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Back to Subjects - Geography

Germany

Germany The Religions, Holidays, Festivals, and Food of Germany Germany is a small country, yet multitudinous diversity composes it within. Composed of East and West Germany, the country has a variation of language, religion, and people (Germany 151). However, this diversity does not take away from the country, instead, it only makes the culture of Germany unique in many ways. Three very important aspects of the German culture that make the country distinct are religion, holidays, festivals, and food. To begin, the religion of Germany is very diverse, yet it completes the German culture. The being of religious diversity began with the Reformation. The Reformation brought Protestantism into the predominately Roman Catholic country ("Germany" 151). Not all Germans converted, which caused the first major religious change. Most people inhabiting northern and central Germany became Protestants while the southern part of Germany remained Roman Catholic (151). The next religious movement came when Adolph Hitler came into power over Germany. About 560,000 Jewish people abided in Germany before Hitler took over (151). However, this number rapidly dwindled when the majority of the Jewish population was either killed, placed into concentration camps, or emigrated to another country. Currently, only 70,000 Jews live in Germany (151). Their rights are now protected on account of a document that was established to protect the rights of all Germans, regardless of their religious affiliation. This document is the Basic Law of Germany, and article four declares, "Freedom of faith and conscience as well as freedom of creed, religious and ideological, are inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed" (Kappler 447). Basically, this means that there is a restriction on the suppression of any religious group. As a result, the Germans severed ties between church and state, resulting in the absence of a state church in Germany (447). Yet, Germany's church and state do work together in a partnership. The state finances part of the cost of church establishments (such as kindergartens and schools) in return for the taxes the church imposes on its member's to repay the government (447). This system between church and state not only assists the church, but it also benefits the people of Germany. Germany's Basic Law protects a variety of religions. Kappler states that, “more than fifty-five million people in Germany belong to a Christian church, twenty-eight million are Protestants, twenty-seven million are Roman Catholic, and a minority belongs to other Christian denominations” (447). Statistically, this breaks down to “thirty-five percent of the German people are Protestants (mostly Lutherans), thirty-four percent are Roman Catholic, and two percent are Muslims” ("Germany" 151). This diversity in religion gives birth to many different churches. One type of Evangelical church in Germany, the EKD, is a community of twenty-four independent Lutheran, Reformed and United regional churches (447). The Synod is the main legislative body of this organization, with a chief executive body of Council (447). The church office in Hanover is its central administration headquarters. The members of this organization meet through the church conference, and cooperate closely with the Roman Catholic Church (448). The Roman Catholic Church is another type of church found in present day Germany. Previously, it was divided up into twenty-three dioceses until the reorganization that followed the reuniting of Germany (448). These dioceses are composed of bishops and archbishops that meet together to make decisions concerning the church or the people. Once the reunification occurred, the twenty-three dioceses turned into twenty-seven dioceses and seventy bishops (448). These bishops and archbishops consult together during the spring and autumn assemblies of the German Bishops' Conference in Bonn (448). Also, the Central Committee of German Catholics that have Lay representatives with one hundred or more Catholic association form a type of leadership for the church (448). This intricate system is how the church and state communicated with one another. Other religions include the free churches. These denominations are composed of Protestants, Methodists, and Baptists (449). Turks have also developed in Germany due to the presence of many foreign workers and their families (450). All of these churches and religions are a very important part of Germany's culture. The church is an integral part of life in Germany, and their work is indispensable to hospitals, retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, and many other public establishments. Not only does the provisions of counseling and care in all situations of life help the people, but it also gives them a since of hope and love. Next, the holidays and festivals in Germany are a very important part of German culture that makes Germany stand out as a unique country. The Germans have several holidays that they celebrate, but the most common ones are: "New Year's Day on January first, Epiphany on January the sixth, Easter which falls either in March or April, Ascension Thursday which falls either in May or June, Pentecost Monday which falls in June, Assumption Day on August the fifteenth, German Unity Day on October the third, All Saint's Day on November the first, A Day of Prayer and Repentance on November the twenty-second, Christmas on December the twenty-fourth through December the twenty-sixth, and New Year's Eve on December the thirty first" (Monkeyshines on Germany 30). Many of these holidays are celebrated much like the holidays in the United States of America. New Year's Day, Easter, and Christmas are official holidays in Germany, yet Germans have their own unique ways and customs for celebrating these holidays (31). Easter is a time for the Germans to remember Christ. People in southern Germany present historical plays that dramatize Jesus' last days on earth, instead of having Easter egg hunts (31). Christmas is also a time for the Germans to remember and celebrate Jesus Christ. This is a private holiday, much like in America, for family and friends to enjoy together. Germans even have a type of Santa Claus for their children. In the Roman Catholic section of Germany, which is found in the southern region, the Christ child sends gifts on Christmas Eve ("Christmas" 531). The Northern Protestant part of Germany says Weihnachtsmann (Christmas man) brings the gifts (531). Saint Nicholas visits children's homes on St. Nicholas Eve, and delivers candy and other sweets to be opened on St. Nicholas Day (531). These stories concerning Christmas may differ, yet the meaning and specialty of Christmas is the same throughout the region. Most all Germans decorate a Christmas tree (they were the first ever to decorate a tree), which is a tradition that continues to this day in nearly every country (Loewen 15). Special foods are also cooked to eat on Christmas (15). Carp is usually served as a traditional holiday meal, yet the fish is not scaled (15). This is due to the fact that at the meal, everyone picks off a scale for good luck in the upcoming year (15). These holidays are much like the ones across the country, yet Germans add a twist to theirs to make them special. Besides these holidays, Germany also has some festivals that are celebrated yearly. One of these festivals, Oktoberfest, is one of the most popular holidays in the world. Oktoberfest is a lively festival held in Munich Germany each autumn ("Germany" 151). The first Oktoberfest was actually a part of a marriage celebration for Prince Ludwig to his fiancée the Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (Reichmann 1). This marriage, which was turned into a huge wedding, took place in October of 1810. (1). Five days after the wedding, on October the seventeenth, a festival that included horse races, was held in front of one of Munich's several gates (1). Everyone was invited to the celebration, and it was such a success, that the festivities were continued each year (1). This celebration with horse racing continued until 1938 when the horse races were stopped; yet the festivities still continued (1). The tradition today commemorates this wedding, while incorporating a number of different traditions. Now, Oktoberfest is a time for not only Germans, but other cultures as well, to come and enjoy the food, drinks, and music. This festival is sometimes called, "the largest festival in the world," and begins in mid September and runs through early October due to the chilly Bavarian October wind blowing from the Alps (Loewen 14). The opening day ceremonies begin at eleven o'clock in the morning with a parade that has elaborate floats, beer bands, and men and women dressed up in traditional costumes (Reichmann 1). Yet, this festival is only one of the many festivals of Germany. Just about every town in Germany holds a festival in the spring or summer. Fasching is one of these festivals which dates back to ancient times (Loewen 15). Early Germans wore frightening masks to try and scare off the forces of bad weather while playing drums, rattles and symbols in a haunting rhythm (Loewen 15). Now, during the weeks before Lent, masked balls and parades are held to remember this ancient ritual (15). Festivals are a major part of the German culture. They are held for all aspects of history, and for music. The festivals are not limited to large cities, and they have an international flair to attract cultures from across the globe. Another aspect of the culture of Germany is the food. German diets were created hundreds of years ago to prevent foods from spoiling ("Germany" 150). Sauerkraut was developed to preserve cabbage, and meat was preserved by being soaked in vinegar and spices (150). Many different types of cheese were also developed during this time (150). This experimentation with food has given German food a very distinct culinary taste. Most of the people in German enjoy the same food, however northern and southern Germany differs slightly in their diets (150). People in northern Germany eat more vegetables and potatoes while people in southern Germany eat more pastas and soups (Canter 13). Germany also has a distinct taste due to the fact that most of the German food is homemade from scratch. Canter goes on the explain that, “german recipes do not call for canned soup, mayonnaise, cake mixes, frozen foods, or canned foods” (13). Instead, the recipe tells the cooks how to make all of the ingredients step by step, or it calls for fresh fruits and vegetables. If a cook cannot find the fresh items, (because it is out of season or because it is too expensive), the cook holds the recipe until the food or ingredients can be obtained (13). German meals are also very distinct. Breakfast is usually served at seven o'clock in the morning and consists of fresh rolls, jam or honey, and coffee (Loewen 17). Next, at midmorning, Brotzert, occurs (17). This is a second breakfast that has rolls, sausages, and cheese with mineral water, apple juice, or beer (17). Lunch is the next meal, which comes at midday and is the largest of all of the meals. It has a variety of foods like veal, beef, pork, chicken, beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, or turnips ("Germany" 150). Finally, dinner is in the late afternoon and consists of a light meal of bread, cheese, and sausage (150). Bread is a very important part of the German diet, and is served at every meal (Canter 13). Pork and veal is also popular, as are beets, onions, carrots, turnips, and cabbage (Loewen 16). Before each meal, the Germans bless their food by saying a prayer either together, or led by one individual (Canter 8). Dessert is usually not served, and if it were, it would be a pudding or fresh fruit (Canter 12). The reason desserts are not served and dinner is a light meal is because pastries and cakes are served at "Coffee Time" (12). "Coffee Time" is a traditional celebration in which families gather together between three and four o'clock to eat sweets and drink coffee daily (12). The desserts are often very simple on the weekdays, yet on the weekends, the housewife displays her talent for cooking by making extravagant desserts (12). To wash down their food, Germans usually drink wine or beer. Beer is especially served when the meal includes sauerkraut, sausages, or smoked pork and wine is served at formal meals (Canter 11). Milk and tap water is usually not consumed, instead, juice is consumed by those adults who do not drink spirits and by children who are too young to drink beer or wine (11). The food of the German people is a very unique blend of ingredients that add to the culture of Germany. In summation, the people of Germany have a very distinct culture due to the religion, festivals and holidays, food, and many other aspects of the people. The government and churches work closely with the people to provide an adequate means of support and leadership, while not infringing on their rights. The holidays and festivals are a special time that the Germans get to celebrate with their kinsmen, and also with people from all over the world. These celebrations include a variety of German food and drinks. Germany is a country who draws the people in by its unparalleled original people and ways of life. Bibliography: Sources Cited Canter, Miriam, et al. Great German Recipies. Iowa City: Penfield, 1988. "Christmas." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed. "Germany." The World Book Encyclopedia. 2000 ed. Kappler, Dr. Arno, Ed. Facts about Germany. Hamburg: Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, 1997. Loewen, Nancy. Food in Germany. Vero Beach: Route, 1991. "Monkeyshines on Germany." Monkeyshines on World Holidays and Festivals. Greensboro: Monkeyshines, 1998. Reichmann, Ruth. "Oktoberfest in Munich." 26 Feb. 2000 .

Word Count: 2186