German family at work. German family and its traditions. See you on the course pages

In life, every person at least once, probably, thought about what his surname means, who he is by origin, who his ancestors are and where they come from.

Last year my brother Oleg made some interesting discoveries about our family. I decided to continue the work by expanding it.

In the period of the 18th – 19th centuries, Russia developed as a civilizationally heterogeneous society. French, Italian, English artists, scientists, artists came to Russia, and the resettlement of Germans was encouraged on a massive scale. By the beginning of the 20th century, about 165 peoples belonging to various types of civilization lived in Russia. National self-consciousness was formed in open contact with other peoples. And when it comes to Russians, this does not mean at all that only Russians by blood are meant. Being close to other peoples, Russians absorbed all the best that was in the multinational culture.

STEREOTYPE "typical German".

A German pouts with beer at the Oktoberfest, wears leather shorts and a fedora with a feather. All Germans are blondes with bright eyes, cold, prudent, eating sausages, potatoes and cabbage people whose musical tastes are limited to Beethoven and Bach. Such a picture is painted by cliches and prejudices, answering the question: "what is a typical German?".

But how can one describe a "typical" resident of a country whose population exceeds 80 million?! Perhaps it should be mentioned that it is difficult for Germans to give positive feedback about themselves? Perhaps it would be appropriate to recall such typical features of the inhabitants of this country as hospitality, generosity, and willingness to help? In recent decades, thanks in large part to the many immigrants living in Germany, German society has become more open and tolerant, so that some of the well-known clichés are hopelessly outdated.

The old tales of "terrible Germans" who suffer from their negative image throughout the world are difficult to apply to specific people: Take, for example, Claudia Schiffer or Boris Becker. However, anyone who can look at Germany with an unprejudiced look will certainly be surprised. On the streets of German cities you can easily meet "typical Germans" with pigtails - "dreadlocks", chewing Turkish keba with appetite. And if you take a closer look, you can come to the conclusion that the mentality of many Germans is often much closer to the mentality of the inhabitants of neighboring countries than other federal states.

Modern Germany is too many-sided and cannot be described in a nutshell. Living here, every day you discover something new. "typically German".

According to emigrants, the dominant features of the Germans:

Commitment to order

law-abiding

Thrift

Punctuality

Pedantry

The emigrants acted as a kind of "experts", because they constantly live among the native German population.

However, for a number of qualities, emigrants do not give Germans such high marks as Russians (industriousness; professional competence;). That is, the image of a German is less idealized than the existing psychological cliche.

CHARACTER of a "typical German".

The Germans themselves see themselves somewhat differently than the prevailing psychological stereotype that exists in the minds of Russians. So, for example, adherence to order, pedantry, diligence, the Russians rate much higher than the Germans themselves.

The Germans consider the preference for material values, inflexibility and pessimism to be the most "negative" qualities in themselves, which almost coincides with the assessment of the Russians, however, they also add German pragmatism here.

Thus, the image of a typical German through the eyes of Russians, both living in Russia and now living in Germany, coincides, and Germans' ideas about themselves are close to him.

Germans highly value education, meaning by it education and general culture. Demonstrate your erudition and your knowledge is not considered in bad taste. So they participate in the cultural life of the nation and feel pride in it.

In relation to your cultural heritage The Germans show uncommon enthusiasm.

The Germans take life with incredible seriousness. Outside of Berlin, even humor is not perceived as something funny, and if it comes to your mind to make a joke, then first get written permission for this.

If you tell a German something like “they don’t look for good from good” or “a finished thing doesn’t need to be repaired”, he will decide that you are a foreigner or you need the help of a psychiatrist.

It is well known that in Germany, before taking on a task, one should put everything in its place: separate the good from the bad, the necessary from the unnecessary, accidental. Everything that belongs to you must be clearly separated from what belongs to me; the public must be protected from attempts to confuse it with the private, the true must be recognized at all costs so as not to be confused with the false. A clear definition should be developed for words belonging to the masculine and feminine genders (although in German the word "Germans" of the neuter gender), and so on and so forth.

The Germans are convinced that life is divided into two parts: public and private. The public includes work, politics, business, bureaucracy, and is very different from the private, which includes family, friends, hobbies, and recreation. What is appropriate in one hypostasis is unacceptable in another. In public - ostentatious decency, at home - all kinds of eccentricities.

Nowhere is the desire of the Germans to achieve what they want is more evident than during a vacation at sea. On the most different coasts, they have become notorious for the frenzied energy that they develop when settling on the world's best beaches.

No matter how early you appear on the beach, the Germans will still be there before you. It remains a mystery how they manage to do this, given that they go on a spree in bars and taverns well after midnight and on an equal footing with everyone else.

German humor loses a lot in translation into other languages. Most German jokes in translation are no funnier than ordinary IOUs. Take up the study of German, and soon you will find a huge layer of humor that permeates the entire German reality.

German humor is always specific. After all, you are not an idiot and will not throw a cream cake at yourself. Although the Germans do not miss the opportunity to laugh at others (other Germans, of course), their uncertain self-confidence does not allow for self-irony. The Germans do not allow themselves jokes in relation to foreigners, and they began to make fun of East Germans only after the unification. The main object of German humor, as a rule, is the characteristic features of the inhabitants of certain regions of Germany: the stiffness of the natives of Prussia, the arrogance and carelessness of the Bavarians, the stupidity of the East Frisians, the smartness of the Berliners, the deceit of the Saxons.

Germans are considered to be diligent, reliable, punctual and without a sense of humor. It is better not to fall into the thrall of these prejudices: most Germans have a sense of humor in perfect order. The theme of the Third Reich can be discussed freely. It is advisable not to forget about punctuality. You can be forgiven for being 15 minutes late, but someone who makes you wait longer is said to be stealing someone else's time. A very important Saturday procedure for Germans, and not necessarily men, is caring for their favorite car.

For most Germans, leisure is associated with one small problem: on vacation, no one tells you what to do, and no one tells you if you do it well. The Germans cope with this task in the most accessible way for them: they begin to treat rest as work. Germans on vacation are not a sight for the faint of heart, and watching them will make you so tired that you will come to your senses all day long.

You will never see a group of Germans walking quietly in the park and enjoying a summer day. Leisure is an opportunity for self-improvement, so on Monday morning you will hear a detailed account of how a German studied Old Norse over the weekend or what happened in the Sunday course for new mothers.

Favorite sports of a "typical German".

No one will condemn a German if he devotes all Saturday and Sunday to sports. The Germans do not consider sport as a means of character building. In a highly competitive society, sport is the most common way to demonstrate what you are capable of and whether you meet basic standards.

Every third German citizen is a member of a sports club.

Traditionally, preference is given to football, the most beloved sport, Formula 1; tennis became popular after the victory of Boris Becker at the Wimbledon tournament in 1985, and Becker himself and Steffi Graf turned into national heroes.

Clubs in the life of a "typical German".

Germans love clubs. They say that wherever three Germans come together, they will definitely find a reason to create a club.

If you see a group of Germans on the corner of the street, you can be sure that this is also a kind of club. There are a great many clubs: there are more than 10,000 choral multinational societies alone, and in all the rest the interests of all nations are represented in equal proportions. Many clubs have deep historical roots, such as hunting and shooting clubs. And some of them arose already in the Middle Ages and boast of their ancient rituals and traditions.

The Germans' craving for club life reflects their inability to act independently and partly explains their commitment to any organized forms. Very often, the mere involvement in the club attracts them much more than participation in club activities. The heart of every German starts to beat a little faster at the mere thought of club affairs: committees, subcommittees, projects, plans, budgets.

Love for clubs arises from childhood. Starting with small school sports organizations, real equipment and conditions for training can only be obtained in clubs. The habit of visiting the club is acquired early and remains for life. It is impossible to imagine that someone would forget the emblem of their baseball or fishing club; much more realistic that a football fan will name his unfortunate offspring after his favorite sports team.

One of the main tasks of any club is to weed out strangers and try to unite people who, in principle, have very little in common.

The typical club phrase "everyone here" ("hier sind wir unter uns") means that you can relax and feel at home here.

Christmas in Germany.

The Germans usually carefully follow the constant ritual of the holidays, a tradition that has been formed over the centuries. This also applies to Advent - the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Then a real epidemic of shopping takes over everyone. Everywhere small bazaars are arranged, temporary shops, art galleries of artisans and artists are opened. Everything is arranged so neatly, orderly, bright, attractive - it's impossible not to go. Around - mountains of goods, goods from all over the world! What do Germans give each other? Unlike us - nothing pragmatic, no everyday things. Is it something made with your own hands. They give only "unnecessary" - special Christmas bouquets, sweets, perfumes, comic toys, art or handicrafts. Interestingly, at Christmas - and only at Christmas - it is customary for Germans to give gifts to officials, people who do not belong to the circle of friends or relatives. For example, doctors, teachers, lawyers. At any other time, it is simply impossible to make a gift to these people - they will not understand you.

Another feature of the German Advent is the numerous charity events for people in need of help in Germany or abroad. Charitable events are regularly held by TV channels; on the streets in front of almost every bank they collect money for various funds or events, say, for the UN Children's Fund.

The Germans celebrate Christmas, as you know, at home they feast traditional dishes(turkey, carp), exchange presents, watch TV. And here New Year is a collective, street holiday, a holiday of carnivals, fireworks, restaurants, where festive entertainment programs are offered.

Easter in Germany.

The main spring holiday in Germany is Easter. In anticipation of her, they decorate a tree near the house, hanging bright plastic eggs or figurines of bunnies on it, chickens "Premonition" of Easter begins on the eve of Lent. For Easter, the Germans prepare a particularly plentiful and delicious holiday dinner. The main dish of Easter days is pork or beef, as well as pies. painted Easter eggs On Easter Eve, the Easter Bunny brings and hides into the house. The more eggs you find, the happier and richer you will be. And how many Easter games for children and adults exist!

Russian Germans?

Until now, we can get a variety of answers to the question of when and why the Germans ended up in Russia. The roots of the "German question" go back centuries. According to the historian N. M. Karamzin, the Germans appeared in Russia already in the 9th century. Their numbers increased significantly during the reigns of Ivan the Terrible and Peter I.

Until the middle of the 18th century, most Germans lived in the cities of Russia. Already in the time of Ivan the Terrible, a settlement arose in the north of Moscow on the Yauza River, which received the name Nemetskaya Sloboda. Thousands of military men, scientists, teachers, artists, and architects responded to Peter's call to move to Russia, helping him "cut a window to Europe" and build a new capital of the Russian state.

By universal recognition, the Germans made a great contribution to the development of military affairs, science, medicine, trade, entrepreneurship and other spheres of life in Russia. Many of them remained to live in Russia, some returned to their homeland.

In the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, the problem of developing vast spaces in the basin of the Oka and the middle Volga rivers arises. Catherine II decides to invite foreigners to colonize the region. In 1763, the Manifesto was distributed in Europe, providing for significant benefits for future settlers. Since that time, the history of active colonization of the lands of the Volga region, the Black Sea region, Little Russia begins. In the second half of the 19th century, the so-called "daughter colonies" of German peasants were formed in the North Caucasus and the Don, in the Orenburg region and Siberia.

At the end of the 19th century, there were more than 2,000 German settlements in Russia. According to the results of the First All-Russian population census in 1897. the German population was 1,790,489. The Germans of Russia had the right to free religion, regardless of confessional affiliation. For centuries they have preserved the originality of their ethnic culture.

Chapter II. Research part.

For our study, we chose families with German roots, but different national composition:

1) the Michel family: German - Russian;

2) the Enzel family: German - German;

3) the Stadukhin family: Russian - German.

Having studied theoretical material, we have identified the most important and interesting criteria and directions for comparison for us, concerning not only traditions, but also typical features of the Germans:

History of getting ancestors to Russia;

German surnames;

The meaning of surnames;

Knowledge of the language;

Traditions of celebrating the two most significant Christian holidays: Christmas and Easter;

Features of a typical German;

Passions in clothes, cuisine, sports.

Based on these criteria, we compiled questions and interviewed Enzel Maria Petrovna (née Mikhel), Stadukhina Maria Ivanovna (née Enzel) and Mikhel Valentin Fridrichovich. We have presented all the obtained data in the form of tables.

I would like to say that both Stadukhina M.I. and Enzel M.P. willingly responded to our request. We are pleased to note that we are the first who undertook the study of the traditions of Russian Germans in the city of Urai.

One of the most significant criteria is the history of the ancestors getting to Russia. As a result of the survey, we found out that none of these three families can say exactly when and under what circumstances their ancestors came to Russia. But they all assumed that it was during the reign of Catherine II.

If there are German roots, then there must be German surnames. All families have such surnames, but most of all in the Enzel family. If there are German surnames, the question is interesting, what do they mean? The surname Michel means “holy archangel”, and Enzel (from Latin) means “island”. It is worth noting that Stadukhina is nee Enzel, and Enzel is nee Mikhel, but on this stage family ties Mikhel - Mikhel were not found.

Despite the fact that our families have German surnames, they, unfortunately, do not know the German language (Mikhel V.F. and Stadukhina M.I.), and Enzel M.P. is fluent in the language. And she notes that as a child, her parents spoke German in the family, plus she chose the profession of a German language teacher.

It was also interesting to know that Maria Ivanovna Stadukhina also chose the profession of a teacher, but a teacher of the Russian language (at the moment she is the deputy head of the city of Uray for social issues).

Each nationality has distinctive features of celebrating national holidays. For Germans, two important Christian holidays are Christmas and Easter. We tried to determine which traditions were preserved in these families. As for the celebration of Christmas, there are definitely Christmas wreaths in all families. Most of the traditions, unfortunately, have not been preserved, although the Enzel and Stadukhins families always have a Christmas tree decorated by December 24, gifts for all family members and Christmas pastries are a must. All this has been preserved only because, says Enzel MP, that she has been observing these traditions since childhood. It was mother and father who from year to year celebrated Christmas in this way.

Easter. Of the traditions we have noted, all families have Easter eggs, but if in Russia they are painted, then in Germany they are painted. In our family and the Stadukhin family, the cuckoo brings Easter eggs, although the Germans only have an Easter bunny. I am pleased to note that in our family such a German tradition as rolling eggs (Easter game) has been preserved. This tradition was carried over from my paternal grandparents.

We are talking about the Germans. And who is this typical German? Features that seemed to us really typical. According to the survey, it can be seen that all 3 families find in themselves such traits as punctuality, accuracy, fidelity to the spoken word, they have the habit of getting up early, but they are completely indifferent to coffee, and if they are invited to a restaurant, they pay the bill themselves.

We were also surprised by the tastes of the Germans in clothing.

And a few words about national cuisine. Everyone knows Bavarian sausages, German beer and loves strudel. Comparative analysis showed that the Mikhel, Enzel, Stadukhin families adore sauerkraut, boiled vegetables, sandwiches (by the way, a sandwich - german word), and baked potatoes in their skins. All German dishes that are mentioned in the interview were transferred, according to the words, from their parents.

Germany is a sports country, the Germans are sports lovers. If they are not athletes, then fans. It turns out that only my father, like every German, loves football, biathlon and Formula 1.

Chapter III. Conclusions. Forecast.

As a result of the obtained data, we came to the conclusion:

1. The national composition of the family greatly influences the preservation and transmission of national traditions;

2. Our hypothesis was confirmed: in the family of Enzel MP, where she and her husband are Germans, national traditions and culture are most clearly reflected.

BUT! We came to the conclusion that the family, parents are directly related to the preservation and transmission of national culture, traditions, rituals. It is the parents who awaken self-awareness in children (who you are in a long line of ancestors), teach them to be proud of their past and present.

Our forecast is the following:

Traditions in the Mikhel, Enzel and Stadukhin families will be preserved and passed on from generation to generation only if the German parents themselves are interested in this. In the absence of interest, children and grandchildren will not remember where their roots come from.

We propose to organize a branch in the city Russian society Russian Germans Wiedergeburt, which would allow:

1. Enrich knowledge national history, language, culture;

2. To hold joint traditional German holidays that will help parents continue the aesthetic, cultural and national education of their children.

The life of a typical German family is an example of a measured bourgeois life, which is embodied in monotonous well-groomed houses and evenly mowed lawns. Strict lines and unusual accuracy in everything. It is this kind of life that is considered desirable and worthy here.

Out of habit, such a life at first may seem a bit boring and monotonous after our hustle and bustle and various life surprises, mostly not very pleasant. But soon after moving to Germany, you will see your charms in such a life. Especially in our modern world there are a huge number of opportunities to diversify your life if you suddenly get bored.

A typical German family has 1-2 cars. German thrift dictates its own rules. In Germany, small cars are popular for city trips. Here it is customary to spend resources carefully and economically - this affects the design of washing machines and drain cisterns, on the organization of urban lighting.

As for German thrift, the Germans can be understood. The stores have a lot of promotions with real discounts and they always buy on them. I have never heard that the Germans deny themselves and sit on money. Clothes are cheap - everyone buys actively, they don’t save, but they love, like all sales, there really are discounts of up to 70%.

Everything in the family is usually planned in advance. Household appliances are bought in installments. Spontaneous purchases of a new coat or car are not welcome here. The Germans love quality things. But expensive clothes are rarely bought. And only on special occasions.

Family celebrations are most often held in an inexpensive restaurant with a modest dinner or at home with wine and light snacks. I want to tell you about one interesting fact concerning the gastronomic preferences of the Germans. As wine is valued among Georgians, beer is valued among Germans! This is a favorite drink for many people in Germany! The Germans respect beer as part of their culture, but the consumption of this drink is quite moderate. Moderation is one of the things to be commended, especially when it comes to alcoholic beverages, distinguishing features Germans.

In Germany, family traditions are highly valued., although young people try to be independent, and it is considered bad form to depend on their parents. Family holidays are revered, especially Christmas, when the whole family gathers under the parental roof.

The Germans are very hardworking and far-sighted. And from the very beginning of their labor activity, the Germans begin to save money for old age. As much as possible. Therefore, if there are no surprises, they, in addition to the usual pension, in old age also have a special one accumulated over their entire life. This is often quite a lot, and there are elderly and very old people traveling all over the world, allowing themselves many things that they may have denied themselves all their lives.

What I really liked about Germany is that in small towns people who you don't know are greeted warmly. I was very glad that my husband lives in a small town. In the millionth Odessa, I'll tell you honestly, I'm a little tired of the huge number of people and cars on the streets.

Germans live mostly not in skyscrapers, but in two-story houses. Everyone carefully decorates their homes and front gardens - each in their own way - with glass balls, figurines of gnomes and other cute accessories.

The abundance of flowers is striking. They grow next to the house on the lawns, stand in front of the entrances in all kinds of pots and tubs. Everywhere squares with multi-colored carpets of flowers.

In spring, huge, like cherries, trees bloom in the streets and parks, strewn with wonderful lilac or white flowers. Many flowers decorate the balconies of houses. There are flower shops on every corner. Together with a bouquet of flowers, they give a bag with a remedy so that they do not wither longer.

Germany is the world's largest importer of cut flowers.

Among flowering plants in pots, red "Christmas stars", poinsettias, are in the first place.

In Germany, for the first time in my life, I saw these beautiful flowers.

I flew here on a fiancee visa on December 21, 2008 before Christmas, and we bought this “Christmas star” in the nearest supermarket, which pleased the eye for a whole month.

I have seen many countries. But nowhere, except in Switzerland, there is such an exemplary order as in Germany, and I really like it!

I talk more about what they are - German men, as well as about the traditions in a German family, in my Author's Course "How to marry a German and become happy at any age"

See you on the course pages!

P.S. Perhaps you have already been to Germany on a visit or just as a tourist, or maybe on a work visa. Even if you have visited this country only once in a few days, I am sure that it did not leave you indifferent.

Over time, ideas about how it should be arranged german family in to a large extent changed. Even in the recent past, a woman's life was subject to the rule of three "K" - "Kinder, Küche, Kirche" - "Children, Kitchen, Church", and it was impossible to go beyond this stereotype. In a traditional German family there were several children, the mother was a housewife and was with the children all the time, while the father was the head and breadwinner of the family. Many women did not have higher education, could not work, did not make independent decisions.

The influence of the custom of three "K" continues to be felt in German families and up to the present. In Germany, in fact, there is no such thing as a full-fledged system of preschool institutions. Although there are many, very different kindergartens, with completely different educational methods and approaches to the development of the child, nevertheless, most of these kindergartens cannot meet the needs of a woman who wants to fully engage in work after maternity leave. A child can be placed in a kindergarten only from the age of three. You can only get into the nursery group in certain social categories: you must be a working single parent, and besides that, be poor. The total number of preschool institutions is divided into three groups: in the first, you can arrange a child only for part of the day (from morning to lunch or from lunch to evening); the second work only until lunchtime, that is, they send the child home after feeding him lunch; third kindergartens take the child for the whole working day. Kindergartens of the third category are the least numerous and it is very difficult to get into them. does not have the opportunity to fully participate in the work process and in social life.

In addition, in Germany, as well as, for example, in the UK, it is not customary for grandchildren to stay with their grandmothers. German grandparents value freedom and a quiet life in old age very much. They can usually take grandchildren on weekends or for a few hours during the week, but no more. Thus, in German families, if the mother goes full-time, the child can attend several kindergartens: one from morning to lunch, the second from lunch to evening, or stay in a private kindergarten or with a nanny for some days a week, and some part of the week with Grandma. In many German companies, young mothers are given the opportunity to work part-time. Private preschools for children under three years old are very expensive, it is more profitable for a mother to stay at home with a child than to spend her entire salary on his maintenance.

This is one of the reasons why currently German families quite low birth rate. Families with only one or two children predominate, some do not have children at all. As in all developed countries in Germany a large number of so-called civil marriages, a very common practice is long-term cohabitation before the conclusion of an official marriage.

Usually men in German families they actively help the woman to take care of the child, and besides this, life in an ordinary German family is built on a rational division of responsibilities between spouses. Men often cook, perform various work on household. Most of the work in the garden and garden is done by men. The Germans prefer to do without household staff. This is dictated by the fact that, firstly, the services of a household assistant are quite expensive, and secondly, in Germany, with its developed labor legislation, one may encounter big problems when dismissing a servant and providing her social package.

Mostly German families live in their own houses. Housing is carefully selected and no less carefully equipped. The Germans are famous throughout the world for being a nation that loves order. Naturally, this is reflected in the situation in their homes. Every thing should be in its place, perfect cleanliness and order should reign. The owners of the house ask the incoming guests to wear slippers so as not to disturb the cleanliness of their home. Even if there is a small child in the house, you will not find toys scattered on the floor. All toys are on shelves or in places where a child can take them to play and then put them back, as little Germans are also brought up in love of order.

Having reached the age of majority, the child leaves home and begins an independent life. From this moment on, a young German must support himself, it is not customary to turn to parents for help and is considered indecent. Most of the boys and girls in Germany combine study and work, as they need to pay for their lives and rented housing out of their own pockets. If you have to turn to your parents for help, money is usually borrowed and then returned. Germans, therefore, have to work hard from a young age. Perhaps this is due to their special prudence in relation to money. They are very economical, spend money as rationally as possible, only on the most necessary things and always keep track of their expenses.

From the moment the children leave the parental home, their parents begin a free and fulfilling life that they could not afford when they raised the child. They often begin to spend time together, go out of town on holidays and weekends, meet with their friends and travel abroad and to resorts. Unlike many countries of the world, when a new family is officially registered, all the expenses for a wedding and a festive celebration are borne by the young themselves, and not by their parents. It is for this reason that most German families live in debt to the bank, buying housing and a car on credit.

A bit of humor: Comedy club "German family"

The components of happiness for many Russians are their own living space, family and favorite, well-paid job. Another attribute of well-being is a personal car, preferably not of domestic production. What else is needed for life? It has long been settled that once a month we pay for the apartment, once a week we do the cleaning and every weekday we take the children to the kindergarten. The way of life that has been formed over the years creates a stable stereotype that everyone lives this way. But not all, or rather, not everywhere. There is a country where people are proud of their car industry, they treat tap water extremely sparingly and sort garbage without fail. This country is Germany. In our article, we will see the life and way of life of a German family through the eyes of two people. A young girl who visited this wonderful country for the first time, and her aunt, who has been living in Germany for 11 years. Let's get acquainted - Otteliya Adamtseva, real estate lawyer:

— My aunt moved to Germany 11 years ago. The choice of the country was not accidental, my grandmother, whom I, unfortunately, never saw, was German. By the way, I was named after her. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting my aunt.

- In Frankfurt, where I got by plane, I had to transfer. At the large railway station, the building of which is adjacent to the airport, I got lost. I had to ask the staff for help. They were glad to help me. In German, English and with the help of gestures, they diligently explained the way to me, but they did not leave the place to see me off. Apparently not allowed. Another point regarding transport that surprised me is the presence of seat heating for passengers on the bus. Everything is done for the comfort of people.

Tell me, what city does your aunt live in?

- Germany is divided into lands, analogues of our regions, the inhabitants of which are very different from each other in mentality. My aunt lives in the city of Würzburg, located on the river Main in southern Germany in the federal state of Bavaria. This is a relatively small city, about 140 thousand inhabitants. Narrow streets, low-rise buildings, tiled roofs. There are also old houses, which are diligently looked after. The architecture of the buildings is dominated by the Gothic style. The city is divided into two parts due to the terrain: upper and lower. Despite the fact that every family has a car, and some have two, there is no problem where to leave the car. Each house has parking spaces. If we talk about specific brands, then residents give preference to Mercedes. And it's not about prestige, but about reliability. As they say, the engines of this brand are "millionaires". There is a story associated with this. The German, whose Mercedes has driven more than a million kilometers and has been serviced by an authorized dealer all this time, was presented with a new car from the company. Preference is given to small cars. I was struck by the large number of bicycles for which special parking lots have been created. As for the house where my aunt lives, it has three floors. Her family rents a five-room apartment on the second floor of more than 100 square meters from the municipality. meters. My aunt works in one of the local restaurants, and the employer pays the cost of renting an apartment, thus taking care of his employees. I want to note the presence of a large kitchen, not to compare with ours. The apartment has two bathrooms, one of which is a guest. Now the family is thinking about buying their own house outside the city.

— A few words about life in German families. What caught your eye?

“There is basically no garbage chute in the house. The Germans believe that household waste should be outside the home. Moreover, all household waste must be sorted. This is of great importance, since the sorted waste can be recycled. Special attention to tap water. Everything is strictly regulated. Overspending promises serious fines - up to 1000 euros. And it doesn't matter how many liters were used in excess of the norm.

— And how do the Germans like to relax?

On weekends, the people of Würzburg like to visit the pool. Even in summer, when the weather permits, they do not swim in the Rhine, where the water is very dirty. They go to cinemas, restaurants and other places of entertainment. I saw an interesting picture. When we were bowling, I noticed a German family. They behaved extremely restrainedly, observed a strict sequence. Before speaking, take a pause to think. All family members were wearing shirts, which added to my impression. Visiting trips are always planned: by date, time and treats. Everything is discussed in advance and confirmed by repeated phone calls. Within the city, many German families have so-called summer cottages. Very small and sometimes without buildings. There are no landings. They serve to make you feel outside the city walls. They also like to travel very much, since the EU visa and small distances between countries make it easy to do this. A few hours on the bus - and you are, for example, in France.

- And what about alcoholic beverages?

- In Bavaria, beer and all kinds of snacks are very fond of it. But this love is more likely not in the amount of drink, but in the quality of the drink. Drink a mug of beer and get behind the wheel in the norm of things. The main thing is to know the measure.

Is it customary to keep pets in Germany?

The Germans are very fond of dogs. You can often meet a person walking several four-legged pets at once. Moreover, dogs of different breeds and sizes: from the smallest to the very large.

- And how are things going with the safety of property and life?

- In big cities, policemen can be found at every turn. As for the city where my aunt lives, I have not seen a single one. I don't think the low crime rate is due to the number of law enforcement officers. The Germans are accustomed to living by the letter of the law, accustomed to trust each other.

The first impression is always very bright, but only by fully immersing yourself in everyday life, you can truly understand another culture. Taking the opportunity, we asked Aunt Ottelia, Elisabeth Fenrich, a few questions, sending them by e-mail.

- What is the most important thing for the Germans in the house?

— The Germans pay special attention to order. Every thing in the house should be in its place and not violate the overall design. Everything should be beautiful, everywhere should be clean, or rather, just perfect.

— Favorite dish Germans at a family dinner?

- As favorite dishes, the Germans prefer Rhenish beef roast, Baden-Württemberg onion roast and Thuringian dumplings.

- How are the roles distributed in the German family? Who is the breadwinner and who maintains the home?

- Ideas about what roles should look like in a family, in Lately have undergone changes. The situation when the head of the family is a breadwinner and the wife is a housewife is gradually becoming a thing of the past. Most often, a woman only takes care of the house while the children are still small. Now relations in the family have become more free. It is not considered shameful if a woman is in a higher position and earns more than a man.

How acute is the problem of “fathers and children” in German families?

The family has always been and will be the most important social unit. Respect for elders is in the blood of young people, so very close ties with parents are always maintained.

- In Russia, there is a curfew for teenagers under the age of 18. They are forbidden to be on the street and in entertainment establishments after 22.00 without adult accompaniment. Is there something similar in Germany?

- There is no curfew in Germany, but there are certain regulations for teenagers under 18. For example, night discos are allowed to visit persons who have reached the age of 18.

At what age do young people get married? What is it connected with?

- The Germans began to marry and get married much later than it was before. Most often, they decide to legitimize their relationship after 30 years. Recently, relationships without a marriage certificate have become popular among young people and those who have already divorced. At the same time, the number of illegitimate children increased. Now almost a third of all children are born out of wedlock. There is also the problem of single mothers.

- Tell us how things are in the real estate market?

— The situation in the German real estate market can be called stable. Compared to other real estate European countries housing in Germany is still very affordable. Rising apartment prices major cities more than for houses or apartments in rural areas. As a result, there is a wide range of prices. The Germans prefer living outside the city, but not very far from the center.

Gleb Panfilov. Photo by Elizabeth Fenrich

Each of us strives to create our own small world happiness and comfort, in which love and kindness will always reign; your family, where mutual understanding will always reign, and where each of the spouses will feel the support of each other and know that you can always rely on your other half.

We also want the family to keep all the traditions that will be passed down from generation to generation, so that all family ties are always preserved, and everyone tries to further strengthen family ties.

Probably, such ideal families do not exist, you say. It is not always possible to meet even elementary respect and culture of communication among spouses. However, families in Germany can be for us just such an example of a highly cultured family, in which mutual understanding and support from spouses always reigns. Neat Germans everywhere try to achieve the ideal, even in family relationships, in the upbringing of children, in work and study.

Before formalizing the relationship, a couple in Germany can live together for a considerable time in order to test their feelings, possibilities, how they fit each other in everyday life and in cohabitation. Only after such a long check is the decision made to formalize the relationship and create an already full-fledged family and have a child.

German families mostly live in their own homes. After the couple formalizes their relationship, the spouses begin to equip their housing and, above all, a house or apartment is carefully chosen, since housing is chosen in Germany for life.

Particular attention is paid to the interior of the house: for every German it is important that his house was always beautiful, comfortable and pleasing to the eye with its cleanliness. Even when guests come, the owners of the house always ask them to put on slippers in order not to damage the polished floors.

Every thing in the house of a German family is in its right place, nothing should violate the overall design of the room, everything should be in a strictly defined place. Getting into the house of a German family, you feel a little awkward because there is an ideal order that is terrible to break and you don’t even want to move.

If there is a small child in the house, you will not find scattered toys or children's things anywhere: all the toys are on the shelves, all the children's things are where they can be taken at any time as needed.

However, at the same time, despite this order in the house, the Germans are very easy-going people, and they love to receive guests in their house. In addition, the Germans are very fond of doing something for the house with their own hands, various crafts and souvenirs, and they instill this love in their children.

Young people in Germany, having barely reached the age of majority, leave their parental home and begin an independent life. From that moment on, they are obliged to support themselves, look for housing for themselves, for which they will also pay from their earned money. As a result, it often happens that Germans combine study with work in order to pay for living in a rented apartment.

Of course, it is not forbidden to turn to parents for help, but financial assistance is issued only as a debt that must be repaid. As a result, the Germans have to work very hard, both men and women. The Germans are very economical people, they keep track of their expenses and always spend their money very rationally, only on the most necessary things.

The family is of great importance for the Germans, and they always maintain all family ties, regardless of how far relatives and friends are from each other. The family always celebrates all the holidays together, gathering in the same house.

However, at other times, in order to visit their parents' house, children must pre-arrange the time of their arrival, otherwise they may not even be allowed to enter the door. This is a normal feature of German behavior, because in Germany it is not customary to depend on parents who have their own life.

After the children leave the parental home, the parents themselves just begin their full-fledged free life, when they can afford what they could not afford while raising the child. They often begin to spend time together, leave the city on weekends and holidays, meet their friends and travel to resorts and abroad.

The choice of a couple is made by a man or a woman in Germany independently, parents do not dictate their will to them. Even if parents do not like the choice of their son or daughter, they will not dissuade their child and the parents' attitude towards him will not change at all. This is again due to the fact that an adult person makes decisions on his own and lives independently, not counting on anyone's help.

Naturally, the couple who officially formalizes the marriage takes care of all the expenses for the wedding celebration, as well as all the expenses associated with buying a house or apartment, arranging their home, buying a car and other things, all this is paid only from the pocket of the spouses, but not in any way. from their parents. In this regard, almost all German families live in debt to banks, buying a house and cars on credit.

The birth of a child in a German family can create some difficulties due to the fact that after the mother's parental leave expires, he needs to be attached somewhere while the parents work. The fact is that grandparents categorically refuse to sit with a child, they are not ready to take on such responsibility and deprive themselves of freedom.

Naturally, they can, if they wish, take the child for a walk or for a short time, but sitting all day with the baby is not for them. Because of such a difficult situation, young parents have to adapt and take turns with the child or hire a nanny. Children are brought up to grow up independently, but parents also try to always be aware of their child's whole life.