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Local Culture
Public Phones
Public Phones - Public phones are very rare in Germany. If you find one you will notice that they only take telephone cards. You can buy a telephone card in different shops like "T-Punkt", "Telekom", "Post", and "Vodafone" or you can go to an Internet cafe.
You offten can find a booth in major Train Stations, but keep your eyes open and you may find one where you least expect it.
Internet cafes tend to have a fair amount of phones for public use, once finished you will have to pay the clerk at the front counter for the time that you talked.
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To help with those phone issues heres a couple internet cafes that can offersome help, also keep in mind that in places like the main trainstation have phones.
Galeria Kaufhof "Surf Inn"
Königstrasse 6, Phone: 0711-226-2330
This centrally located Internet café offers travelers inexpensive Internet and computer services.
Karstadt
Königstrasse 1, (Internet Café), Phone: 0711-208-20
This internet café is located in the city center and offers a range of Internet and computer services
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Supermarkets - Shopping
Supermarkets and Shopping- If you shop for groceries or anything else in Germany you will notice the markets have all of their large rolling carts outside in a designated area and they are locked to one another. In order to utilize a cart you must place one EUR in the cart itself, you will see the slot on the handle. Upon leaving the supermarket you latch the cart back to the other carts and pull the device out where you placed the coin, now you can retrieve your coin.
If you are buying large amounts, you will find that you have to purchase plastic bags to put your goods in or you can take a bag in with you(notice this is a common thing to see). If you decide to purchase one they are usually visible at the counter and normally only cost a few cents. If there is a long line do not put all of your groceries in the bag, put them back into the cart and bag them away from the line.
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Closing Time
Closing hours - On Sunday everything is closed; O.K. not everything but most places shutdown for the day, except for some restaurants, bars, gas stations and shops at the main train station and bigger airports. If there is a need for a Pharmacy you will have to get a schedule of which one is open, as they have a rotating
plan to keep one store open at all times but it might be the Pharmacy in the next town.
Some bigger stores are realizing that they can make much more money if they open on Sunday so they are doing just that, but I would not rely on it.
During the week shops in bigger cities close around 8 PM at the latest. You may see shops in smaller cities closing even earlier.
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Christmas Markets
The Christmas holiday begins December 24th and ends on the 26th. On the 24th (Christmas Eve), most Germans work a half day and shops are open until the early afternoon. Gifts are usually opened on the evening of the 24th. Christmas day is a little different. Unlike the U.S., Germany celebrates two Christmas days, the 25th and the 26th.
Christmas markets are in almost every town you come across starting in November, you are sure to have the time of your life. Whether you visit Germany during the Holiday Season for business or pleasure, you will have a lot to talk about when you return home. The way Germans celebrate this holiday is not much different than the way Americans do. The tradition of the Christmas tree with the presents underneath is of course the main tradition. You will find lights all over the place as you will in the U.S. Stockings are traditional as well, as they are hung and filled with goodies for the kids. Santa Claus (Weihnachtsmann) is no different. The big-bearded man dressed in red, who rides in a slay pulled by rain deer. Children are always excited to see what Santa left them under the tree. Lets talk about some of the things you will experience during the Christmas holiday in Germany.
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Christmas Fests (Weihnachtsfest) - Possibly the number one attraction during Christmas time in Germany. These exciting functions usually start toward the end of November and end on the 22nd or 23rd of December in bigger cities like Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich. In smaller cities they are normally held on one weekend in December. Each town holds their own fest so it is not uncommon for the fests to be held on different weekends. Traditionally, the Mayor of the town opens the Christmas fest by lighting an enormous tree. Christmas fests are a place you can go with your family to enjoy the Christmas season and take in every wonderful thing this season brings. Fests are usually held at the city center in a public, open area. You just walk up to the area and enjoy. You may not want to drive to the fests. Germany has very limited parking spots during normal months and it is almost impossible to get a parking spot anywhere close to a Christmas market. There is one option if you wish to drive, you can park in a garage and pay approx. 2 EURO/hour but I will warn you, the Gluehwein tends to sneak up on you ;-). There are several things to experience during these fests. Below are just a few of the more traditional ones.
Gluehwein (Glow Wine) - This is a very popular alcoholic drink during the Christmas holiday in Germany. Gluehwein is a warm red wine that is served out of small shacks at these fests. Gluewein is normally only served during the Christmas season but you can purchase it year-round at a German liquor store.
Gingerbread (Lebkuchen) - The traditional gingerbread that you will see is covered in chocolate. You will see several shapes and sizes, decorated or not as you wonder through the fest. The city of Nuremberg provides the most famous gingerbread that can be found all over Germany during the holiday season.
Nutcracker Soldiers and Drummers - These famous figurines can be found throughout any fest you visit as well. They range from miniature sizes to extremely large and there are several different styles to choose from.
Chestnuts (Maronen) - Just like the famous song, chestnuts are \'roasted on an open fire\' and served to you very warm. You will notice many people munching on these goodies throughout the fests as well.
Some of the traditional Christmas dishes are:
Christmas Goose (Weihnachtsgans) - This dish traditionally consists of a stuffed goose, potato dumplings, red cabbage and a wine flavored sauce. There is no special technique in fixing this dish but the sauce consists of wine, the juices produced while cooking the goose and a gravy. You can find this at many German restaurants during the Christmas season and many German family make it as well.
Weihnachtsstollen - There is no English translation that we know of but this German bread consists of raisins, almond paste, candied orange peel and many other ingredients. The bread is topped with powdered sugar. You can find this bread in any supermarket in Germany during the Christmas season.
Candy Apples (Bratapfel) - These flavorful caramel covered apples are very popular during the Christmas season in Germany as well as America and many other Countries. You can find these treats mainly at the Christmas fests.
Christmas Cookies (Weihnachtsgebaeck) - Christmas cookies are made in many different variations and flavors throughout Germany. You are sure to find some that suite your taste buds. There is no single traditional Christmas cookie made in particular but you will find Christmas cookies throughout Germany during Christmas.
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Oktoberfest
The history of the Oktoberfest
The Oktoberfest isn\'t just for Germans anymore. People have flocked to Germany from all parts of the globe to participate in the world\'s largest annual festival for nearly 200 years. In addition to the two-week celebration in Munich, the Bavarian capital where the tradition began, Oktoberfest is enjoyed in one form or another in cities and towns worldwide.
The Royal Party
Wondering how this great celebration got started? Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who was later crowned King Ludwig I, wanted his people to share in the celebration of his marriage to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Ludwig organized a horse race and invited all the people of Munich. The royal party drew about 40,000 guests a major rager, by ordinary standards, but only a small fraction of the 6.4 million people at Oktoberfest in 1997. A good time, and copious amounts of beer, were apparently had by all that first year. It was decided that the horse race would be held again in 1811, this time in conjunction with the state agricultural show.
The Modern Munich celebration
Although the horse race was eventually abandoned, many characteristics of the early Oktoberfest celebrations have been retained, if not expanded upon. Munich\'s annual celebration is still held on the original site, Theresienwiese ("Theresa\'s fields"), in front of the city gates. The agricultural show continues
to be a feature, though it is only held every third year now. The tradition of beer and food stands, begun in 1818, continues today and is perhaps the most significantly developed aspect of Oktoberfest.
16 days, millions of people and some big tents
The modern celebration has replaced the small tents with giant brewery-sponsored beer halls that can hold up to 5,000 people apiece. The party has also grown in length, to become a 16-day extravaganza ending the first Sunday in October.
The Oktoberfest in Munich has been cancelled at times in the past due to war and cholera. The festival opens with a grand parade of the Oktoberfest "landlords" and breweries, and features traditional dancers and costumed performers, the Riflemen\'s Procession, music and, most definitely, beer!
Facts about the Oktoberfest
-In 1997, Oktoberfesters consumed more than 5 ½ million liters of beer, about 45,000 liters of wine, and almost 165,000 liters of nonalcoholic beer.
-The local name for Oktoberfest, "Wies\'n," is derived from Theresienwiese, the name of the field on which the festival is held.
-The festival halls in Munich can seat 94,000 people.
- The beers that the Munich breweries produce specially for Oktoberfest contain 4.5 percent alcohol.
-Cincinnati, Ohio, which claims to hold the "largest authentic Oktoberfest" in the U.S., draws about 500,000 people to its celebration.
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