Facts about Germany

08/11/2007

Fairy-tale castles

Despite Germany not being particularly well-known for castles, the country is home to over 10,000. They have a wide variety of styles, ranging from the typical fairy-tale style to a castle built to sustain attack. Moreover, Neuschwanstein, which is located in Schwangau, Bavaria, is one of the most visited castles in Europe. The castle was recently nominated to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and although it didn’t manage to win this accolade, it certainly raised the profile of this beautiful building. Visitor numbers are at an all-time high despite this.

University and Abitur

You will be the youngest in the class if you decide to go to university in Germany because the German Abitur course doesn’t generally finish until students are nineteen years old. This means that many students don’t finish their education until they are at least twenty four, as honours degrees last five years.

Measles parties

Rather than taking your children to a boring old birthday party, the Germans like to spice it up a little by bringing some measles along. Despite the existence of a vaccine they still insist on having so-called “Measles parties,” whereby the parents of children who have not yet been affected by the virus, bring their children to the home of a measles-infected child, so that they catch it. Although this may sound strange, it actually has some substantial benefits, as measles infections at an older age can be fatal, and, what’s more, it avoids the vaccine.

Red lights mean stop!

Ever been running late to catch the bus and simply ran across the road when the traffic light was red? In Germany this would be foolish, as this offence carries a thirty Euro fine.

Ghosts and carnival

As well as Halloween, Germans, mainly in Cologne, take the opportunity of carnival to dress up; but instead of witches and ghosts, they turn into famous characters and animals or a member of the opposite sex. Everyone celebrates on the streets, parading and dancing.

Nancy Gates and Marco Florence