Germany is a country with a rich history that still causes a storm of conflicting emotions. However, it only works for her. Due to the presence of a variety of historical and cultural monuments, combined with a favorable climate and developed infrastructure, Germany is far from the last place among European countries, annually providing itself with a consistently high flow of tourists.

Population

According to Countryaah, Germany is today about 82 million people, which gives it the right to be called the most populated country in Western Europe. The bulk of the population are Germans (about 92%), as well as Danes, Lusatian Serbs, Austrians, Italians, Greeks, Poles. Recently, the number of immigrants from Turkey and the former Yugoslavia has been rapidly increasing, today it is 2.4% and about 1% of the total population, respectively.

Official language

Germany – German, which exists in many dialects, which often causes difficulty even for the Germans themselves, not to mention tourists. It seems that the inhabitants of the northern and southern lands speak different languages. However, they often use classical German in writing, so if a tourist speaks the language of Goethe and Schiller, he will not have a language barrier. English is widely spoken, French is spoken on the border with France, in the Saarland.

National Features

Germany is a country that is distinguished by pedantry and accuracy in everything, which, however, does not prevent the tourist from feeling quite comfortable if some simple rules are followed. The main thing when communicating with a German is politeness. Greeting “Gutten Tag” and a sincere smile will help to establish contact with almost any resident of Germany. However, do not forget that the Germans do not like too violent manifestations of feelings, so there is no need to shake hands and hug with acquaintances whom you accidentally met on the street, a simple nod of your head is enough. In addition, when communicating with a German, you should not get too close so as not to violate the so-called personal space. Check agooddir for recent history of Germany.

The Germans go to bed early, in this regard, it is better not to make calls after 21:00, it is appropriate to call in the morning, starting from 07:00, it is highly undesirable to call on Saturday evening, since the Germans prefer to devote this time exclusively to the family.

It is undesirable to visit a German without warning, as the rules for a meeting are agreed in advance, it is considered a manifestation of good form, if the guest says goodbye first, the next day it is customary to thank for the reception in writing, by phone or in person.

The Germans are very punctual, so it is advisable to arrive everywhere on time, otherwise it will take a very long time to apologize.

Smoking in Germany is regulated by law, however, in addition to the federal ordinance banning smoking in federal offices and on public transport, there are a number of laws that only apply in certain states. For example, in Bavaria, smoking is allowed in beer tents, in Saxony – in small bars, where the owner himself serves his guests.

The Germans are very strict about any, even the smallest offenses, the fines are very high, for example, traveling in public transport without a ticket can cost 60 euros.

In Germany, it is customary to clearly plan your working time, so any business meeting must be agreed in advance, preferably a few days in advance.

World famous German quality. If any company undertakes to fulfill an order, you can be sure that everything will be done carefully and on time.

There are two attitudes towards clothing in Germany. On the one hand, Germans, like most Europeans, strive to ensure that clothing is comfortable and functional. Young people are especially liberal in this regard – they prefer T-shirts and jeans. On the other hand, clothes are the calling card of the profession. Businessmen wear formal suits and ties. At many receptions, it is customary to indicate the desired form of clothing, often it can be a tailcoat or a tuxedo, which can be rented. But in any case, for a real German, the determining factor in choosing clothes will be convenience and accuracy.

Holidays and non-working days in Germany

• January 1 – New Year
• January 6 – Three Kings Day (Magi Day)
• April – Easter
• May 1 – Labor Day
• May 21 – Ascension
• June 11 – Feast of the Body of Christ
• End of September – beginning of October – Oktoberfest
• October 3 – German Unity Day
• October 31 – All Saints’ Eve (Halloween)
• November 1 – All Saints Day
• December 6 – St. Nicholas Day
• December 25-26 – Christmas