Fun Facts About Germany!
- Germans are the second largest beer consumers in the world, after the Irish (of course).
- Beer is officially considered a food in Bavaria.
- Germany is Europe’s largest economy.
- The most popular German surname (Nachname) is Müller.
- Chancellor Angela Merkel has a Barbie doll made after her.
- Historically, Germany was known as the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Weimar Republic.
- There are over 300 kinds of bread in Germany.
- There are 35 dialects of the German language.
- The Wittelsbachs ruled Bavaria for 738 years.
- German is the official language of 5 countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. It is also spoken in Northern Italy and the French provinces of Alsace and Lorraine.
- Germany is the first country to adopt Daylight Saving Time (DST) in 1916.
- While it is called Oktoberfest, it actually starts in Steptember.
- The first Oktoberfest was a wedding celebration for Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.
- 65% of the Autobahn (highway) has no speed limit.
- German is the third most commonly taught language worldwide.
- When JFK visited Berlin, he infamously said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which also translates to “I am a jelly donut.”
- Hugo Boss designed the official uniforms for the Nazi Party and Hitler Youth.
- To ask for a beer in a pub, you would use your thumb to indicate “one” rather than your index finger (watch Inglorious Basterds for improper examples of ordering beer)
- The longest word published in the German language is Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft (79 letters).
- The Berlin Wall fell in 1989
- Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany.
- There are over 150 castles in Germany.
- The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
- There are over 60 beer gardens in Munich.
- Berlin is nine times bigger than Paris.
- In the 4th grade, German kids are placed into Hauptschule, Realschule or Gymnasium, which pretty much determines if you will go to university or straight to the work force (Gymnasium is the highest level).