German Culture

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Germany vs USA: Which Country is Better?

Germany vs USA

This question cannot possibly be evaluated completely objectively as personal feelings and cultural biases inevitably creep into the analysis. It’s important to consider that most human beings tend to view their own culture in more favorable ways. Neither country offers “paradise on Earth”.

Let’s keep it simple and focus on the major differences.

1. Career:

USA: Flexible. Easier to get a job. Easier to lose a job. Easier to “reinvent yourself”. Rewards talent, hard work and flexibility.

Germany: Rigid. Hard to find a job. High job security. Rewards loyalty and predictability. Slightly lower job satisfaction because of a reluctance to switch jobs.

2. Culture:

USA: Friendly with strangers, more religious, more proud, more self-confident, make friends quickly.

Germany: Aloof with strangers, less religious, more humble, more shy and introspective, make friends more slowly.

3. Education:

USA: University education is typically extremely expensive. Quality of schools varies dramaticly (from horrible to excellent).

Germany: University education is typically free. Typically you must know German to study. Most schools are good. But very few are excellent.

4. Entertainment:

USA: Entertainment capital of the world, better selection of television programs, better music industry.

Germany: Comparatively small entertainment industry, hardly impressive if you’ve lived in the USA.

5. Entrepreneurship:

USA: Much easier to start a company, much easier to become rich.

Germany: Harder to break through the bureaucracy, very hard to become very rich.

6. Fitness:

USA: Less time for fitness and outdoor recreation. Obesity is a serious health problem. Less free time impacts achievable fitness.

Germany: More options and more time for fitness. Massive hiking and cycling infrastructure. Obesity exists here as well, but is less critical.

7. Free time:

USA: Two weeks vacation per year is typical. There are exceptions. Working from home is becoming more popular.

Germany: Six weeks vacation per year is average. Many companies allow for reduced hours (for example, 30 hours per week). Working from home is becoming more popular.

8. Government:

USA: Two-party system. Both parties offer similar strategies in spite of advertising otherwise. World’s only super power. Huge defense and military budget. Attitudes are highly polarized. Wealth inequality is a big problem. Religion and entertainment play a big role in politics.

Germany: Multiple (more than five) party system. Low military budget. Less extreme political views. Less economic inequality. Political thinking is more rational, more serious, more separated from religion and entertainment.

9. Health care:

USA: Some people cannot get health insurance, people must work in order to maintain health insurance, good quality of health care. Currently lower health security. This may change.

Germany: Health insurance guaranteed for everyone, private health insurance competes with public health insurance to create some inequality of care, nevertheless good quality of health care. Overall higher health security.

10. Poverty:

USA: High income and wealth inequality. Higher crime rate. Highest incarceration rate. Largest prison system in the world.

Germany: Poverty is rare. Drug addicts live in poverty because of their lifestyle.

11. Privacy:

USA: Government and big tech companies (Facebook, Google, etc.) gather massive amounts of personal data.

Germany: Privacy is a big concern for Germans. US government and big US tech companies still gather the personal data of Germans anyway.

12. Safety:

USA: Gun violence and crime are a problem in many neighborhoods. Rich neighborhoods are comparatively safe.

Germany: Gun violence is not a problem. Crime exists, but much, much less than in the USA (on average).

13. Salary & Money:

USA: Salaries vary greatly (from minimum wage to six-figure incomes). Lower taxes. Capitalist system encourages buying, consumption and wastefulness.

Germany: Salaries are more uniform and slightly lower for comparable work. Higher taxes. Germans are cautious with their money and don’t like to waste. As such, they tend to experience greater financial ease in spite of earning less.

14. Transportation:

USA: Most people travel by car. Public transportation is mostly for the poor. Some cities are exceptions to this rule (New York City, Boston, Washington D.C.).

Germany: Excellent public transportation in all urban centers. Rural areas typically require owning a car.

15. Wealth:

USA: More rich people, more poor people, worship of money and luxury.

Germany: Less rich people, rich people are reluctant to show off their money due to the pervasive culture of envy.

16. Weather & Climate:

USA: Varies greatly depending on location (Florida vs. Minnesota).

Germany: Similar to North-East USA (for example, Pennsylvania), less sun in winter, very long days in summer.

Obviously, there is no possible single answer. It depends half on the country and half on you.

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Bavarian Alps

Neuschwanstein castleBavaria used to be an independent kingdom. It joined the German Empire in 1871 and has been part of Germany ever since. The largest federal state of Bavaria consists of Lake Constance, Franconia, the capital city of Munich and the Alps. The Bavarian Alps are part of the Alps and continue across the border into Austria. The region is considered one of the most picturesque in Germany. This is where German or Bavarian stereotypes of dirndl and lederhosen, bratwurst, and glistening alpine peaks come true. It is a very rural area, abundant with wildlife and many glacial lakes and thick fir tree forests. It is a place where traditions are still very strong. Maybe it is due to the fact that Bavarians are generally more conservative than other Germans.

Zugspitze

Zugspitze

The Bavarian Alps are not very high, the highest peak of Zugspitze is only 2964 m. But the view of the mountains gives an impression that they are much higher than they really are because of the massive vertical rise from the Bavarian countryside south of Munich.

Quiet villages and health retreats are common for this district. Most of the resorts have plenty of reasonably priced accommodation. There may be a charge (Kurtaxe) for overnight stays, but this entitles to certain perks, like free tours, a city bus service and entry to special events. One has a wealth of outdoor possibilities for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, canoeing and para-gliding – much of it year-round. The ski season lasts from about late December until April. One of the largest resorts in the area is Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Other bases are Berchtesgaden, Füssen and Oberstdorf.

The resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen offers some of the best skiing experience in the land, including runs on Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze. The towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen were merged for the 1936 Winter Olympics, and to this day host international skiing events. In 2011 the Alpine World Skiing Championships will be held here for the first time since 1978. Garmisch-Partenkirchen also makes a handy base for excursions to Ludwig II’s palaces, including the Schloss Linderhof and the Jagdschloss Schachen.

Berchtesgaden is framed by six formidable mountain ranges and is home to Germany’s second-highest mountain, the Watzmann (2713m), there are a lot of gurgling mint-colored streams and peaceful Alpine villages. Outdoor activities, notably hiking, are plentiful. The mountain-top Eagle’s Nest, a lodge built for Hitler, is a major draw card, as is the Dokumentation Obersalzberg, a museum that chronicles the region’s dark Nazi past.

Hohenschwangau Castle

Hohenschwangau Castle

The castles of the Bavarian Alps are also worth seeing. If one is interested in history, it would be fascinating to visit the town of Füssen, nestled at the foot of the Alps. It is located at the southern end of the Romantic Road and is located near two magnificent castles of the Bavarian Alps. The first of these is Hohenschwangau, an ancient fortress originally built by a family of knights. The citadel fell into ruin for years only to be revitalized by King Ludwig I. His son, the colorful character Ludwig II, spent many days of his youth in Hohenschwangau. The other castle, Neuschwanstein, is very mysterious and romantic. Its towers inspire a feeling of magic. Majestic walls reflect the brilliant sunlight. This view is really unforgettable.

The Bavarian Alps offer a lot of opportunities to enjoy yourself. Whether you choose to be active and go hiking or biking up and down the tricky mountain roads, or simply admire the majestic views while strolling down the quiet town streets, you are sure to fall in love with the region.



Prinzregententorte – Bavarian Layered Chocolate Cake

Prinzregententorte is a Bavarian torte consisting of several thin layers of sponge cake with chocolate buttercream filling and a topping of apricot jam upon the very last. The exterior is covered in a dark chocolate glaze. Prinzregententorte was created in the honor of Luitpold, the Prince Regent. Luitpold is rather revered by the Bavarians and his reign as Regent is looked back on as a Golden Age. So a certain Heinrich Georg Erbshäuser who was a baker by profession is said to have created the cake in the year 1886 honoring Luitpold.

Prinzregententorte usually consists of 8 layers. It is interesting to note that the number 8 also carried certain significance. The figure 8 represented the eight Bavarian districts – Swabia, Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, Middle Franconia, Lower Franconia, Upper Franconia, Upper Palatinate, and Rheinpfalz or the Rhenish Palatinate. Today, however, Bavaria has only seven districts and the very last in the above list – Rheinpfalz or the Rhenish Palatinate is no longer considered as a district. It is a part of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. Therefore the cake can have 7 layers now.

Ingredients:

Cake

1 cup of butter
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 1/2 cup flour
1 2/3 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
100 g apricot jam (optional)

Buttercream

250 g butter
170 g icing sugar
3 egg yolks
100 g dark chocolate, melted and cooled

Ganache

100 g semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream, boiling

Preparation:

For cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C. Let the eggs and butter sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
2. Beat the butter in a large mixing bowl for 1 minute.
3. Add sugar and beat for another minute.
4. Add one egg at the time, beating after each addition.
5. Beat in vanilla.
6. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt.
7. Add milk, beat well for about a minute.
8. Divide the dough into 7 equal parts, either by weighing or by simply eyeballing it. Spread each of the seven parts of dough onto a sheet of baking paper. To make it easier, draw a circle on a piece of paper, then put baking paper on top and spread the dough using the circle shape under the baking paper. Bake for about 10 minutes, do a toothpick check, bake a couple minutes longer if needed.
9. Cool for a few minutes then take the layers out of the baking pans and cool completely.

For Chocolate Buttercream filling:

1. Warm the chocolate in a double boiler until melted and allow to cool slightly.
2. Beat the butter until it is fluffy (about 3-5 minutes) and then fold in the icing sugar and the egg yolk alternately, beating after each addition.
3. The mixture should be very fluffy.
4. Gradually fold in the melted chocolate drop by drop.
5. Spread the cream on five (not the top one) of the cake layers and place them one on top of the other.

Chocolate Frosting:

1. Bring the heavy cream to boil, be careful not to let it actually boil or it will rise.
2. Pour the boiling cream over the chopped chocolate and stir until melted. Cool to a little warmer than room temperature.
3. Spoon the chocolate frosting on top of the cupcake and let is slowly spread. If it does not spread too easy, help it with the edge of the rubber spatula very carefully. Make sure the sides and the top are perfectly smooth. Let the cake sit at cool room temperature for at least an hour before serving.




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Donauwelle Kuchen

Donauwelle Kuchen (Danube Wave Cake) is an incredible dessert with layers of vanilla and chocolate cake, cherries, German buttercream, and ganache. After the cake is baked and cooled off a chocolate glaze is applied to the top of the cake and waves are made using a fork. When the cake is cut in squares it looks a little like the waves of the Danube river from the side. The Donauwelle cake looks very elegant and tastes great with the different flavors.

Ingredients:

For the cake:

  • 2 cans pitted sour cherries 400 ml each, drained
  • 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder sifted
  • 1 tablespoon whole milk

For the buttercream layer:

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/4 cups whole milk
  • vanilla
  • 1 cup unsalted butter

For the chocolate ganache topping:

  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate
  • 8 ounces heavy cream

Preparation:

For the cake:

1. Preheat oven to 185°C. Grease a 25 cm x  30 cm baking pan. Spread drained cherries out on 3 layers of paper towels to absorb more liquid.

2. Beat butter in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. Whisk together flour and baking powder. Add to butter mixture in two additions, beating on medium speed, until just combined. Spread 2/3 of the batter into prepared pan. Add cocoa powder and milk to remaining 1/3 of the batter. Mix until just combined. Spread evenly over light-colored batter in the pan.

4. Spread cherries over batter. Press cherries lightly into batter with a spoon or spatula. Bake in the bottom third of oven for about 35 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cake completely in the pan on a wire rack.

For the buttercream layer:

1. Whisk together cornstarch, sugar, egg yolks, salt, vanilla and 1/4 cup milk in a medium bowl. Bring the remaining 2 cups milk to a low boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat.

2. Add 1/2 of the heated milk slowly to egg yolk mixture, on ladle at time, and whisking while adding (to temper the mixture and not cook the egg yolks). Add tempered egg mixture slowly back to the saucepan, whisking while adding. Bring mixture to a slow boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. When mixture begins to thicken, switch to whisking until mixture comes to a simmer. It will be very thick.

3. Transfer mixture to a bowl and place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming on top. This is similar to a thick pudding at this point. Cool pudding to room temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer to check temperature and do not proceed to the next step until it is at room temperature. If pudding is too warm it will melt the butter in the next step.

4. Beat butter until smooth. Add cooled pudding, about 2 tablespoons at a time, to butter and mixing well after each addition. Spread on top of cooled cake. Place plastic wrap directly on top. Chill cake for at least 1 hour or better yet overnight.

For the chocolate ganache topping:

1. Use a large knife to chop chocolate into very small pieces. The thinner the pieces (almost like shaving), the better. Place chocolate in a medium bowl.

2. Bring cream just to a low boil over medium-high heat. Pour heated cream over chocolate. Let sit for 5 minutes. Gently stir until combined. You do not want to incorporate air or bubbles into the mixture so stir gently and slowly.

3. Remove plastic wrap from top of cake. Pour ganache over cake. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
Drag a pastry comb or a fork back and over ganache to make a wave pattern. Keep cake covered and chilled when not serving.




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German Flag Origin

The flag of Germany was adopted in its present form in 1919. It was readopted with the new constitution of 1949. It is a tricolor, made of three equal horizontal bands colored black (top), red, and gold (bottom).

There are several theories regarding the origins of the German flag color scheme and its meaning. The most popular theory is that the black and gold combination relates to the colors on the semi-official coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire. When the Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist these two colors were closely associated with Austria’s Habsburg Dynasty, which became known as the “Black and Gold Monarchy.”

In the radical 1840s the black-red-gold flag was used to symbolize the movement against the Conservative European Order that was established after Napoleon’s defeat. The movement fell apart within a year, but it had succeeded in drafting a constitution that declared “Basic Rights for the German People.”

The Frankfurt Parliament had declared the black-red-gold as the official colors of the German Confederation, with the red symbolized the Hanseatic League and the gold and black symbolizing Austria. These colors soon came to be regarded as the national colors of Germany during this brief period, and especially after their reintroduction during the Weimar period, they have become synonymous with liberalism in general.

The leaders of the 1848 Revolution adopted the tricolor flag in the National Assembly or Frankfurt Parliament

After the Austro-Prussian War in 1866 the South-German States aligned with Austria, including Bavaria, Baden are said to have flown the black-red-gold flag, further illustrating the distinctions between the present day color scheme and the northern, Prussian tradition. On June 25, 1867 the coalition adopted a flag that blended the colors of its largest and smallest member Prussia (black and white) and the Hanseatic League (red and white) into a new black-white-red horizontal tricolor. This flag would also be the national flag for the subsequent German Empire from 1871 to 1918, which finally replaced the German Confederation.

After Germany’s defeat in World War I this German Imperial flag fell into disuse and the new Weimar Republic reinstated the black-red-gold sequence in 1919. When the Nazis came to power in 1933 the black-red-gold flag was replaced with the black-white-red. And in 1935 they replaced all German governmental flags with designs based on the swastika flag that had been their Nazi party flag ( a red flag with a white disk in the center containing a black swastika).

After the defeat of Germany in World War II, Germany was occupied by the Allies. The Allied Control Council banished the existing national flags.

After some debate, the black-red-gold flag was once again adopted as the German federal flag for the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) on May 9,1949.

The German Democratic Republic (East Germany ) used the same flag, but on October 1, 1959 it introduced a communist emblem to the center of the flag: a hammer (symbolizing the workers), and a pair of compasses (symbolizing the intellectuals) inside ears of grain (symbolizing the farmers). This remained until the territory of the former GDR was reunified with the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990.

In Germany there is a very modest public use of the flag and national symbols at all. The flag in Germany is used nearly only by official authorities on special occasions or by the public in sport events.




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Räuberbrötchen

These fun little bread rolls are perfect as a side dish to a soup or as a small snack.

Ingredients:

250 g Quark
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
8 tbsp milk
6 tbsp oil
300 g flour
1 pck. baking powder
100 g diced ham
100 g roasted onions
100 g cheese, grated

 

Preparation:

  1. Mix together Quark, sugar, salt, milk, oil, flour and baking soda. Knead ham cubes, fried onions and cheese into the dough.
  2. Form the dough into a roll, cut into small pieces and form very small rolls. Place the rolls on a baking tray lined with baking paper and bake at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes till golden brown.




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Vatertag – Father’s Day in Germany

Father’s day in Germany is so much more than gifting a tie. This public holiday is a day off work for everybody, and a chance for men to act like boys. Known as Vatertag (also Männertag), it involves drinking lots of beer, riding a beer bike, and, unfortunately, little responsibility.

Germany’s Vatertag coincides with Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt in German). It happens every year on the fortieth day after Easter on a Thursday in May.

But in Germany you’re more likely to see day-drinking debauchery than pious reverence for the holiday (unless you’re in Bavaria) and it’s not just because people are excited not to work. It is a national holiday around the country and the Friday following is usually a Bruckentag (bridge day) providing for a 4-day weekend. That means you can have one drunken day out and three days to recover.

The holiday actually has noble beginnings in the Middle Ages as a religious ceremony honoring Gott, den Vater (God, the father). Towards the 1700s, the day transformed into Vatertag, a family day honoring the father of the household. Men would be carted into the village center and the father with the most children would earn a reward, often a large ham.

It fell completely out of favor for a while, but made a comeback in the 19th century as Männertag. Losing the focus on dear old dad, it was billed as a “boys’ day out” or by its more positive euphemism for “gentlemen parties”. How that has transformed to today’s celebrations where there is nary a gentlemen to be seen is still a question.

While celebrations are generally men only, it is not limited to fathers. Any male with Männlichkeitswahn (machismo) and a desire to indulge in their caveman side can participate in Vatertag.

Popular activities for Father’s Day in Germany

  • Pub tour of your favorite bars (Männerrunde)
  • Indulge in the drinks, eats, and atmosphere of Germany’s many Biergartens
  • Group bike ride with a Bollerwagen (hand wagon) of booze or by beer bike
  • Reserve spots in a beer hall for your group to drink and sing your way through the day
  • Gather in a park with games like Boules, a grill and crates of beer, schnaps and mixers

If you’d like to honor your father, gifts are of course appreciated. Something as simple as a call is expected, or you can get creative. Better yet, buy papa a German beer to fit the spirit of the holiday.

Whatever the day brings, alcohol is likely to be involved. Männertag’s reputation as a Sauftag (drinking day) has made it unpopular among some segments of the public and – understandably – with the Polizei (police).

According to the UDV (German insurers accident research institute) there are three times as many alcohol-related traffic accidents on Männertag. Please remember: wherever the day takes you, it is your responsibility. Abide by all laws and regulations and be respectful of the authorities. Männertag is only one day a year, you don’t want to pay for it with the other 364.

For those that want to opt out of the celebrations, it is still a day off in May that offers the chance to enjoy beautiful weather. Stay out of the bars, avoid roving groups of men, and enjoy your holiday.




Favorite German Drinks to Try

No matter how hot the weather, Germany has got you covered!

1. Schorle is a beverage where sparkling mineral water and juice are mixed, comparable to a spritzer. This is as refreshing as a soft drink on a hot day, but with less calories and sugar. The most common varieties of Schorle are Apfelschorle, apple juice mixed with sparkling water, followed by Johannisbeerschorle, red currant mixed with sparkling water. Most soda machines and supermarkets have some form of Schorle available and many restaurants list it on their menu. In case you do not see it on the menu, feel free to ask your server.

2. Radler is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks among Germans, which simply is beer mixed with sparkling lemonade. Radler is available pre-mixed in a bottle or the server or bartender will make it upon ordering. Don’t try mixing Fanta instead of sparkling lemonade with beer, it is not comparable to Radler at all. While no one seems to know the exact origin of the word Radler, one source traces it back to being used by cycling clubs, since the translation of Radler is biker. On the menu it can also be called Alsterwasser or just Alster in Hamburg.

3. Spezi is a soft drink mix of cola, orange soda, orange juice, and lemon juice. The most popular brand names being Pepsi’s Schwip Schwap or Coca Cola’s Mezzo Mix. Make sure it is chilled.

 

4. Apfelwein is a cider which is most popular in the Frankfurt am Main region. It has an alcohol content of about 6% and a sour, tart apple taste. It is traditionally served in a glass with diamond-cut ridges called Geripptes. The way to order Apfelwein varies depending on how many people at your table are drinking it. To order it by the glass for one person, order a Schoppen. To order a large amount to share with the table, ask for a Bembel, a stoneware pitcher of Apfelwein. Other regional names for Apfelwein are Äppler, Ebbelwoi or Stöffsche.

5. KiBa is the coolest-looking drink out of all of these and is short for Kirsch Banane. Kirsch translates as “cherry”, Banane means “banana”, and to make the drink you simply need cherry and banana juice. If you are curious and want to make the drink before you take off to Germany, make sure to chill the bottles in the fridge as it tastes best cold! You’ll need half a glass of banana juice, then slowly add the cherry juice which will go to the bottom of the glass and give you a colorful, layered effect.

6. Bowle is the Germans’ way of describing a punch containing chunks of juicy, refreshing fruit. It’s usually served in a large glass punch bowl which goes by the same name. Most German punches include juice, lemonade or sparkling wine as well as white wine, and there might be a dash of rum or other spirits added. Of course, there are always the non-alcoholic versions for kids or teetotallers too.




Schwetzingen Asparagus Salad

Spring in Germany means one thing: asparagus season, or Spargelzeit. Germans are obsessed with asparagus, which is often called the “vegetable of kings” or even “white gold” when the particular white variety comes into season at farmers market stalls. Typically, asparagus is served with butter and ham, or with hollandaise sauce – but its preparations are almost unlimited. This is a spring salad of tender asparagus with a creamy green herb dressing topped with finely chopped egg.

Ingredients:

400 g fresh asparagus
salt
pinch sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
2 tablespoons cream
3 tablespoons canola oil
pepper
chervil
cress
1 hard-boiled egg

Preparation:

  1. Peel asparagus and cut into pieces about 5 cm long. Place in saucepan and cover with water. Add a pinch of salt and pepper and cook for about 10 to 12 minutes. The asparagus should still be a little crunchy. Drain asparagus and keep the stock.
  2. Blend 4 tablespoons of stock, vinegar, cream and oil, add freshly-ground black pepper, mix in chopped herbs. Pour mixture over warm asparagus and sprinkle with finely-chopped egg.




German Card Games

Germany has a strong tradition with respect to card games, as a result the most popular game varies by region.

Skat, Doppelkopf and Schafkopf are amongst the most popular, they are very similar to each other and pretty tactical. Schafkopf is traditionally played in Bavaria (South-East), Doppelkopf is more popular in the West and North, and Skat originates in the East, but has gain a lot of traction elsewhere since it is the most tactical variant and often played competitively.

Mau Mau is a very simple game which is also popular throughout Germany especially amongst children, UNO is essentially the commercial version of it.

There are many more card games which enjoy local popularity, but may not be known elsewhere. Binokel, Watten, 66 (Schnapsen), Gaigel, just to name a few.

Do you know the names of the suits in German? If not, then here they are!

  • diamond Karo (Diamonds)
  • heart Herz (Hearts)
  • spade Pik (Spades)
  • club Kreuz (Clubs)

An Ace is an Ass. A Jack is a Bube – an old-fashioned German word for “boy.” A Queen is a Dame (which translates to “lady”) and the King is the König (literal translation this time).

Spieler is the word for “player” in German (it’s also the word for “gambler”).

Du bist dran means “your turn.” Unfair (pronounced “oonfair”) means, you guessed it, “unfair.”

Is someone playing dirty in the game? Then yell out, “Hey, du schummelst!” (“Hey, you’re cheating!”)

One-player German Card Games

Auf Wiedersehen

If you’re all by yourself, but still in the mood for a good card game, play a few rounds of the German solitaire game Auf Wiedersehen (Farewell).

To play this game, you need a standard deck of 52 cards. Start with 12 cards laid out face up in three rows of four. Four additional cards are placed face down on the table.

You need to rearrange the cards at the top so that they run from Ace to King. Place the additional cards under the correct suits in order. Now draw a card from the deck and place it where it belongs, if possible. If you pull a King, you can start a new row. Once you’ve finished laying out all the cards you can, turn over the four cards still laying face down on the table. If any of these cards are an Ace or a King matching the top card in the rows, you’ve lost.

Die Farbenelf

The next German card game you can play by yourself is called Die Farbenelf (roughly, “the colorful eleven”).

To play this game, shuffle a standard 52-card deck, then lay out four rows of four cards face up. In these 16 cards, you look for two cards of the same suit with a total value of 11. These pairs can now be laid aside and the gaps filled with new cards taken from the deck.

The Jack, King and Queen can only be removed if they’re taken from the deck at the same time and have the same suit. The goal of the game is to use up the deck and get rid of all the cards.

German Card Games for Groups

Each of the games listed here can be played by two to five players.

Quartett

Quartett (Quartet) is one of the most popular kids’ card games in Germany, and has been for a long time. This game is basically played the same as Go Fish.

The goal is to get four of the same type of card (four sixes in all the suits, for example). Each player asks another player for a card they need to make a set of four. If the player has the card, they have to hand it over. If they don’t have the card, it’s their turn to ask.

Although you can play Quartett with a standard 52-card deck, most kids play with a special deck that features animals facts, trains, planes and automobiles, famous sports stars, etc. These make Quartett the perfect game for learning or practicing basic German vocabulary topics. You can also buy plenty of quirky and/or naughty Quartett decks for a more adult audience, like a Quartett deck of dead rock stars, one featuring addictive substances and, last but not least, the sexy dirndl deck.

Mau-Mau

The German card game Mau-Mau is similar to Uno. Each player is dealt five to six cards. The top card of the deck is then turned over. The player can either lay down a card of the same suit or the same number—for example, a 10 of Diamonds on top of a 10 of Spades.

The goal of the game is to get rid of all your cards. If a player lays down their final card, they have to say Mau, but if their last card is a jack, they have to say Mau-Mau (pronounced like the word “ow” when you hurt yourself, with an “m” in the front).

Böse Dame

Böse Dame (Evil Queen) is similar to the game Hearts, only you want to end the game with high points, not the other way around.

This game is only played with Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, Tens, Nines, Eights and Sevens. The points you get for the cards are as follows:

  • Ace (11 points)
  • Ten (10 points)
  • King (four points)
  • Queen (three points)
  • Jack (two points)
  • Nine, Eight and Seven (0 points)

Like Hearts, the Pik Dame (Queen of Spades) is the evil queen here indeed. If you end up with this card at the end, you get -50 points!

You lay down cards of the same suit and the player with the highest card takes the pile. If you don’t have the suit, but you have the Queen of Spades, you can play her and pass her on to another player. If the Queen of Spades is played, you can “stab” her with the King or Ace of Spades. Play this card, and she’ll go back to the person who laid her down.

Longer German Card Games for Groups

If you really want to get into the world of German card games, there are two words for you: Doppelkopf and Skat.

Both of these popular games can be played for hours. There are many game clubs dedicated to both and they have their own tournaments throughout Germany as well as other German-speaking countries.

Doppelkopf

Doppelkopf (roughly, “double-head”) is a game for four players in teams of two. However, you don’t know who your teammate is until later in the game.

The game is played with 48 to 40 cards and is sometimes played with German-suited cards featuring Balls, Hearts, Leaves and Acorns rather than the standard French-suited cards most of us are used to.

The rules for Doppelkopf are too complex to go through here, you can read them on this website.

Skat

The other granddaddy of German card games is definitely Skat. Skat is a game for three players and is played with a 32-card deck, either French- or German-suit. The suits have different values, with Clubs or Acorns boasting the highest points, 12.

The rules for Skat are even more complex than Doppelkopf, but you can learn more on this website.




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