of Western Siberia (then Altai district of Tomsk province).
And in Siberia, the Mennonites retained their national identity: they jealously monitored the preservation of their traditions, characteristics, adhered to their faith, spoke their dialect - Platdeutsch,celebrated folk and religious rites and holidays in a special way -Christmas, Easter, Trinity, Harvest Festival and others.
Kusak is my home village. As Goethe said in his “Faust”: “Two souls live, alas, in my chest” - our ancestors doomed us to such duality of soul when they decided centuries ago to turn their feet in the direction of the vast expanses of Russia. Our family knows the history of Russian Germans, and German traditions have been preserved. My mother is German, and my father is Russian. But despite this, I am aware of my German roots and I want to learn more about the history of the Germans of Russia, about my German ancestors. I happily immersed myself in studying the German language, traditions, and rituals. This year I decided to try my hand at research activities, dedicated to Russian Germans. My work is devoted to the history of the origin of German holidays and their meaning.
The purpose of the work is explore the origins of German holidays and find out their meaning.
Tasks:
get acquainted with the history of the origin of German holidays;
find out the origin and meaning of the holidays of modern Germans;
identify the extent of distribution of German holidays;
consider a family tree of a kind, on the subject of studying the meaning of holidays in the Nastenko family.
Research methods:study of historical events, analysis of archival data on holidays of German origin, survey of families of Russian Germans.
Object of studyThe Nastenko family, living in the village of Kusak, NPR, appeared.
Relevance : The topic is especially relevant today, since a rapid revival of folk ritual traditions is taking place in Germany and Russia.
History of German holidays
Traditional calendar holidays Since ancient times, they have played a major role in the life of the Germans. They are closely related to the economic activities of people. Since ancient times, the main occupations of the Germans were agriculture and cattle breeding, which determined the agrarian-pastoral nature of their holiday calendar, which reflected the Germans’ views on nature and attempts to magically influence it. Holiday calendar Germans reflects their complex ethnic history, the process of interaction between tribal unions of Alemanni, Bavarians, Franks, Thuringians, Saxons, and Westphalians.
In our work we will consider one autumn holiday(Harvest Festival) and two spring holidays (Easter and Trinity) among the Germans. Spring has always been an important time for peasants - the beginning of the agricultural year, on the results of which the well-being of each family depended.
The ancient Germans, who switched to sedentism and arable agriculture and were faced with the influence of Roman culture, did not generally understand the length of the year. The Germans, like other peoples of the northern latitudes, divided the year into two periods - winter and summer. The dividing line between winter and summer was the equinox. Subsequently, the Germans began to divide the year into winter, summer and spring, and autumn appeared with them later, with the development of gardening and viticulture. Under the influence of the Julian calendar, four seasons were introduced. It should also not be forgotten that the composition of the Germans itself was heterogeneous, and this was reflected in the calendar system.
Origin and meaning of German holidays
All German holidays can be divided into several groups according to their origin and significance. There is no constant sequence of dates in the autumn and spring calendar cycle, and exact dates More than half of the holidays cannot be named. Therefore, the only criterion in determining the rituals related to autumn, early spring, mid-spring and late spring is the cyclical nature of agricultural work.
The Harvest Festival (Erntedankfest) or Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in October. In many places it is customary to illuminate cereals, fruits and flowers on Sunday after mass. The altar is decorated with ears of corn and flowers, and a wreath of ears of grain is hung above the pulpit. After visiting the church, dancing and food with the obligatory beer begin. The world's largest beer festival takes place on this day in Munich. On this day, agricultural exhibitions, horse races, festive target shooting, the coronation of the King of Shooters, and a large fireworks display are organized.
This main autumn holiday among the Germans of Western Siberia was usually celebrated in late October - early November. The church or meeting house was decorated the best fruits new harvest, wreaths of wheat ears. These harvest or reaping wreaths were made in advance from the ears of the last sheaf.
The spring rituals of the Germans are the most vibrant of the entire annual cycle, which makes its consideration especially interesting.
Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag), or Easter itself (Ostern), depends on the beginning of spring and on the full moon: it is celebrated annually on the Sunday after the first full moon after the beginning of spring, after the forty-day period of Lent. It is possible that the name "Ostern" comes from the German goddess of spring Ostera, in whose honor a spring festival was held annually, but there are other assumptions. It is the Lord's day, for on Sunday the women discovered that Christ's tomb was empty. The Easter egg (Osterei) in the Christian sense is a symbol of the Resurrection; the shell means the grave from which a living creature emerges. The Easter Bunny (Osterhase) has been bringing eggs to children since the 16th century, although previously it was a chicken in Holstein and Saxony, a stork in Alsace, a fox in Hesse, and a cuckoo in Switzerland. The hare is the most prolific among all the animals of meadows and forests and is part of the retinue of the German goddess of the earth Golda, during her night processions she lights her path with candles.
All Russian Germans painted eggs on Saturday and prepared festive Easter dishes. For the Germans of Siberia, the Easter dinner began by cutting an egg into as many pieces as there were members in the family, and for family well-being, everyone had to eat a piece.
Red Hill, or Fomino Sunday (Weiβer Sonntag) – last sunday Easter week is the day of first communion, or confirmation: the houses of children and teenagers were festively decorated with fresh greenery and boxwood, and the houses of their godfathers and mothers were framed with greenery. After the service, the pastor, together with those who had been confirmed, went to the cemetery, where they planted a fruit tree together - a symbol of how their strengthened faith should grow and develop.
In the German villages of Western Siberia, visiting the cemetery on this day was considered mandatory for all residents. Among the Russian Germans, confirmation in some of the colonies was timed to coincide with Trinity: on the last Friday before Trinity, an exam was held in the presence of the entire community, and on Saturday, confirmants decorate the prayer hall with flowers and greenery, girls weave wreaths and garlands, and boys hang them. On Sunday, in the morning, confirmants sprinkle greenery on the road from the church warden’s house to the church, girls dress in white dresses, and boys in dark suits, then the children walk with the pastor to the church through the entire village. And when they appear singing in the crowded prayer hall, everyone present stands up.
Trinity (Pfingsten) and Spiritual Day (Pfingstmontag) are holidays celebrating spring and the beginning of summer, occur at the end of May - beginning of June, celebrated on Sunday and the following Monday on the 50th - 51st days after Easter. During these holidays, the maypole is brought from the forest and the church and houses are decorated with bouquets of branches and spring flowers. The Maypole was called Pfingststange, Pfingstbaum, it was placed in the square and was 20-30 m high, it was decorated with colored bows, ribbons, pieces of sausage, pies, silk scarves, gilded, painted or just white eggs, and the top could be decorated with a wreath of birch branches .
The Germans of Siberia, on the eve of Trinity, always put things in order in the house and in the yard. Before lunch, horse racing was held, in which young unmarried guys took part. On Trinity, one child dressed up as the Trinity bull, and all the children went to the neighbors together. Or one girl was dressed up as the “Trinity Bride” (Pfingstbraut), decorated with flowers and greenery - primroses, wormwood, cloves - and all the children went from house to house singing, collecting pies, lard, eggs and baked fruits, which they ate in the evening all together. IN holidays they preferred all kinds of dough products; they also ate whey, egg cheese and donuts. There was a custom to eat roast bull meat.
The overall purpose of the holidays is to ensure the health, happiness and well-being of people through certain actions. The main theme of the rituals - the birth of a new life - continues from month to month. Each holiday consists of elements of magical actions and is multi-component in its structure, and each custom or rite includes symbolic or realistic aspects, demonism and magic. It should be noted that it was the village that was conservative folk traditions. It is also important that a reflection of the complex ethnic history of the Germans is the often non-identity of the same ritual in different lands.
Distribution of German holidays in the territory of the NPR in the village of Kusak
The German national region was first formed in Altai in 1927. But it did not last long then. In 1937 it was liquidated. And the area was restored within its former boundaries only in 1991. From that moment on, its heyday began. Now just over 20 thousand people live in the area. About 30 percent of the population is German.
The village of Kusak was founded in 1909 by settlers from the Kherson and Tauride provinces and from Sevastopol. Initially the village was called Alexanderkron. The village received the name “Kusak” after the name of the Kazakh who lived here before the arrival of the Germans. The life and history of my family are closely connected with the village of Kusak. After all, my great-grandmother was born and lived here for 75 years, my great-grandfather was exiled here from the Volga as a teenager, my grandmother and mother were born and live here to this day. And for each of us, Kusak is our small Motherland!
Russian Germans are characterized by a number of unique national traits: high religiosity, strict adherence to Christian commandments, organization, discipline, exceptional hard work, love of order, a developed sense of being the owner of their property, respectful attitude towards the property of their neighbor and much more. For many decades they were able to preserve their national identity, traditions and customs of their old homeland.
The most popular German holidays in the village of Kusak.
Analyzing the situation of residence of Russian Germans on the territory of the NPR, the exact percentage of the German population was revealed - 31.8%, as well as the most popular holidays of Russian Germans.
Belonging to Russian Germans is significant for me. Maybe that's whyLiving in the Russian environment and being interested in my native language, I decided to learn the history of my people, determining the origin and meaning of German holidays in the families of Russian Germans and in particular my own.
Conclusion
I am convinced that every person should know the history of his country, his people, his Malaya Rodina and your family. And with this work we wanted to show that modern youth are not indifferent to the history of their ancestors, because this history is worthy of respect and memory.
Despite the fact that my ancestors went through difficult life trials, they managed to preserve their language, their faith, their traditions and holidays over the centuries, which we must preserve and pass on to future generations. I am grateful to my grandmother and mother for the fact that German is spoken in our family, German dishes are prepared, German holidays are celebrated, and I know the history of my family.
Literature
Bryukhnova E.A. “Calendar rituals among the Germans in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Spring cycle". M.: Gothic, 2000.
German A. A., Ilarionova T. S., Pleve R. “History of the Germans of Russia.” Study guide. M. "MSNK-press", 2005.
Kun N.A.“ Legends and myths Ancient Greece" M.AST, Astrel, 2006.
Chernova T.N. "Russian Germans. Domestic bibliography 1991-2000." M., 2001.
Shishkina-Fisher E.M. “German folk calendar rituals, customs, dances and songs. Practical guide for Russian Germans." - 2nd ed. M.: Gothic, 2000.
Shishkina-Fisher E.M. “German folk calendar rituals, dances and songs in Germany and Russia: A practical guide for Russian Germans.” - 3rd ed., revised. and additional - M.: JSC "MSNK"; "Gothic", 2002.
Manthey, Christine; Manthey, Fred. “Festliche Hoehepunkte im deutschen Jahreskreis (Handreich fuer die Praxis)”. M., 1998.
Municipal educational institution "Insarskaya secondary secondary school No. 2"
Regional scientific and practical conference
Semyonova Tatyana
9th grade student
Supervisor:
Tsarapkina Elena Ivanovna
German teacher
Insar 2009
I . Introduction……………………………………………………..3-4
II . Geographical location of Germany………………….. 5-8
III . Customs and habits of the Germans…………………………… 9-12
IV . Traditions of Germany…………………………………13-14
V . German holidays (Christmas, Easter)……………….. 15-19
VI . Conclusions and recommendations……………………………….... 20
VII .Bibliography…………………………….. 21
Introduction
Subject: Traditions and customs in the life of the population of Germany.
Target: To form a tolerant attitude, respect for the customs and traditions of different peoples, their art and culture.
Object of study: Customs, traditions, habits, holidays of Germany.
Subject of research: The influence of customs and traditions on the current state of German culture.
Relevance: When studying the culture of a country, it is necessary first of all to study its customs and traditions. And I want to say that the life of all countries is full
traditions and customs. Some of them are very beautiful, colorful and picturesque and seem to be quite intelligent; others are curious, sometimes funny, sometimes they exist only to attract tourists. Many traditions appeared a long time ago and passed many centuries, others appeared relatively recently. The state of Germany is of great interest for study; its people survived many wars and divisions, but managed to preserve their originality and uniqueness in their culture. Thanks to the life experience accumulated by many generations of Germans, the German people were able to achieve a high standard of living and well-being, therefore the study of their culture is of great interest to the modern generation.
Hypothesis: If we do not study the customs and traditions of the German people, then our knowledge of German culture will be insufficient.
Research objectives:
1.Show the originality and value of the customs and traditions of Germany.
2. Study additional literature about Germany.
3.Give an idea of the influence of customs and traditions on the current state of German culture.
4. Fostering a respectful attitude towards the people and traditions of the language being studied.
5.Increase motivation for learning a foreign language
8.Teach to respect and understand the culture of other countries.
Research methods:
a) Theoretical:
1. Analysis of literature on German culture.
2. Generalization of the research results.
b) Empirical:
1. Collection and systematization of material about the customs and traditions of Germany.
Research base: Germany
Duration of the study: 2.09.08 – 30.03.09
Practical significance: Studying the culture of the German people to familiarize Russian schoolchildren with it.
Geographical location of Germany
Germany, a country in Central Europe, is bordered to the north by Denmark, to the west by the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, to the south by Switzerland and Austria, to the southeast by the Czech Republic and to the east by Poland. From the North, the territory is washed by the waters of the North and Baltic Seas.
There are three natural regions on the territory of the country: coastal plains in the North (North German Lowlands), a complex combination of hills and low ancient mountains (Harz, Black Forest, Thuringian Forest, etc.) in the central part and the Bavarian Plateau in the far south, bordering the Alpine ridges. Near the Austrian border is the highest mountain in the country, Zugspitze (2963m). In the south there are several large lakes (the largest is
Constance, on the border with Austria and Switzerland), in the north of the country there are many small lakes of glacial origin. The main rivers are the Rhine and Danube. About 1/3 of the territory, mainly in the south, is covered with forests.
Symbols of Germany, flag, coat of arms and anthem of Germany
Flag of Germany- tricolor with black, red, gold horizontal stripes.
For the first time, these three colors became a symbol of the national liberation struggle of the German people in 1813. This is exactly how the uniform of the student freedom corps, which opposed Napoleon's army, was painted. German soldiers wore black uniforms with red sleeves and gold buttons. Later, these colors were used on the banners of student and democratic organizations and became a symbol of the 1848 revolution.
In the Second Reich 1871-1918, the color of the flag was changed to black, white and red, but after the defeat in the First World War, the Weimar Republic chose a black, red and gold flag as the state flag on August 11, 1919.
In the Third Reich the flag was changed again. The national flag became the NSDAP flag (red with a white circle and a black swastika) in a slightly modified form. After the war, the victors banned all types of German national flags, and Germany was left without a flag.
In 1949, the black-red-gold flag of the 1919 model was chosen as the state and national flag of the Federal Republic of Germany. The black color symbolizes the dark years of reaction, the red color symbolizes the blood of patriots shed in the struggle for freedom, and the golden color symbolizes the sun of freedom.
State emblem Germany is depicted as a shield yellow, on which is a black single-headed eagle with bloody paws. Eagle on
The coat of arms of Germany symbolizes the strength and power of this state.
This coat of arms is very ancient, serving as an emblem of the power of the German kings. The first image of an eagle on a shield can be seen on silver coins
King Frederick Barbarossa (late 12th century). Since the 14th century, first the paws, and then the beak and tongue of the eagle became red.
Melody anthemwrote by Franz Joseph Haydn. It was based on the old Austrian royal anthem, which was first performed on 12
February 1797. Words by August Heinrich Hoffman van Falersleben (1841). The anthem was adopted in 1922 by the first President of the German Republic, Friedrich Ebert.
Text of the German anthem with lyrics by Fallersleben1.
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
über alles in der Welt,
wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
brüderlich zusammenhält.
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,
von der Etsch bis an den Belt,
|: Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
über alles in der Welt!
2.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang
sollen in der Welt behalten
ihren alten schönen Klang,
uns zu edler Tat begeistern
unser ganzes Leben lang. -
|: Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang!
3. (
ActuallymodernnationalhymnGermany)
für das deutsche Vaterland!
Danach lasst uns alle streben
brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
sind des Glückes Unterpfand;
|: blüh" im Glanze dieses Glückes,
blühe, deutsches Vaterland.
Literal translation of the German anthem
1.
above all else in the world,
if it's for protection
always sticks together like brothers!
From the Meuse to the Neman,
from Adige to Belta.
Germany, Germany, above all,
above all else in the world!
2.
German wine and German songs,
must keep in peace
your old good reputation,
Throughout our lives, inspire us to nobility.
German women, German loyalty,
German wine and German songs!
3.
Unity and law and freedom
for the German fatherland!
Let's all strive for this
brotherly, with heart and hand!
Unity and law and freedom
- the key to happiness.
Thrive in the splendor of this happiness,
prosper the German fatherland!
Customs and habits of the Germans
In the life of any nation, traditions play an important role. Studying the customs and traditions of the German people, I saw with what respect the Germans keep traditions. Life in Germany begins with sunrise and ends with sunset. Young children are usually put to bed at 19.00 after the Sandmann transmission (German equivalent of " Good night, kids!"). And the habit of going to bed early, as a rule, lasts for life. It is not customary here to call in the evening after 9 o'clock. But in the morning at 7 - 8 o'clock (on a weekday) this is quite appropriate. With the exception of weekends. Do not call before 10 o'clock these days.
Germans are extremely careful about their homes. First, parents decorate their children’s rooms themselves, doing a lot of it with their own hands, and then teach their kids how to do it. After all, home is the only place where you can relax and where you really want to feel comfortable.
As a rule, young parents live separately, and children get used to a certain parental model of upbringing.
Young parents, of course, are very sensitive to their children, but overprotectiveness they don't sin. It is very common to carry a child in a scarf tied around himself, or in a “kangaroo pouch”. The baby, who seems to have just been brought home from the hospital, is sleeping, and the mother is calmly strolling through the supermarket - this is a common picture in Germany. From birth, a child is taught that his mother has other things to do, so he must learn to cope with difficulties himself.
In Germany it is not customary to leave a child in the care of grandparents, and if this happens, it is quite natural to offer them a certain amount.
Many Germans move their children away as soon as they turn 14, and the children live separately from then on. How exactly they live – they may not even be interested (although this is individual, but this will not surprise anyone). If children want to visit their parents, they may be assigned a certain hour, before which it is not customary to come. They may not even be allowed into the house, and it is not customary to be offended by this. But parents, when they grow old, usually do not live with their children. Living out their lives separately, they often, if they have enough money, move to (in our opinion) a nursing home, where they can be supported, accepting their pension in exchange. “Pleasure” is not cheap, and it happens that due to the rise in cost of living, the pension begins to be in short supply with all the ensuing consequences.
Unlike the Russians, the German people are very economical and prudent. It is not customary to talk about finances in any context; it is a personal matter for everyone. Children are given very little pocket money and are taught to save if they want to buy something serious.
From the very beginning of their working career, they begin to save money for old age. As much as possible. Therefore, if no surprises happen, in addition to the regular pension, in old age they also have a special one, accumulated over their entire life. This is often quite a lot, and elderly and very elderly people travel all over the world, allowing themselves many things that they may have denied themselves all their lives.
The love of travel is in the blood of the Germans. If we assume that the total number of foreign tourists in the world will be summed up, then the Germans will probably be given first place. They prefer to visit all kinds of exotic countries. You can often meet a German traveling alone in some remote outback of China, so dense that of all the blessings of civilization, you can hardly find an old tractor there.
Germans tend to take photographs and write detailed accounts of their travels. Subsequently, they are treated to guests at cozy parties in their native Germany.
On the contrary, developed countries, the United States of America, for example, or France, are not very attractive to romantic but practical Germans - it is uninteresting and expensive to travel there. However, a purely German pilgrimage to Paris and EuroDisneyland looks like a two- or three-day trip by bus. It is very common in Germany to search for fellow travelers traveling in the same direction. The special agency "Mitfartsentrale" will put you in touch with motorists for a reasonable fee, and vice versa, if you have a car, it will find fellow travelers who will pay part of the cost of gasoline. Punctuality and order in everything - distinguishing feature German people. “You can’t be late,” is instilled in you from early childhood. In Germany, it is not customary to wait even 5 minutes, let alone the “gentlemanly” fifteen that are customary in Russia.
The punctuality of the Germans is such that in a small town (like one of ours near Moscow), where the streets pass well if there is one car in 10 minutes, you will not be allowed to cross the street at a red light.
On a deserted street, disciplined Germans will stand at the crossing and wait for the green light. And they will be very surprised when our Muscovites, out of habit, go as they please.
And on a bicycle - their favorite means of transportation through the streets of small towns - they will ride along specially made paths, and nothing else. In addition to our sidewalks and pavements, there are everywhere paved with neat tiles (often colored) paths between the sidewalk and the pavement. You can ONLY ride a bike on them, and not walk at all. Of course, even if there are no bicycles around at a distance of several kilometers. They are such pedants.
Germans are quite private people, so when talking you should try not to get too close to them, so as not to physically intrude into the so-called private zone. And although they are considered a nation restrained in emotions, when they meet, even with not very close friends, they may well begin to hug and even kiss.
Also in Germany they don’t like anything that disrupts the usual flow of life. An unplanned visit is considered unacceptable. It is quite possible not to give tea to a guest, for example: “We didn’t plan that.” From birth, small children are given a Terminkalender (diary), where all planned visits are recorded, and the child, having mastered literacy, gets used to building his life according to a schedule.
It is often said that the Germans do not have late parties. This is not the case with the younger generation. Inviting guests at 8 - 9 pm is considered quite normal.
The Germans are characterized by attentiveness and delicacy. From your German friends you will receive very warm congratulations for all holidays. It is customary for Germans to give each other nice little things, not necessarily purchased ones. It could be some funny postcard or an elegant little thing that reminds you of something important.
However, a tourist will hardly have time to understand the peculiarities of German service during a short stay in the country. The first thing that will catch his eye is the invariable “bitte” with an invariable smile, with which the buyer is greeted in shops in Germany. If you don't have a specific goal, answer "guken" ("we're looking") and be sure to smile.
Holding the door for someone entering, smiling back - such gestures of attention are ubiquitous in Germany.
Traditions of the German people.
The Germans value customs and follow them strictly. They love traditions, and there are a great many of them, although most are of local rather than national origin.
Many customs and traditions are associated with endless clubs. Shooting clubs, clubs where traditions are preserved national costumes (Trachtenvereine ), pigeon fan clubs. The Riflemen's Union and the Riflemen's Festival. Especially in small towns, the shooters' festival is one of the most important national holidays year. Its integral part is a parade of archers marching through the streets to cheerful music. This holiday has a long tradition: the forerunners of modern streltsy unions were the so-called civil squads, organized to protect cities.
During the celebration ceremony on the occasion of the erection of a house under the roof (Richtfest ), which is celebrated before laying the tiles, the owner of the house arranges a reception for his friends, neighbors and builders... And at the end of the holiday, a wreath of ears of wheat or a small tree is fixed at the very top as a sign that everything is in order with the house, and the owner has done good deed.
To maintain good mood there are many songs that Germans sing into a microphone, holding hands and swaying in different directionsTraditionally, Germany is considered a meat-and-potatoes country. While vegetarian and health food restaurants are on the rise, it's best to stop worrying about calories and cholesterol while in this country. It all starts with a good German breakfast of buns,
jam, cheese, cold meat, hard-boiled eggs, and coffee or tea. To be fair, many Germans have switched to lighter breakfasts of corn flakes or muesli, but diners can still be served traditional cold meats and jam. Lunch is the main meal of the day, but breakfast is usually so hearty that it’s okay if at noon you simply snack on a sausage bought at one of the widespread street cafes. Dinner is generally quite light, but this may mean serving you a whole plate of sausages and dumplings. (Those who don't like to eat so richly can opt for international cuisine, which was introduced here by immigrants).
Despite the Germans' penchant for constant improvement and modernization, old cultural traditions are very dear to them. Many hunters still wear green clothing, chimney sweeps wear jet black suits and top hats, and some Bavarian women wear the dirndl (a dress with a square neckline, with a tight-fitting button-down bodice). short sleeves and a wide pleated skirt), while their husbands often wear traditional Bavarian lederhosen (leather shorts), loden ( short jackets) and felt hats. IN everyday life Germans are generally common, although in the north of the country, where Protestantism is predominantly practiced, fewer national traditions are observed than in the south, famous for its beer cult
Most customs and traditions are associated with the Christian calendar. The festivities before Lent are especially revered. They have their origins in ancient pagan rituals welcoming the arrival of spring. The usual characters of the carnival held these days - the prince, the princess and the peasant (all are portrayed by men, even the princess) bring a spirit of slight madness to the ceremony.
During the carnival frenzy, the vaunted German order (Ordnung ) disappears like smoke, and with it, the whole familiar routine flies upside down. But already on Wednesday in the first week of Lent, the Germans return to work in the most serious mood; they quietly cherish in their souls the memories of their wild antics, but are already ready to endure and obey again.
In Germany they are highly valued family traditions, although young people try to be independent, and it is considered bad form to depend on their parents.
Holidays in Germany
There are quite a large number of different holidays in Germany, however distinctive feature is that not all of them are celebrated nationwide.
Almost all holidays have their own established traditions, and in many cases, when they are celebrated in a country or in a particular land, a day off is declared.
Many holidays are based on religious dates, some of the holidays are based on historical events.
There are so-called local holidays, which are celebrated within a particular land, and there are also official state holidays, which are celebrated by the whole country.
But, nevertheless, there is one single holiday that is the main one for every German family - the child’s birthday. Historians claim that Germany was the first country where they began to celebrate the birth of a child. Initially, it was the privilege of kings, but over time the holiday went to the masses and now it is one of the most beloved and revered holidays in every home in Germany.
In the winter season, large cities in Germany are immersed in a vibrant carnival atmosphere, with an abundance of all kinds of colorful costumes, cheerful and noisy music and carnival processions. Such carnivals are held in February, and preparations for them begin in November. And the tradition of holding such carnivals dates back many centuries, for example, the first carnival took place in Munich, already in 1295, that is, more than 700 years ago.
The annual love parade has recently become quite a popular event, and although this parade is quite young, it is becoming one of the most noticeable, not only in Germany, but also abroad. Music plays all day and all night, adherents of free love march.
By the way, about beer. The Germans are big fans of the amber drink; it’s not for nothing that where the Bavarian brewers live is considered the most beer-filled place in Europe. In Bavaria, literally every village, city, and every monastery has its own brewery. And in the fall, the largest beer festival on earth, Oktoberfest, is celebrated, to which millions of lovers of this drink flock. People come from all over the world to take part in the festival, where over six million liters of beer are consumed over the course of two weeks. Everyone can become a participant in this amazing holiday, you just need to come and spend an unforgettable vacation. Revered family holidays, especially Christmas and Easter when the whole family gathers under the parental roof.
Christmas.
Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ. When he was born, a star lit up in the sky. This bright star saw the shepherds. An angel appeared to them and brought good news: Jesus Christ was born. And then the shepherds went to the baby and brought him gifts.
Every German family looks forward to Christmas. This holiday is celebrated in Germany on the night of December 24-25. But the Germans begin to prepare for the holiday long before this. This pre-holiday time is calledAdvent. And it is impossible to imagine it without a special wreathAdventsKranz, which decorate apartments, schools,
shops. There are four candles on it, which symbolize that there are four Sundays before Christmas. Every Sunday a candle is lit on the wreath. The red ribbon on the wreath is a symbol of the blood shed by Jesus Christ for the happiness of people. Green symbolizes his loyalty and devotion to people and our loyalty to Jesus Christ. (Slide Christmas wreath)
In some places in Germany, instead of a Christmas wreath, they make a pyramid of apples, twigs of evergreen plants and candles. It reminds people of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise. (Slide Christmas pyramid)
In addition to the wreath and pyramid, the symbol of preparation for Christmas has becomeAdventskalender.When a wreath appears in German homes, children begin to torment adults with the question: “When will Christmas come???” Once upon a time, children drew 24 lines on the door with chalk, which they crossed out every evening and counted. How many days are left before the holiday? And in 1908, Munich publisher Gerhard Lang came up with the firstAdventskalender. It was a large poster with 24 squares in which beautiful Christmas pictures had to be pasted every day. Children and adults liked it so much that now it appears before Christmas in every German family where there are children. Now they produce calendars with 24 windows containing small chocolates. (Slide advent calendar)
There are Christmas markets all over Germany, where you can buy a Christmas tree, decorations for it, and gifts for family and friends. Every home has a festively decorated Christmas tree. And in the evening the city streets sparkle with bright lights. (Christmas market slide)
On Christmas Eve, every home smells of vanilla, roasted nuts and cinnamon. The whole family gathers in the kitchen to bake Christmas cookies, which are shaped into different shapes and decorated with icing sugar. (Slide)
And December 4th is celebratedBarbarazweige. This is an old German tradition. On this day, branches are cut from trees and placed in water so that leaves appear for the Christmas holiday.
December 24th is comingderHeiligeAbend(Christmas Eve) - the night before Christmas. Since Christmas is a religious holiday, many people go to church the day before and serve a festive service there at night, and in the morning they return home and celebrate “Christmas” with their families.»
December 6-Nikolaustag.
On this day, children leave their shoes on the windowsill or outside the door, and hope that St. Nicholas will come to them at night and put gifts and sweets there. (Slide)
Easter.
The Germans, like other Christians, celebrate this holiday on the Sunday after the first spring full moon - no earlier than March 22 and no later than April 25. Easter is the big one and, along with the Trinity, the oldest and greatest holiday Christian world. Germans celebrate Easter for 2 days: Easter Sunday and the next day - Easter Monday. Both days are public holidays
The symbol of Easter is the bonfire. People light bonfires on Easter night on the mountains and in front of churches. The bonfire is a symbol of hope. This fire is brought home and Easter candles are lit with it. (slide)
The lamb symbolizes the innocence of Christ. Previously, it was placed at Easter in front of the altar in the church. There it was consecrated and then dishes were made from it. Chicken and eggs are a symbol of new life. (slide)
The well is also a symbol of Easter. Previously, German peasants decorated their wells for Easter with green tree branches decorated with bright Easter eggs and ribbons.Water, like Easter eggs, is a symbol of life.
The tree symbolizes life. In spring, trees turn green, reborn to new life. In German villages, trees growing near houses were decorated with garlands of bright eggshells and ribbons. It was not at all easy, so friends and acquaintances did it together. (slide)
The egg is the oldest symbol of Easter, a symbol of the rebirth of life. Previously, people colored eggs with onion and beet juice. In the thirteenth century, eggs began to be painted with multi-colored paints. According to legend, the hare is a symbol of fertility; it brings eggs to the garden and hides them there in nests made of grass. (slide)
German children love Easter very much. Their parents and grandparents hide colorful eggs and sweets for them in the garden. Children enjoy looking for Easter nests, which always contain a chocolate Easter bunny.
Children not only enjoy chocolate, but also play various games with eggs.
We study foreign languages, of course we want to learn more about the country whose language we are studying. Maybe we have something in common that will allow us to better understand each other and live in peace and harmony. We tried to resolve many issues during our work. This work allows you not only to get in touch with the culture of Germany, but also forms a special attitude towards cultural and moral values.
Participation promotes creative development, communication skills and abilities are developed, and research methods of work are trained.
In my work, I wanted to note that in Germany there are interesting and diverse traditions and customs. Despite the fact that traditions came to other countries under different “living conditions” due to local peculiarities, however, their roots go back to the distant contradictory past of Germany.
It is amazing that over many centuries, they were able to survive, survive and remain relevant in modern world high technologies. These customs and traditions are still modern and continue to exist in Germany, which attracts people interested in the history and development of Germany.
Studying the traditions of Germany helps to better understand and perceive the living conditions of people, their social status, the history of the country or its individual regions. I believe that the topic “Traditions and customs of the German people” is relevant, because when studying foreign languages it is very useful to get acquainted with the customs, customs, holidays and characteristics of the countries in which the languages being studied are common.
In order to develop student interest, we recommend the following activities:
1.Hold an extracurricular activity.
2. Celebrate Christmas.
3.Start correspondence with German peers on the Internet.
Bibliographic list.
"Die Feiertage in Deutschland". Journal “Foreign languages at school”, No. 2, 2003, p. 26.
"Feste und Feiertage in Deutschland".German language" weekly supplement to the newspaper "First of September"
№6, 13, 16, 17, 18 1996.
№1, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 21 1997.
E.M. Shishkina-Fischer “German folk calendar rituals, dances and songs in Germany and Russia” Moscow. Educational and methodological literature, 2002.
Regional studies. Germany customs, traditions, holidays, etiquette. Arkhipkina G. D.
Appendix 1.
Significant dates.
HeTooToryeznamenaTeflaxedayou nearecI'm rightaholidayami straightomcWeclecloVa. Oneithercelmawe are inaimportantcobeings andemetskoth andcTorii.
May 8, 1945 is the day of Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies, ending World War II.
On May 23, 1949, the Basic Law was adopted as the Constitution of the Federal Republic.
On June 17, 1953, the workers' uprising in the GDR was brutally suppressed. Before German reunification, June 17 was a national holiday only in the Federal Republic of Germany.
On July 20, 1944, Klaus Schenck Count von Stauffenberg (1907-1944) and other senior German military officials carried out an assassination attempt on Hitler. Hitler survived and the conspirators were executed.
On August 13, 1961, the GDR closed all checkpoints into West Berlin and began construction of the Berlin Wall - the border between the western and eastern sectors of the divided city.
September 1, 1939 – the day of the attack of Nazi Germany on Poland, the beginning of the Second World War.
November 16 is the day of remembrance of the victims of war and dictatorship. New Bachsta in Berlin is the central memorial of Germany.
On December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Carnival.
In February, carnival is celebrated in Catholic lands (in the south of Germany it is
called “Fastnacht” or “Fasching”), the culmination of which is Carnival Monday - Rosenmontag, when the streets are filled with buffoonery. Particularly famous are the carnivals in Cologne, Mainz or Rottweil and other cities in southern Germany. The Rhine Carnival begins on Thursday, called “Weiberfastnacht”, and ends 7 days later with Ash Wednesday “Aschermittwoch”. Many people dress up for the party in carnival costumes or traditional folk dresses and masks. This tradition is rooted in the custom of saying goodbye to winter. For Christians, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent.
Fair.
Fairs in Germany are called "Kirmes", "Jahrmarkt" and "Kerb". On Saturday and Sunday or for the whole week, carousels, roller coasters, Ferris wheels, various other attractions, shooting galleries, kiosks with delicacies or lottery tickets etc.
Mother's Day - Muttertag - falls on the second Sunday in May. On this day, children give their mothers flowers or small gifts.
Ascension is sometimes called “Father’s Day” - Vatertag - or “Men’s Day”. However, unlike mothers, fathers do not receive gifts.
Saint's Day Valentina.
Every year on February 14th St. Day is celebrated. Valentina. As a holiday for lovers in Germany, it is celebrated relatively recently, and the owners of flower shops love it most of all.
International Women's Day. March 8 - International Women's Day - is also celebrated in Germany.
Appendix 2.
Dyrda Zhanna Nikolaevna- Lecturer at the Department of Professional Foreign Language Training, Baranovichi State University, Baranovichi, Belarus
Grushevich Margarita Mikhailovna- Student, Baranovichi State University, Baranovichi, Belarus
In the modern world people speak large quantities different languages, without even knowing how and where they came from. But everyone has their own story: the history of origin, the history of development and formation. The language itself, its rules and features, have a great influence on the development of a nation. Its traditional characteristics, therefore, have significance in the history of the development of a nation. The purpose of this work is to reflect the significance of holidays in the life of the German population.
In the sociocultural aspect, language helps people interact with each other. However, for purely communication purposes it was used in ancient times. Now, with the help of linguistic expressions, we can understand a person’s emotions and feelings, his intentions and disposition towards the interlocutor. The development of the German language was largely influenced by the traditions of Germany. It’s not without reason that each region of this country has unique characteristics. Holidays are an integral part of the life of every nation and any civilized person. Some days of the year are directly related to the past of the state, some were formed in the process of establishing sovereignty, and some are celebrated together with the whole world. Based on what traditions a country has, one can determine the habits and patterns of behavior characteristic of people. Any celebration makes a great contribution both to the past and to the development of the present and future of the people. On at the moment Many of the innovations are beginning to displace quite old, familiar traditions. However, nothing can replace the celebrations that have developed throughout history.
Germany is a country with a rich historical heritage and culture. Its centuries-old history has provided it with a rich heritage of various interesting folk characteristics. Germany is a country with such vibrant and interesting traditions that many Europeans have borrowed many customs from it. For example, on the eve of the New Year, the Germans decorate a coniferous tree or hang wreaths from pine branches on entrance doors. Also, thanks to the Germans, many countries celebrate Halloween ( Halloween) and All Saints' Day ( Allerheiligen) .
All German customs are divided into federal (widespread throughout the country) and local (widespread in certain territories of the state).
Local celebrations and festivities are characteristic of specific lands or regions. For example, the traditions of areas where grapes are grown and agricultural activities are widespread are mainly devoted to harvest celebrations and the veneration of the patron saints of the lands. Each region has individual celebrations, which may be dedicated to a particular grape variety, crop, or local saint. For example, in some lands Maundy Thursday is also celebrated ( Gründonnerstag) before Easter in Baden-Württemberg and the end of the Thirty Years' War in Ausberg (Ausberg Peace Festival - Augsburger Friedensfest– August 8). Christian local holidays include Epiphany, or the Feast of the Three Kings ( Heilige Drei Könige), or Epiphany ( Epiphania). These holidays are celebrated in three states: Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saxony-Anhalt on January 6th. This holiday is dedicated to the baptism of Jesus Christ, who on this day is believed to have been born as the son of God.
The peculiarity of the Germans is their pedantry and accuracy in all areas of life. They do not tend to violently express emotions and violate the boundaries of personal space. When talking with Germans, you should try not to get too close to them, so as not to physically intrude into the so-called private zone. However, people in Germany love a good holiday. One of the long-standing German traditions is various festivals. The most interesting festival is Fasching ( Fasching) - something like our Maslenitsa. Instead of the usual pancakes, bakeries are bursting with Berlin jam donuts sprinkled with powdered sugar. The main attraction of Fasching is a colorful German carnival with music and dancing, during which participants dressed in funny costumes make it rain candy. Germany's musical heritage is so rich that it should come as no surprise that there is such an abundance of music festivals. Some of them are dedicated to specific composers. According to the German Music Information Center in Bonn, more than 600 music festivals take place regularly - about four times more than 20 years ago.
The world-famous German carnivals in Munich and Cologne have also become traditional. They prepare for the festivities carefully and in advance: from 11:11 am on November 11th. Carnival activists proclaim the beginning of a special time of year - carnival. And although the holiday itself will begin only in February, already on this day you can see people dressed in carnival costumes people. Interestingly, one of the first in a series of carnival celebrations is Weiberfastnacht- “Women’s Thursday”. It is celebrated only by women who wear costumes of merchants, devils, and witches. All city establishments on this day are filled with representatives of the fair sex, and a man who accidentally ends up there risks finding himself on the street without clothes - such funny “women’s jokes” can be. In addition to the main carnival procession, which lasts many hours and ends with a concert and festivities, there is also a special children's party, when children go to school straight in the morning in carnival outfits. The Germans really know how to have fun.
The traditions and customs of the Germans affected their religious life. Most of the country's population are Catholics, and they all celebrate the Feast of Confirmation ( Bestätigung), giving it a meaning similar to birthday.
Another religious tradition of the Germans is the annual celebration of St. Martin's Day - St. Martins Tag(November 11). It is celebrated not only in Germany, but also in neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Traditionally, on this day, as darkness falls, there is a procession of children holding lanterns and singing German songs. Germans traditionally serve baked goose for this festive dinner.
In addition, the Germans note such Christian holidays like Christmas ( Weihnachten) and Easter ( Ostern), which have become widespread in all federal states of the country. Christian celebrations in Germany, in turn, also owe to the development of writing and the German language, since in the sixteenth century the German theologian Martin Luther translated the “New Testament” into German, and then the “Old Testament”. These events significantly influenced the development of German writing. The history of the German language itself is not simple. Due to the spread of a single German language in the north of the country for a long time local dialects were being displaced. In the south of Germany, it was still possible to preserve some dialects similar to literary German. In many ways, the language was also influenced by the development of the economy. In modern German there are many borrowings from English language, as well as from French and Slavic vocabulary. In the course of historical development, the official language of Germany has undergone many changes and innovations, but at the same time it has managed to maintain its originality.
So, a person cannot fully exist in isolation from other people; no culture is able to fully function in isolation from the cultural achievements of its people. We see that the language, folklore, customs, and way of life of the German people are unique. By mastering them, a person becomes familiar with the culture of his people, gets to know the world around him and himself.
Bibliography:
1. Traditions and customs of the Germans. URL: http://mypucmy.ru/countries/germany/15/traducuu-u-obuchau-nemcev.
2. Traditions of Germany. URL: https://e-migration.ru/germany/tradicii-germanii.html.
3. About the German language. URL: http://www.de-online.ru/index/0-2.
Germany is deservedly considered a country with very bright traditions, many of which turned out to be so interesting that during our long history they were borrowed by other European nations. A striking example of this is the German tradition associated with the New Year's decoration of a coniferous tree or weaving wreaths from pine branches. They are then hung on the entrance doors. The Germans were the first to celebrate Halloween, as well as All Saints' Day, which today are unknowingly considered American holidays. In fact, this is only a small fraction of the traditions and customs of the Germans, borrowed by the peoples of other states.
What is the classification of German traditions and customs?
So, all the traditions and customs of the Germans that are in force today can be divided into federal ones, observed within the whole country, and also local ones. They are observed only by residents of certain lands or regions. To better understand the Germans and gain insight into their culture, it will be useful to study both general traditions and what is characteristic of individual regions.
General traditions
The key feature of the Germans as a nation is their world-famous pedantry along with accuracy. This is something that can be seen in all areas of their lives. Thus, Germans do not tend to express emotions very violently or overstep the boundaries of personal space. But, no matter how strange it may sound, they are characterized by sentimentality and romance. It’s just that sometimes it’s reliably hidden from prying eyes. In accordance with traditions, Germans, like Italians, Poles and even Egyptians, spend their weekends with their families. And therefore, it is not customary for them to bother each other with various calls or an unexpected visit. Both the Germans and the inhabitants of sunny Italy idolize, quite pampering, their offspring, allowing them almost everything they want. However, such upbringing can hardly be called correct, since in the event of any “trouble” in which the child is involved, the parents will be punished for him. The Germans are extremely punctual; they are never late for a meeting, and if this happens, it is only in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. The Germans are a fairly law-abiding and calm nation that strictly observes all laws established for it.
Advice
Religious traditions
Traditions, together with the customs of the Germans, also affected their religious sphere of life. The vast majority of the population of this country are Catholics, they all celebrate Confermation, that is, First Communion, giving this ritual meanings like a “birthday”. Another religious tradition that exists among Germans is the annual celebration of St. Martin, which falls on November 11th. It is celebrated not only in Germany, but also in neighboring countries - Austria and Switzerland. Traditionally, on this day, as soon as darkness falls, there is a solemn procession of children holding lanterns. At the same time, they sing German songs. And traditionally there is baked goose on the tables. In addition, Germans hold Christian holidays such as Christmas and, of course, Easter in high esteem.
New Year traditions
“Advent” is typical for Germany - this is 4 weeks before Christmas, in other words, the anticipation of the coming of Jesus into the world. At the same time, the Germans prepare an “Advent wreath” with 4 candles inserted into it. And each one is lit on the next festive Sunday. Also at this time, cookies are baked, decorating the house with them. An Advent calendar is made for children, so that when the door is opened every day right up to Christmas Eve, the child will find a small surprise behind it.
Conclusion:
The Germans are a very specific nation, which has a long origin and its own special traditions, which result in local flavor. Studying how they live and who they are at their core is not possible without understanding their traditional principles regarding religion and the main areas of life.
Strange German customs for the New Year
