Germany — Socializing

Cultural Attributes: Germans have a reputation for being industrious, thrifty, and orderly. They have a strong sense of regional pride, a fact that the federal system of government recognizes and accommodates. Most Germans have a strong classical education because of the nation’s rich heritage in music, history and art and they expect others to appreciate that heritage.
Salutations: A handshake is the most common form of greeting. A man waits for a woman to extend her hand before shaking it; in mixed company he shakes a woman’s hand before a man’s. In groups, several people do not shake hands at once; crossing someone else’s handshake is inappropriate. By tradition, only family members and close friends address each other by their first names. Others use titles and surnames, although this is changing among young people.

Gestures: Pointing the index finger to one’s own head is an insult to another person. Instead of crossing one’s fingers for luck, German’s ‘squeeze the thumb’ between the index and the middle fingers. Only the thumb tip is between the fingers; allowing it to protrude is an offensive gesture. In some areas, public displays of affection are not appropriate. Germans wear their wedding rings on their right hands, not on the left.
In some areas when men reach the age of 30 and they still do not have a girlfriend that they have to sweep the stairs of the city hall. All their friends will throw rubble on the stairs and when the man is finished they will throw some more rubble there. This way every girl can see that this man reached the age of 30 and still doesn't have a girlfriend (and that he can clean a house very well!).

Visiting: Punctuality is appreciated, if guests are invited for dinner at 8 p.m., they will arrive at 8 p.m, but it is not an insult for guests to arrive a few minutes late. Dinner guests often bring an odd number of flowers to the hosts. Flowers are unwrapped before they are given. Guests usually stand when the host enters the room and remain standing until offered a seat again. It is also courteous to stand when a woman enters the room. Spontaneous visits, even between neighbors, are not very common. Arrangements are usually made in advance.

A member of the birthday person’s family wakes up at sunrise and lights the candles on the birthday cake. There are as many candles as the years of age of the birthday person plus one for good luck. The candles are left burning all day long. After dinner that night then everyone sings the birthday song and the birthday person blows out the candles. If all of the candles are blown out in one try then the wish of the birthday person will come true. Presents are then opened and the party starts.