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English I Germany

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CLASS: ENGLISH I
GROUP 1

FINAL PROJECT

COUNTRY:
GERMANY

TEACHER: MISTER SAMUEL MARTINEZ

STUDENTS:
ELDA MENDOZA
JISEL RAMOS
LEONEL RUIZ
MIRIAN
INDEX. PAGE
INTRODUCTION........…………………………………………………….......3
OBJECTIVES
-General Objectives………………………………………………………….…3
-Specific Objectives………………………………………………………….…3
CONTENTS
-Germany……………………………………………………………………….4 2

-Social Organization……………………………………………………………5-6
-Customs and traditions………………………………………………………...6-7-8
-Language………………………………………………………………………8-9
-Arts and literature……………………………………………………………..10
-Religión……………………………………………………………………….10-11
-Forms of Goverment………………………………………………………….11
-Economic Systems……………………………………………………………12
CONCLUSIONS………………………………………………………………13
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………..14
ANNEXES…………………………………………………………………….15
INTRODUCTION.
The respective work has the search for information about the country of Germany. It is
intended to know their art, customs and different aspects of the country.
The key in the title of the project, to build a feasible idea that generates many benefits and
gains in learning, is a constant and necessary project for each person.
The country to be investigated is Germany, which is part of the European Union and the
Schengen Area, it is the largest country in Central Europe. Its official name is Bundesrepublik
Deutschland, "Federal Republic of Germany".
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OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
• Learn the language in depth through the project, visualizing each of Germany's
practices, as well as its customs.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• List the characteristics of Germany.
• Know their values and their religion.
• In the development of the investigation we will provide information to learn more
about the country of Germany.
GERMANY
Alemanni, also spelled Alamanni, or Alamani, a Germanic people first mentioned in
connection with the Roman attack on them in AD 213. In the following decades, their
pressure on the Roman provinces became severe; they occupied the Agri Decumates c. 260,
and late in the 5th century they expanded into Alsace and northern Switzerland, establishing
the German language in those regions. In 496 they were conquered by Clovis and
incorporated into his Frankish dominions. The Alemanni were originally composed of
fragments of several Germanic peoples, and they remained a loosely knit confederation of
tribes in the Suebi group (see Suebi). Although several tribes put their military forces under
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the joint command of two leaders for the duration of a campaign, the different peoples
generally found it difficult to combine, and they had nothing that could be called a central
government. The French and Spanish words for Germany (Allemagne; Alemania) are derived
from their name.

CUISINE OF GERMANY
The cuisine of Germany (German: Deutsche Küche) is made up of many different local or
regional cuisines, reflecting the country's federal history. Germany itself is part of a larger
cultural region, Central Europe, sharing many traditions with neighbouring countries such
as Poland and the Czech Republic. Southern regions, like Bavaria and Swabia, share dishes
with Austrian and parts of Swiss cuisine.
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GERMAN CURRENCY
The German currency is the Euro. Actually, the Euro is not "German money", but it is the
currency we use in this country, and in other countries of the Euro zone.
The Euro replaced the German Mark (Deutsche Mark) and it is the official currency of the
European Union.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
Social Organization. Modern German voluntary associations, or Vereine, first appeared
among the bourgeoisie during the Enlightenment but spread throughout the population as
laws governing free assembly in the various German states were liberalized in the course of
the nineteenth century. Prior to 1848, voluntary associations were typically both nationalist
and republican in orientation. After the founding of the Reich, they split into politically
opposed bourgeois, Catholic, and working-class blocs. Under the Third Reich, Germany's
dense network of voluntary associations was co-opted by the Nazi party. East Germany's
Socialist Unity party pursued a similar strategy but, again, with less success. The Basic Law
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of the Federal Republic of Germany guarantees German citizens the right to free assembly,
and voluntary associations are correspondingly numerous. Today, club life helps shape the
local festive calendar and is an important constituent of local identities and status relations.
Many local associations belong to umbrella organizations and thus help integrate members
into social networks beyond the community.
Political Organization. The Federal Republic of Germany has succeeded in realizing many
of the liberal reforms first proposed at the Frankfurt Parliament of 1848 and first attempted
during the Weimar Republic (1919-1933). Germany is now a parliamentary democracy,
where public authority is divided among federal, state, and local governments. In federal
elections held every four years, all citizens who are 18 or older are entitled to cast votes for
candidates and parties, which form the Bundestag, or parliament, on the basis of vote
distribution. The majority party or coalition then elects the head of the government. Similarly,
states and local communities elect parliaments or councils and executives to govern in their
constitutionally guaranteed spheres. Each state government also appoints three to five
representatives to serve on the Bundesrat, or federal council, an upper house that must
approve all legislation affecting the states. Germany's most important political parties are:
the Christian Democratic Union and its corresponding Bavarian party, the Christian Social
Union; the Social Democratic party; the Free Democratic Party; the Greens; and the Party of
Democratic Socialism, the successor to the East German Socialist Unity party. In the latter
1980s, the right-wing Republican party gained some seats in local and regional councils, but
after the fall of the East German regime their constituency dwindled. The first free all-
German national election since 1932 was held on 2 December 1990 and resulted in the
confirmation of the ruling Christian Democratic/Free Democratic coalition.
Germany's free press produces hundreds of daily newspapers with a total circulation of 25 to
30 million. Post, telephone, and telegraph facilities are federally owned and managed. Radio
and television stations are "corporations under public law," which are run by autonomous
bodies and monitored by political parties in proportion to their representation in state and
federal parliaments. These measures are intended to prevent the media from being
manipulated for propaganda purposes, as they were by the Nazis and, with somewhat less
success, by the former East German government. As of 1973, East Germans had legal access
to West German television broadcasts, which contributed in no small measure to undermining
the legitimacy of the Socialist regime.
Social Control. It has often been noted that German Society still retains a small-town ethos,
which arose in the early modern period under conditions of political and economic
particularism. Indeed, many Germans adhere to standards of Bürgerlichkeit, or civic morality
that lend a certain neatness and formality to behavior in everyday life. Public standards are
further enforced by a strong emphasis on the rule of law. This is, perhaps, in part a legacy of
Germany's bureaucratic tradition and in part a response to the criminal activities of the Hitler
regime. Today, Germany is regulated by a larger body of legislation than exists in either
Britain or France.

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CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS.


There is a wide number of historic and traditional German customs. There are also a number
of customs that have emerged in the modern postwar era. German culture has been influenced
and shaped throughout Germany‘s rich history once as an important part of The Holy Roman
Empire, and later on as one of the most stable economies in the world.
CELEBRATIONS
Though the Germans are known as very bureaucratic people, they too know how to have fun
and enjoy life. The widely attended carnivals and festivals prove this statement best. Both
types of events are a joyful period of the year in which whole cities engage in all-out parties
and colorful celebrations. The Carnivals have a long history in Catholicism, while today they
are celebrated by street parades of people wearing costumes and masks. There is a variety of
carnivals and festivals celebrating all spheres of life and joy.
Their weddings are also very special. It is a tradition for the bride to carry bread and salt with
her as an omen for food harvest. On the other hand, the groom is supposed to carry grain for
good luck and wealth.

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Weal
FUNERALS
Paying the last respects to the dead is part of every culture. In Germany, the funeral lasts 3
to 4 days after the death of the person. Relatives and friends visit the family members of the
dead. A priest and ministrants, wearing black and violet robes take part in the first day of the
funeral.
Before the burial, the coffin is taken to the church where the priest says the requiem and
sprinkles the coffin with Holy water. Then the bells toll and the mourners take the coffin to
the cemetery, where they place it on the grave. After the short speech and prayers by the
priest, the loved ones of the dead say their last goodbye and cover the coffin with soil.
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WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF GERMAN PEOPLE?


It is true that many Germans tend to place punctuality as a high priority. Hence the global
observation that German trains often run perfectly on time. German people tend to be thrifty,
be sensible, and respect one another’s privacy, and they typically respect the structure and
laws of society to an above-average degree. There is no place that this sense of ‘order’ is
more apparent than in German business culture.
Traditionally, German people tie a lot of importance to notions of family and community.
Regarding the latter, this is partially where the well-known ‘rule-following’ and orderly
nature of the German people comes from: if everyone in the community follows the rules and
does things the right way, the neighborhood/town/city/country will be a nice place for all
residents to live, hence why many might seem like sticklers when it comes to correct
recycling and late-night noise - they take it seriously for the sake of everyone.
WHAT ARE SOME OF GERMANY’S TRADITIONS?
As a Christian country there are many protestant and catholic traditions which are observed
and celebrated throughout the year. To make sure you are familiar with Germany’s calendar
of national and regional holidays and celebrations, make sure to take a look at our German
Holidays and Celebrations page.
Contemporary German traditions include ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’, the equivalent of an English
Afternoon tea whereby families and friends stop working to come together in the afternoon
for coffee and cake. The annual Munich Beer Festival, known the world over as Oktoberfest,
is also a key tradition.
TRADITIONAL CLOTHES
Traditional clothing in Germany includes the world-famous Lederhosen, an outfit once worn
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by rural men, traditionally those undertaking farm work or manual labor. A knee-length set
of breeches complete with braces, worn over a short sleeve shirt, Lederhosen are traditionally
associated with Bavarian and Tyrolean culture.
For women, traditional German clothes include the Dirndl, a dress made from a bodice,
pinafore and full skirt. The shirt underneath is usually low cut and made with short puffy
sleeves. Today these clothes are no longer seen on farm workers but on the staff and
partygoers at beer festivals.

BUSINESS CULTURE
The desire for orderliness spills over into the business life of Germans. Surprises and humor
are not welcomed. Everything is carefully planned out and decided upon, with changes rarely
occurring after an agreement is made, according to the German Business Culture Guide.
There is a high regard for engineers in German, as evidenced by the country's success in the
automotive industry. Because of this high level of respect for hands-on expertise, companies
tend to be headed by technical experts rather than lawyers or those with a financial
background.
Workers at all levels are judged heavily on their competence and diligence, rather than
interpersonal skills. Communication with co-workers as well as outsiders tends to be direct
and not always diplomatic.

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HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS


Germany celebrates many of the traditional Christian holidays, including Christmas and
Easter. German Unification Day on October 3 marks the reuniting of East and West Germany
and is the only federal holiday.
While the country's big beer bash is called "Oktoberfest," its starts each year on a Saturday
in September and ends 16 to 18 days later, on the first Sunday in October. The tradition
started in 1810, with the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese
von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, according to the city of Munich.

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LANGUAGE
Germany is a multilingual country with about 67% of the Germans having the ability to speak
at least one foreign language. 27% of the German population can also speak two foreign
languages.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GERMANY
Standard German is the official language of Germany. It is a West Germanic language that
is also the most commonly spoken first language in the European Union. Over 95% of the
population of Germany speaks the language. This figure also encompasses speakers of
Northern Low Saxon, a dialect of West Low German. The German language is closely related
to Low German, English, Dutch, Afrikaans, and Frisian. The writing system uses the Latin
script. The vocabulary is mainly based on that of the Germanic branch of languages, but
minorities of words are also derived from Greek, Latin, English, and French. German is one
of the official and working languages of the European Union.
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INORITY LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN GERMANY


• Low German
Low German is one of the minority languages of Germany. The West Germanic language is
spoken mainly in northern Germany. The language is quite distinct from Standard German
and more closely related to English, Frisian, and Dutch. There are about 5 million native
speakers of Low German in Germany.
• Upper Sorbian
Sorbs living in Germany’s historical Upper Lusatia province speak the Upper Sorbian
language. The province is today part of Saxony.
• Lower Sorbian
Sorbs living in Germany’s Lower Lusatia historical province, which is now part of
Brandenburg, speak Lower Sorbian, which is a Slavic minority language. Most speakers of
this language are elderly. The language is currently highly endangered.
About 0.09% of the population of Germany speak the Upper and Lower Sorbian languages.
• Frisian
The minority West Germanic Frisian language of North Frisian is spoken by about 10,000
people living in the North Frisian region of Germany. Saterland Frisian, East Frisian
language’s last living dialect, is also spoken in Germany.
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• Other Minority Languages Spoken in Germany
Romani and Danish are the two other minority languages spoken in the country. Around
0.08% of Germany’s population speak the Romani languages. Danish is spoken by about
0.06% of the country’s population.
• Immigrant Languages Spoken in Germany
Immigrants to Germany speak their native languages. Turkish, Polish, Balkan languages,
Kurdish, and Russian are the most spoken immigrant languages of Germany.
• Foreign Languages Spoken in Germany
English is the most important foreign language taught in schools in Germany. French and
Latin are also taught as second or third languages in schools. Depending on the geographic
location, schools in Germany also offer classes in other languages like Dutch, Spanish,
Greek, Polish, and Russian.

ARTS AND LITERATURE


When the early Celtic tribes moved their way into France and Germany they also left behind
some of the earliest art forms there as well. Some of the earliest forms of art found here are
primitive human sculptures and golden hats of the Bronze Age, and much of this is in the
Celtic tradition. After Christianity spread into the area following the reign of Charlemagne,
the most prominent art form was illuminated manuscripts. Crucifix sculptures were also
popular in larger cathedrals, and some were life size.
German literature is primarily written in German, and generally includes literature from
Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Early literature for the most part started around the
Reformation, although there were some pieces around before that, mostly epic poetry.
Romantic poetry, especially that of the courts and royalty, were particularly popular. The
heroic poems, stemming from the oral traditions, were also beginning to be written down.
The Baroque period brought forth the establishment of language rules and rules on poetry
and style, thanks to the efforts of Martin Opitz. This literary period also gave us the first
German tragedies as well as continuations in religious poetry.
German Romanticism tended to value honor and wit as well as beauty. Karl Friedrich
Schlegal and his brother August Wilhelm Schlegal as well as Heinrich von Kleist and E.T.A.
Hoffmann were prolific writers of this period. Young Germany, a group of writers associated
with the Vormärtz writers included many young writers and poets, Heinrich Heine being one
of the most famous. 17
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RELIGIÓN.
Germany is an intercultural and multi-religious country. It's important to understand that
apart from main Christian religions (Protestantism and Catholicism) and several minority
beliefs, around a third of the people in Germany are atheists. Christian church, including
both Catholicism and Protestantism, is the dominant church in Germany. Still, there are
many other religious practices such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism that are
popular in Germany.
• Christianity in Germany
The main religion in Germany is Christianity, with around two-thirds of the population
identifying as Christian. The number that actively practices Christianity in the form of
church attendance, however, is significantly lower.
Are Germans Catholic or Protestant?
Unlike most European countries, which tend to be either largely Catholic (e.g., Ireland,
Spain) or largely Protestant (e.g. Sweden, UK), German Christians are split almost evenly.
Around half of Germany's Christians are from the Evangelical Church of Germany (a
combination of Protestant religions including Lutheranism and Protestant Calvinism) and
half are Roman Catholic. Around 2% of the country practice other Christian religions -
mainly Orthodoxy, including both Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy.
Which part of Germany is Catholic?
Although you will find followers of both Catholicism and Protestantism in all regions of
Germany, the religions are more distinct in certain regions. As a rule, you will encounter
more Catholics in the South and West of the country, including Bavaria, Rhineland,
Westphalia and Saarland. In the North and East of the country, more of the population
identify as protestant.

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FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal state and is organized in the form of a
parliamentary democracy.
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal state and is organized in the form of a
parliamentary democracy. The Basic Law (Constitution) stipulates that all state power
emanates from the people. The people transfer that power to the parliaments: Bundestag and
Länder (parliaments of the federal states), for the lapse of one legislature.
The power of the State is divided into three branches: Legislative Power, Executive Power
and Judicial Power.
For the purposes of protocol, the Federal President is the highest representative of Germany.
In second place is the president of the Bundestag. The substitute for the Federal President is
the President of the Bundesrat, a position held in annual shifts by the Ministers-Presidents
(heads of government) of the Länder. The position with the greatest capacity for political
action is that of the Federal Chancellor (head of government). The president of the Federal 21
Constitutional Court is another of the high representatives of the State.
Germany is a Federal democracy, with strong political parties, an independent judiciary, and
powerful regional and local governments. As such, things can get a little confusing - even for
native citizens.
The "Federal" part refers to the way that power is divided nationally. Institutions in Berlin
have certain Federal powers, which reach across regional boundaries. For instance, Berlin
mandates rules regarding health insurance.
On the other hand, many powers are reserved for regional assemblies or local authorities.
This helps to prevent power accumulating in the center - potentially threatening the health of
German democracy.
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ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
Germany's socio-economic policy is based on the concept of the social market economy.

Germany is the first major industrialized country in the world to commit to the renewable
energy transition called Energiewende. Germany is the world's leading producer of wind
turbines and solar energy technology. More than 1.5 million renewable energy generation
plants have been installed in Germany during the last 25 years. Renewable energies currently
produce more than 27% of the total electricity consumed in Germany.
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99% of all German companies belong to the so-called Mittelstand, small and medium-sized
family-owned companies. Of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the world, 50 are
based in Germany. By market capitalization, 20 German-based companies are in the Fortune
Global 500 including Volkswagen, Allianz, Daimler, BMW, Siemens, BASF, Munich Re, E.
ON, Bayer, and RWE.
Germany is the largest producer of lignite in the world. Germany is also rich in wood, iron,
potash, salt, uranium, nickel, copper, and natural gas. Energy in Germany is obtained mainly
from fossil fuels, followed by nuclear energy, and by renewable energies such as biomass
(wood and biofuels), wind, hydroelectric and solar.
Germany is the most important location for trade shows in the world. About two-thirds of the
world's most important trade fairs are held in Germany. The largest annual international fairs
and congresses are held in various German cities, such as Hannover, Munich, Frankfurt and
Berlin.
Germany is the only country among the top five arms exporters that is not a permanent
member of the United Nations Security Council.
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CONCLUSIONS.
• In conclusion, Germany is a very interesting country, just knowing its customs,
history and traditions.
• Germany is famous for being the Land of Poets and Thinkers. From vital inventions
to Christmas traditions, sausages and beer, Germany is home to plenty of culture,
history and quirky laws! Germany is also known for its major cities, the Black Forest,
the Alps and Oktoberfest.
• Is a country in Central Europe It is the second-most populous country in Europe after
Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.everyculture.com/Europe/Germans-Sociopolitical-
Organization.html#ixzz75yRkw649
https://www.studying-in-germany.org/german-culture/
https://www.expatrio.com/living-germany/german-culture

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ANEXXES

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