Traditions & Customs
Passed down from one generation to the next, our traditions and customs help define who we are and often function as milestones in our lives. While many interesting traditions and customs are limited to Germany or a particular region of Germany, others are celebrated throughout western Europe or shared with many parts of the world. Decorating a Christmas tree or hiding Easter eggs, for example, are widespread traditions that originated in Germany.
A man with a long white beard, a bishop’s miter, and a thick red cape comes knocking on the door at some houses every December 6. Other children wake to find their shoes have been filled with treats. Who is this international man of mystery?
St. Nicholas
Does the “same procedure as every year” accurately describe your annual party? Perhaps you should try adding a little German flair to your New Year’s Eve. Dazzle your guests with as an obscure British comedy sketch, jelly donuts, “fiery” drinks, fortune telling, and fireworks.
New Year's Traditions
A number of traditions ranging from May festivals and equestrian processions to the Walpurgis Night fires take place during the romantic month of May, while May 1 has been celebrated as Labor Day in Germany since the late 19th century in remembrance of an American event.
Traditions of May
The journeyman travels of the craftsmen, also known as "auf der Walz" or Tippelei – “on the road” – has a storied tradition in Germany which has survived until today with a few modern adjustments. Although no longer required, craftsmen continue this Middle Age tradition.
On the Road
Every year in late summer, one can see the eager and proud faces of first-graders standing in front of their primary schools in Germany, happily holding their Schultüten, or candy cones, which are filled to the brim with sweets and little gifts. How did this custom begin?
A Sweet Beginning
Over the course of the 15-day festival in Munich—which takes place this year from September 19 to October 4—some 1.75 million gallons of beer and hundreds of thousands of pork sausages and spit-roasted chickens are consumed by over six million visitors from around the world. How and why did this popular tradition begin?
Oktoberfest
Children with colorful, handmade lanterns promenade through the streets, cheerfully singing songs they learned by heart and hoping to catch a glimpse of the man dressed in a medieval soldier’s uniform. Who is St. Martin and why is he celebrated every November 11?
St. Martin's Day
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