Germany culture and customs
people relate with each other through language. the germanay people speak german language and English language also but not everybody speaks English, and there culture and custom is quite diferent from others. see below there language and way of doing things.
If you've had any German at all you would know that there is three ways to say "you". One these words, sie, is plural meaning all of you, so it's not very confusing to use. The other two (du and Sie) have the exact same meaning in English, but can't really be used interchangeably in German. Sie is the formal form of you, and is used for people in businesses, people you don't know very well, and people that are older than you. Du is only used with family, close friends and children. You should always start with the Sie form until the other person has given you permission to call them with the du form. Some other precautions about meeting people are below.
Titles are also very important. Anyone that you would use the Sie form with is someone that you should use Mr. or Ms. (Herr or Frau) with.
Fräulein should only be used on small girls under the age of 14.
To address a doctor, you have to use two addresses, Frau Doktor or Herr Dokter.
In Germany people like to shake hands when they meet
1. This applies not only with the first time, but at almost every time they meet. So, when you're visiting people make sure to keep you're hands out of your pockets and make eye contact with the person you're shaking hands with.
Germans aren't always going to come up and introduce themselves to strangers especially if they know that you don't speak their language.
2.Not all Germans know English and even if they do they might be not comfortable using it.
3.Even if you don't know very much German most of them will appreciate you learning their language.
The meals and eatin hours
Eating hours
In Germany, and in a German home there a definite eating hours. Everyone eats all of their meals with the family, and you should never be late because it is considered very rude.
Lunch time
Twelve is lunchtime for almost everyone in Germany. People all over Germany leave work at twelve to go home and eat with their families. Almost all shops and businesses close at around 12 and they don't reopen until about 1 or 2 pm (I've been told this is because of a German law that regulates when businesses can be open. Lunch is the bigger hot meal of the day. (kind of like dinner in America) After lunch it's the quiet hour. This is the time that you can't play you radio very loud, and it's polite to hold off calling someone at this time. German students usually use this time to do their homework, to study or to take a nap. (if they stayed up the night before)
Dinner
In Germany dinner is a small light meal (similar to the American Lunch), and is eaten at different times in different families. Dinner is something small like a baguette and other breads, with cheeses, (Jarlsberg, cream cheese, and some French cheeses) ham, smoked sausages, and a salad.
MANNERS
When sitting at a German table for a meal, there are some differences in what is considered polite. You should always have both hands on the table or they should at least be visible. (unlike the American tradition that the left hand should be on your lap) Your plate should always be virtually clean after you eat. If you leave something on your plate it is thought to mean that you didn't like the food. When you are finished with your meal, as a signal to everyone, the fork and knife are placed together, tips toward the middle of the plate and handles toward your right hand.
