Fun German Facts That May Surprise You

Germans are well known for many things, from beer and sausages to their history and culture. There may be some lesser-known facts about Germany that will surprise you.

Explore German political leaders such as Angela Merkel and Ludwig van Beethoven, Christmas traditions unique to Germany, and intriguing inventions with this quiz! Learn even more about this fascinating country with this interactive experience!

1. Beer is a national drink

German culture makes beer one of the world’s most iconic drinks, and for centuries has been an integral part of life – from parties and theater intermissions, to enjoying it at home or enjoying with family and friends. Why does beer hold such an integral place in German society? Join VOV24/7’s Culture Rendezvous with Josi as she discusses why this beverage remains such an integral component.

Germany is well known for their brewing traditions and Oktoberfest festival. Germany is the top producer of beer worldwide and offers seasonal varieties. As part of their unique tradition, Germans even have an unusual way of ordering beer; when ordering beer they raise three fingers (thumb, index finger and middle finger) simultaneously to indicate how many they want.

Germany is home to iconic landmarks, including the Brandenburg Gate and cathedral in Cologne. Regensburg is an internationally acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage site known for its medieval architecture; additionally, Regensburg saw many important innovations being developed here including Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press, Karlheinz Brandenburg’s MP3 audio format, Hans Riegel’s gummy bears – just to name a few!

If you want to gain more insight into German culture and history, traveling there will provide an unparalleled learning experience. There’s so much more than meets the eye here!

2. Germany is the first country to adopt Daylight Savings Time

George Hudson first proposed the idea of setting clocks according to sunlight hours in 1810. He believed that moving clocks forward would allow farmers to more efficiently use daylight hours, making work possible during more hours of sunlight. Germany quickly took this concept and implemented Daylight Saving Time two years into World War I on April 30, 1916 as a way to conserve fuel and energy for their war effort; many countries followed suit including the United States which officially adopted Daylight Saving Time in 1918.

Today, Germany is a thriving democracy with an abundant culture that has been shaped by decades of political division. Comprised of 16 states each with unique traditions and identities – for instance Oktoberfest draws tourists from all around the globe; Germans pride themselves on punctuality. When others respect their time they appreciate it as much as expected by others!

Germany is widely known for its automobiles, such as the Volkswagen Beetle which first made its debut in 1938 and quickly became one of the most beloved car models after World War II. Germans also are widely revered for their scientific and technical achievements with third highest Nobel Prize laureates to name only some aspects that may not be well-known; such as that the most common name among them being Thomas! But perhaps lesser-known facts may also exist such as this fact of German culture being Thomas being most frequently encountered?

3. Same-sex marriage is legal

Germany was among the last European nations to legalise same-sex marriage, yet when parliament voted in favour of it on Friday it caused joyous scenes in the chamber. MPs threw glitter and streamers, while gay couples in public gallery kissed and embraced each other – the vote counted 393 for, 226 against, four abstentions; even Chancellor Angela Merkel opposed it, yet its passage had already been ensured through inviting MPs to vote according to conscience.

Green party and Linke party introduced the bill into parliament, while CDU/CSU coalition partners allowed their members to vote as they saw fit without party whips or orders from above. Although this made its passage likely, some politicians were still resistant to change the law despite Mrs Merkel expressing support for same-sex marriage by saying it would ultimately be up to each individual person’s decision whether they wanted marriage.

On 30 June, Germany’s Bundestag approved same-sex marriage with a majority vote; then on 7 July it was approved by Germany’s upper house (Bundesrat). This marked a landmark moment in German history as this legislation legalised same-sex marriages for the first time ever.

The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) upheld that both the process and substance of Germany’s new legislation was constitutional. Prior to its passage, same-sex couples in Germany could form registered life partnerships that provided many of the benefits associated with marriage – except pension rights and adoption rights.

4. Hamburger is a German dish

The hamburger is one of the world’s most beloved meals, consisting of a ground beef patty served on a bun with toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Although initially popularized by United States culture and enjoyed in Germany alike, its global reach makes it hard to ignore its German roots when discussing its development. To fully comprehend where this iconic American dish began.

Steak tartare was one of the early precursors to today’s hamburgers and was made with raw minced meat. It first gained popularity during Russia’s industrialization period during the 1600s, when ships from Hamburg regularly visited Russia ports to trade. Sailing ships brought back this dish back home where it became known as Hamburg Steak (like today’s burger but less fattening and non-fried).

German immigrants introduced the burger steak to America during the 19th century. Americans quickly adopted this dish and put it on a bun to create what we know today as the classic hamburger.

So if you are searching for something new to try this week, why not give making a hamburger a try? With its origins in Germany and renowned flavor profile, this tasty treat should provide hours of entertainment! Just ensure to purchase top quality meat products for optimal results – then enjoy! Hallie Lieberman is a Berlin-based food and sex writer and author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of Sex Toys (to be published by Pegasus Books later in November). Connect with her on social media via Twitter and Facebook!

5. Germany is the largest country in Europe

As one of Europe’s largest countries, Germany boasts an incredibly varied landscape and culture. Bordered by nine other European nations – making Germany an important focal point in Europe. Germans enjoy strong relationships with their neighbours and strive to promote peace, security and prosperity within Europe as a whole.

Germany is a democratic nation in which its citizens vote for representatives in its Bundestag (parliament). These representatives come from multi-party systems and are elected through proportional representation methods. Although highly industrialised, Germany still boasts an abundance of natural assets like forests and rivers – the Black Forest being Europe’s largest wooded area and source of the Danube river; furthermore the countryside hosts wild animals like deer and wild boar that roam free; many lakes and rivers offer ample fish populations as well.

Germany takes great strides to protect its wildlife, with 97 nature reserves across the country. Germans are known for their love of classical music and have produced some of history’s greatest composers like Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann. Berlin itself has earned international renown due to its architectural gems which have earned UNESCO World Heritage status.

Berlin boasts over 2,500 bridges – four times as many as Venice! Germans are famed for their beer and enjoy exploring over 1,500 types of sausage, with curriedwurst being enjoyed by over 800 million people every year! Furthermore, Germans are highly literate individuals who appreciate reading books; this has resulted in them being pioneers of scientific research for generations.