By Lucius Nackmayr:

Every country is unique with their small tidbits. Germany is especially so, with it having many MANY different unique cultural rules and values one must know before moving. But, luckily for you, I am here to help you know what 6 things you need to know before moving to Germany!

(Paul Zinken, n.d.)

Sunday is Ruhezeit

Sunday is about relaxation! Grocery stores, clothing stores, pharmacies are all closed. Therefore make sure to do all your necessary shopping beforehand. But not everything is closed in case of emergencies. Places such as restaurants and tank stations are still open, but that gets expensive quickly so better plan ahead.

Additionally, any loud activities are FORBIDDEN. Mowing the lawn, building a house, working on a house, meeting up for noisy gatherings are all banned on Sundays. So remember that for next time you realize your lawn has been getting extra long.

10pm+ is… also Ruhezeit?

Yes… Germany is quite stingy. Ruhezeit applies to every day from 10pm till 6am, with Sunday being an exception. An exception in the sense that it carries on for the entirety of Sunday. So no cheating your way out of being quiet!

Vacations schedules change… annually

It’s a real nightmare trying to plan vacations with family who live in a foreign country if you either are a student, or have kids in school in Germany! German summer vacation, rotates by a state basis. This means that in one year kids in Berlin may have Summer start either early in July, or in August depending on the year.

However, if you want to somewhat bypass this system, just move to South Germany. The southern states are always picky and don’t like following rules, which makes them more consistent.

Don’t EVER say “Moin Moin”

It’s simply wrong! If you want to greet someone in Northern Germany, you say ONLY ONE “Moin”. Afterall, moin moin is schon gesabbel. In Southern Germany, greetings such as “Servus”, and/or “Grüß Gott” are more common. But this only applies to when you’re in the countryside. If you’re in a city, be quiet and fit in! Germans don’t like small talk and are always super strictly serious! Therefore, no smiling, a simple nod will do the trick in any major city. Unless its with your local döner man, there you embrace Turkish open, and friendliness.

Bielefeld is not real!

Bielefeld is not real! Apparently it’s a city somewhere in Germany, but nobody has ever found it. Make sure to remember this so you don’t get caught off guard when it’s mentioned!

Majorca is the 17th state of Germany

Majorca, the Spanish island? That one? Yep! That’s the unofficial 17th state of Germany due to the prominence of German tourists on the island. Mentioning this will make any German quite happy as its one of the few times where Germans show their patriotism. Besides for Football (Football not Soccer!) of course.

Now you’re ready to be German

(Clements, 2018)

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Der Spiegel. (n.d.). Anschlag in St. Petersburg: Warum das Brandenburger Tor nicht in den Farben der russischen Flagge leuchtet. Spiegel.
https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/anschlag-st-petersburg-warum-das-brandenburger-tor-nicht-in-den-farben-der-russichen-flagge-leuchtet-a-00000000-0003-0001-0000-000001284347

Clements, M. (2018, February 23). Secret city: The surprising side to Berlin you haven’t yet discovered. Escape. https://www.escape.com.au/destinations/europe/secret-city-the-surprising-side-to-berlin-you-havent-yet-discovered/news-story/8751d06b990a7aa6969631451aef7b57