GERMANY

By Caitlyn Phillips

Due: December 7, 2011

Mrs. Johnson’s PACE Class

INTRODUCTION I’m going to teach you about Germany. You will learn about many different things

including Germany’s history, meals and foods, family and customs, geography and climate, clothing, school, and festivals.

You will also see many pictures. I hope you will appreciate all the hard work

and effort I put into this.

HISTORY Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire more than a

thousand years ago. War and fighting was causing the empire to become weak,

and rulers were gaining power over small parts of Germany.

In 1871, Germany became one nation instead of several different states.

World War I was a disaster for Germany. More than six million Germans died and they had to pay gold and goods to other countries who won the war.

Hitler was the German chancellor and he killed many people. He was the cause of World War II. After six years the war ended and Germany had lost.

After the war, Germany was divided into East Germany and West Germany.

In 1989 the wall between East and West Germany was taken down and a year later, Germany again became a united nation.

MEALS/FOOD

Breakfast usually consists of bread with either honey, jam, or Nutella on top.

The common German lunch is usually potatoes, vegetables, meat with gravy, and sometimes even a dessert. Lunch is usually considered the main meal.

Dinner is often cold sausage, cheese, maybe even a sandwich or salad. If dinner is the main meal because it is the only meal where all family members are present, then it will be hot.

Germany inspired the hotdogs in North America.

FAMILY/CUSTOMS Family:The majority of German households are made up of a married couple with or without children.In some areas, several generations of families live together.Relationships with relatives are an important part of a German family.In most families both parents work.

Customs:The custom of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas time is a popular custom in Germany. It was adopted by America.The custom of the hunting for decorated eggs on Easter morning is a popular German custom. It was also adopted America.Shaking hands is a custom of Germans and when meeting friends or acquaintances you are expected to shake hands.German weddings have two parts- a civil ceremony at a government office and a church service the following day. Between the ceremonies the couples will have a “rumble night” where friends and family all gather with them to smash glass to frighten away the devil.

GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE Geography:Northern Germany has lots of plains and is mostly farm land.Central Germany is tree-covered mountains and river valleys.Southern Germany has some of the highest mountains in the country.

Climate: Germany has a mild climate. January (the coldest month) has average temperatures of 21 degrees- 34 degrees Fahrenheit.July (the warmest month of the year) has average temperatures of 64 degrees-68 degrees Fahrenheit.There is snowfall between early November to late April.

CLOTHING The Germans dress very similar to

Americans. They have to dress warm though,

because it is usually very cold in Germany.

The price of clothing in Germany is so high, that some Germans buy a plane ticket to America and buy clothes for a cheaper price than it would have been to buy clothes in Germany.

A dirndl is a traditional dress, which was worn in the Southern area of Germany. The dirndl is worn today only for traditional events.

SCHOOL Education is mainly for children between

the ages of six and fifteen (or sixteen in some places). This covers basic education for four to six years, and lower secondary school.

More academic students go to a gymnasium until age 18.

Literacy – 99% School in Germany ends at lunchtime.

FESTIVALS One of the most popular festivals in

Germany is Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest is a beer festival.

The Germans have many different festivals for many different reasons. There are beer fests, wine fests, fests for the first blossom of spring, and many more.

Some of the most popular celebrated holidays are New Year's, Epiphany, Mardi Gras, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost, Christmas, and Unity Day.

CITATIONS www.avl.lib.al.us www.everyculture.com

CLOSING SLIDE Something interesting about Germany is

that dogs are treated like kings .They can go just about everywhere: first class restaurants, trains and buses, even clothing shops and bookstores.

I have brought you some items to look at that came from Germany.

I hoped you enjoyed the PowerPoint and learned a lot about Germany.

If you have any questions, please just ask me. Thank you.