At the Table

In Britain we usually eat pretty much the same food whether we come from the north, south, east or west. In Germany, however, what you eat depends on where you come from. In the north of the country, the food is influenced by Scandinavian, Polish and Russian recipes, while in the west they eat food with a French style. Eastern Germany is known for its meats, sausages and bread, and in the south they eat dumplings instead of plain potatoes.

In Britain we normally eat our main meal of the day in the evening, but for Germans the main meal is usually lunch. The evening meal is usually just a snack. A typical German breakfast would certainly set you up for the day, consisting of a boiled egg and bread rolls with either jam and honey or cold meats and cheese slices. Germany has an amazingly wide variety of different breads - over 200 types - and like us, Germans also love sandwiches. Unlike us, they eat their bread rolls filled with sausage slices, hot meats, pickled herring, gherkins and onion rings.

The sausage is a real German speciality, and there are about 1,500 varieties! It is very different to British sausages, containing only meat and spices: adding cereal, additives or colouring is strictly banned by German law. Perhaps the most famous German sausage is the Frankfurter, enjoyed all over the world, often in hot dogs. They are made from pork which is ground into a fine paste and smoked, giving them their distinctive orange colour. In Germany a sausage can only be called a Frankfurter if it is made in or near the city of Frankfurt. They are eaten hot as a snack, and even served in soups. They certainly take their sausages very seriously.

Another world famous German food is 'Sauerkraut' (sour-krowt), which is made from shredded white cabbage. It is left to ferment in barrels for several weeks with flavourings such as peppercorns and onions, giving it a very strong taste. After this, it is sealed in tins or jars, and can be kept for a very long time without going off. It is heated slowly in a pan before it is eaten with -you've guessed it - sausages!

Manners

On one hand Germany is definitely a very modern country: it is famous for making some of the world's best cars and some very hi-tech TVs and stereos. However, it is also a very traditional place, where customs and manners are very important.

Traditional clothing can still be seen today. German hunters have dressed in green clothes for centuries, and still do, while chimney sweeps still wear pitch-black suits and top hats. In the south, Bavarian men often still wear traditional clothes such as Lederhosen (leather shorts), a Loden (short jacket) and a felt hat.
 

In everyday life German people are quite formal. When you meet people you would usually shake their hand, as in Britain, but in other situations Germans take things even further. When you go into a shop, it is normal to say 'Guten Tag' (good morning / afternoon) before saying what you want. It would be rude to leave without saying 'Auf Wiedersehen' (Goodbye) too. It is also seen as rude not to introduce yourself over the telephone before asking for the person you want to speak to.

This may sound fairly formal to us, but if you are invited to someone's house for a meal, there are some even more unusual customs. Firstly, you would be expected to bring a gift of an uneven number of unwrapped flowers! Then, before you start eating, it is polite to say 'Guten Appetit' (Enjoy your meal) to the other people at the table. They will reply by saying 'Ebenfalls' (likewise). And if that sounds very formal, be extra careful if you're eating soup: it is rude to leave your left hand on your lap while using your right hand to eat. It should rest on the table instead.

It all sounds pretty strange, doesn't it? But when you think about it, we have some strange customs in Britain too. Can you think of any?

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