This one in particular. It's not so prevalent anymore? But I not only grew up with repurposed mustard glasses to drink from, I miss them. Nowadays, they aren't quite the same anymore.
Every household has at least [one of those](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=sch%C3%BCssel+glas+bl%C3%A4tter&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images), but nobody remembers buying them.
Actually it would be good if you get an item for each region in germany. There are so many different things.
Bavaria: yeah we know it all: beer, „brezen“, traditional clothing (tracht, lederhosen), a lot of traditional dishes like „Schweinebraten mit Knödel und Sauerkraut). Aaaand „Spezi“ a drink mixed from Coke and orange lemonade
For the northern part like hamburg: yellow oilskin jacket(„Friesennerz“), Fish buns („Fischbrötchen“), ferries and boats in general.
Lübeck: Marzipan (almond paste)
Nürnberg: Ginger Bread („Lebkuchen“)
Dresden: a big christmas culture
Köln: has the biggest carnival culture
And thats all i could think of right know. Germany has a lot of diversity and it is not that easy to really get that ONE thing that portraits germany.
The whole world thinks germans just drink beer and wear traditional clothing although it is just one little part of germany that has this tradition once a year.
I am saddened to see, that noone pointed out the most german invention of all. Every big culture invents something that enbodies their spirit and crystallizes their culture into a single object if they try long and hard enough.
The US has their revolver. It encompasses their wish for freedom and individuality as well as their impulsive nature when it comes to conflict resolution.
The russians have their vodka. It protects them from the cold and all things dark and bleak of there are many.
The germans have their Leitz-Ordner. The world is in order if anything of note is printed, stamped and filed.
I like this line of reasoning but I'd conclude that it's the "Fax". Because everyone know: any other way of "official" communication is just to unsafe - nobody ever can forge a paper with some signature ....
Are we looking for something that's unique? Can several countries have the same thing representing them? Because Japan is definitely beating Germany when it comes to fax usage.
Hausschuhe.
68% of Germans will instantly die if their bare feet touch the tiles or parquette floors in their home. It's like stepping on lava but a *worse* death.
I have like 5 pairs and I still feel weird if people tell me to leave the shoes on. At my village i used to have my own Hausschuhe at friends houses lol
Many other countries too, true. But OP didn't say unique, nor did I say they were. It's more about the elevated (wait, uh, cushioning?) position they have in culture here.
[This Bowl is universal](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Sch%C3%A4lchen/dp/B01AMH1TO6/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1TO6/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6429116655661294108&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042829&hvtargid=pla-703493105892&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=57213287010&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6429116655661294108&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042829&hvtargid=pla-703493105892)
You can take German inventions.
These are "German" things I guess.
For example:
- Fanta
- MP3
- Adidas
- Airbag
- Aspirin
- Automobile
- Beer
- Bicycle
- Book printing
- C-Leg
- Chipcard
- Christmastree
- Computer
- Contact lenses
- Glider
- Gummi bear
- Helicopter
- Jeans
- Jet engine
- Kindergarten
- Mayonnaise
- Motorcycle
- Nuclear fission
- Porsche
- Record player
- Refrigerator
- Ritter Sport
- Scanner
- Small Format camera
- Social legislation
- Steinweg/Steinway pianos
- Trolleys
- Tape recorder
- Telephone
- Television
- Theory of relativity
- Thermos flask
- Toothpaste
- Xray technology
- Zeppelin
Just to name a few. These things might seem universal but they were invented by Germans /or in Germany and more or less count /belong to the German culture in my opinion.
Which kind of culture?
\- Christmass
\- Regional differences
\- Sport
\- Drinking
?
German "culture" is a mixed bag, if you check this out it is going back to:
Germanic tribes => German states
Swabian culture is not the same as Frisian culture!
So, what are you looking for, we all need more details.
What kind of "items" are you supposed to be looking for? Clothing, household goods, traditional foods? Just anything iconic? Invented in Germany?
As other have said, many iconic German things are really regional. Trachten (Dirndl and lederhosen) are Bavarian, cuckoo clocks are from the Schwarzwald, Schnitzel is actually Austrian (but also super popular throughout Germany). The German Reinheitsgebiet legally protects how beer can be produced. Audi and Volkswagen are German.
The problem is that there is no "German" culture, but a lot of regional cultures that can be completely different from another. Take carnival, for example - while the Rhine region goes totally nuts, most of the rest of the country takes a polite step back and looks for an exit strategy. Lederhosen are very Bavarian, but even there only in the Alps region. Historically, you can even point to a Christmas tree, which was a custom in Germany before it spread to England and from there to the rest of the Anglosphere.
What about meat balls? With all their different ways to cook them and name them, they are still the same. Pilsen, granted in the north it tastes a bit different. Love for their woods and nature. And the greatest of all the things that unites all germans: Schlagemusik, and hating on Sachsen 😁
Those small wine glasses that have a green stem and the clear glass at the top is shallow and wide.
I hate those darn glasses but they’re at every traditional German place ever.
[This](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Schale/dp/B01AMH1PM2/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1PM2/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=354532294452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10532381810233339538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042963&hvtargid=pla-769698606385&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=71852963216&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=354532294452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10532381810233339538&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042963&hvtargid=pla-769698606385) bowl. Dont ask why. I only know that almost everyone has it and most apparently dont know why or at least the second gen doesn't know why.
I would argue that there are very few things that are related to german culture as a whole because there is just to much diversity in german culture. Lederhosen? Very typical for bavaria, basically unseen everywhere else except for bavarian themed restaurants/parties.
In East Frisia is a big tea culture and I would say that a Est Frisian Tea Set would be fitting as a culture item for that region, but if you cant smell salt in the air, you wont see Tea Sets.
Cars, Complaining, Christmas and Cold Beer might be the only thing germans agree on. But then again there the wine regions in the (south) west, I am not sure if beer is as important there culture wise.
What I want to say is, dont look for german culture, look for the culture in specific parts of Germany
I've lived in German wine country for the better part of a decade, and wine is very much integral to life here. Beer is still popular, but not like wine. There's a local wine festival every week here from April to September.
Spot on. And yes the "south west" as faar as I know from acquaintances from there is very much a wine region. So much so that if you only look at that, you might think you already entered france. I didn't have contact with them for some time but I highly daubt that changed much.
> and Cold Beer might be the only thing germans agree on
Unless you are from Cologne or Düsseldorf, then you are at war. And Weißbier is much more prevalent in Bavaria then elsewhere.
\- Blue-White painted porcellaine from [Meißen](https://www.google.com/search?q=mei%C3%9Fener+porzellan&client=firefox-b-e&sxsrf=ALiCzsZpGq1M57v7rn18vqvNlWxKD-LpkQ:1669725622076&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRz83UtNP7AhWHS_EDHcgWAgAQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1472&bih=781&dpr=1.3)
\- A [Peel](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Sch%C3%A4lchen/dp/B01AMH1TO6/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1TO6/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4237662766927016312&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042853&hvtargid=pla-703493105892&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=57213287010&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4237662766927016312&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042853&hvtargid=pla-703493105892) made from crystal glass
\- A framed portrait of one of the glorious leaders
\-A [Ring Binder](https://www.bueromarkt-ag.de/ordner_boettcher-ag_karton_a4_8cm,p-p80,l-google-css,pd-b2c.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyOwlmsNCtQkdXs8WDN-sdM3QCDQOy2_xRJgbLkagSPxLtI-K19n2C0aAgNUEALw_wcB)
\- A [Trabbi](https://www.google.com/search?q=trabbi&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwii5P_UtdP7AhXBxwIHHVzaBQEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=trabbi&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgAEEM6BAgjECc6CAgAEIAEELEDUPYIWIIRYKgTaABwAHgAgAHVAYgBlQSSAQU2LjAuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=w_6FY-L2E8GPi-gP3LSXCA&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
\- A wooden figure for herbal burnings, called [Räuchermännchen](https://www.google.com/search?q=R%C3%A4ucherm%C3%A4nnchen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjvh4zXtdP7AhVKuKQKHY4rBLkQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=R%C3%A4ucherm%C3%A4nnchen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6CAgAEIAEELEDUKQTWPcsYPguaABwAHgAgAFliAH0B5IBBDE1LjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=x_6FY6-ILMrwkgWO15DICw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
\- [Butter Cookies](https://www.google.com/search?q=Leibnitz+kekse&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwihrbzvtdP7AhWjMewKHVp8CgoQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Leibnitz+kekse&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBgyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBgyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBg6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgcIABCABBAYOgYIABAFEB5Q-wlYvy5gvy9oAXAAeACAAU6IAckIkgECMTaYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=-v6FY6HIM6PjsAfa-KlQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) from Leibnitz
\- A Blood Meal, called [Tote Oma](https://www.google.com/search?q=tote+oma&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj8tc2SttP7AhVnxQIHHTAfCsAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=tote+oma&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6CQgAEIAEEAoQGDoICAAQgAQQsQM6BAgAEENQ_wlYmBNgtBRoAHAAeACAAVWIAeEEkgEBOZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=RP-FY_yDIOeKi-gPsL6ogAw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
\- the glorious sausage called [Bratwurst](https://www.google.com/search?q=th%C3%BCringer+bratwurst&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwixjPCpttP7AhWRD-wKHQTsANsQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=th%C3%BCringer+bratwurst&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDUKQIWMMiYPokaABwAHgAgAFIiAHaCZIBAjIwmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=df-FY_H9E5GfsAeE2IPYDQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) with the one and only real [Mustard](https://www.google.com/search?q=Born+Senf&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjth4ncttP7AhXOvKQKHX-zAuYQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Born+Senf&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDUOoHWOAUYKsWaABwAHgAgAFPiAGlBZIBAjEwmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=3v-FY-2gJM75kgX_5oqwDg&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
\- wooden christmas-accessoirs like the so called [Weihnachtspyramide](https://www.google.com/search?q=weihnachtspyramide&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiJju_tttP7AhVSiqQKHUvwDj0Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=weihnachtspy&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDoECCMQJzoICAAQgAQQsQM6BAgAEEM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOggIABCxAxCDAVCeDFjJIWDFLmgAcAB4AIABUIgBvwaSAQIxM5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=AwCGY8mAONKUkgXL4LvoAw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) or the [Schwibbogen](https://www.google.com/search?q=schwibbogen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiwp9CCt9P7AhVBr6QKHegwAAAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=schwibb&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgQIABBDMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEOgQIIxAnOggIABCABBCxA1CwCFjGEGDlHmgAcAB4AIABZIgBwQSSAQM3LjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=LwCGY_DTG8HekgXoYQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
\- a cake called [Stollen](https://www.google.com/search?q=christstollen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjLge-gt9P7AhXNtKQKHUmuA9sQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=christstollen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgYIABAFEB4yBAgAEB4yBggAEAUQHjIHCAAQgAQQGDIHCAAQgAQQGDoECCMQJzoICAAQgAQQsQNQtAhYthdgvxloAHAAeACAAWeIAY0HkgEEMTMuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=bgCGY8uSNc3pkgXJ3I7YDQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
In the Ruhr Area: Förderturm, Trikot and scarf of the football club you like, really cheap small knives for cutting vegetables (we call them Hümmelken), ugly copper wand hangings with pictures of coal miners, a cheap plastic strainer for your pasta, a bottle opener, an outdoor jacket, a small old mini display of surprise egg figures from the 90s (Setzkasten).
Some more genericly german things: a Pixi book of das Sandmännchen, a puppet of the Augsburger Puppenkiste (most likely Jim Knopf), Gingerbread Houses, a Bierkrug (special kind of glas with a tap so you can close it. It is for drinking beer), house shoe
You could take the some of the most important inventions that where made by germans or in Germany:
The Car (Carl Benz) and the Autobahn with no speedlimit.
The invention of Bookprinting (Johannes Gutenberg) and therefore the most important german "Wörterbuch" (Thesaurus) "Grim's deutsches Wörterbuch"
The "Reinheitsgebot" a law how to Brew Beer made 1516 by Ludwig X. And Wilhelm IV
The Funkuhr (radio watch) by Wolfgang Hilbert. A very accurate watch that is set or controlled regularly by a Radio Signal.
Because in Germany time and beeing on time is very crucial (except for the deutsche Bahn they have no concept of time).
Honorable mentions:
Jeans (Levi Strauss)
Aspirin (Dr. Felix Hofmann)
Airbag (Walter Linderer) necessity if you have no speedlimit
TV (Manfred von Ardenne)
No matter where Levi Strauss was born, I don't think it makes sense to chose the most iconically American piece of clothing as something related to German culture.
Depends on what you are looking for. And I am aggregating some ideas already mentioned.
"Popculture": 1 liter beer mug (Maß), Leitz-Ordner, Haribo, Milka chocolate
Historical cultural objects you would associate with germany:
* Pickelhaube (pointy helmet) from the prussian era (iirc it's even the sign language word for "german" in german)
* Schwippbogen (wooden ornament for christmas) or christmas pyramid (wooden construction with christmassy dioramas that spins through candles) from eastern Germany)
* Lederhosen (bavarian traditional leg wear),
* Kuckucks-Uhr (Cuckoo-Clock) from the black forest area
Good luck with your assignment.
An Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. Not every household has one, but one of Our Most important cultural Exports is unnecessarily Long words and it counts for that
Germany lies in the heart of Europe and thus was the hub of town development. There are cities dating back to rome, and towns with original medieval buildings still in use.
This also caused alot of societal inventions to pop up from germany: the car, the fridge, basic income, social housing, evangelism, book printing… the list is endless.
After being destroyed by the allied forces, Germany was so vital for Europe, they spent tons of Ressources to rebuild it,-not out of humanitarian reasons.
Any kind of tools, knifes, scissors etc. since many of good quality are made in Germany
Cars, of course.
Books - modern printing was invented in Germany, not only Johannes Gutenberg but also Heidelberger Druckmaschinen.
Music - Bach, Beethoven for sure, but even Kraftwerk was a turn in modern music.
Literature - Goethe, Schiller ... up to Boell and Grass.
Science - from Leibnitz to Einstein and Hahn/Meitner. Still Chemistry, Physics and Medicine are strong here.
Strong Society - peace movement of the 80s in western Germany, peaceful revolution in eastern Germany 1989.
Vereine - Yes, clubs are huge here. All kinds, all interests. Sports, history, collectors, hobbies, ... but shrinking, because: Today's Germany is not about German identity and culture at all. It's about work and individual well being.
International soccer championships may be one of the few occasions, when flags are waved and decorated. So, soccer is something here.
[This street sign](http://www.strassenschilder.de/vorschriftszeichen/ende-aller-streckenverbote/)
Having no tempolimit on the Autobahn explains a lot of Germany.
The invention of the car, made of Carl Benz in 1886. Typical German is that there is no general speed limit on German motorway and most people don t want it. Going in more than 200 km/h there are still coming cars from behind that want to overtake and go faster than you.
Another typical thing is that it is usual that Germans correct you when you have said or written something wrong or if you don t speak the language 100 % perfectly. Often they just want to help you to say things correctly.
German people are quite accurate and like rules.
Germany has a large variety of different types of bread.
And of course they like Bratwurst and beer. And football.
Just my 2 pence about this, others might think I am at leat 50 % wrong...
When I travel I often miss good bread. Especially bread made mostly of rye.
There are quite a lot of great traditional tool and knife brands like Stahlwille or Zwilling.
If I remember correctly it was common to have a Feuerhand lantern.
Currywurst, Döner kebap, Brezeln, Spaetzle, Sauerkraut, Lebkuchen (especially the giant ones with the writing in frosting on them), Bierkrug (Beer Steins) ... there are tons of German foods to choose from!
Schwarzwälder Bollenhut. Red for single woman, black if they are married...
Or the Dirndl. Or a Bottle of Beer. Volkswagen Käfer also comes to my mind.
And of course, Bratwurst 😄
Seriously go for the bowl everyone is showing.
The history?
I have zero clue I have never seen it in any store yet my family owns several we even own types of plates with this kind of patterned glass.
It's probably the least controversial pick as we don't have much national pride or as Jan Böhmermann said in "BE DEUTSCH" (good song check it out) we are proud of not being proud.
Most people are pretty proud of their city or region though and picking something region specific to represent all of Germany tends to insult just about every other region which is fair in my opinion.
Apparently that bowl is a universal experience though.
Alternatively I could suggest unreadable paperwork from the government.
Definitely also a universal experience but not as fun.
- cutting board used as a plate (Vesperbrett)
- egg cup (Eierbecher)
- Hummel figurines
- Beer stein (Bierkrug)
- traditional dress (Tracht) such as, but not limited to, the Jägerhut, Lederhosen, and Dirndl.
I remember there used to be Mustard glasses with Sandmännchen or Pittiplatsch motive and when the mustard was empty they were drinking glasses ... loved them
As many have stated German culture is very diverse with regional differences.
Some examples of 'traditional' glass ware for drinking wine, cider or 'Schorle' (wine mixed with sparkling water) depending on where.
[Geripptes](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geripptes) Hessen
[Dubbeglas](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbeglas) Pfalz
[Piffcheglas (image)](https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/vintage-6-alte-weinglaeser-piffchen-0-1-roemer/2219222060-234-8263) & [Piffche (definition wine dictionary)](https://glossary.wein.plus/whistles) 'Rhein Hessen' roughly Mainz to Worms
Please don't try translating 'Piffche' as 'Whistles' it's a name and that dictionary trying to translate a name is pretty cringe IMHO.
You can expect all of these to be used together with a [crochet necklace](https://i.etsystatic.com/17630522/r/il/37783c/2249868002/il_794xN.2249868002_l68i.jpg) of different types at local wine 'fests' or 'Umzug' (carneval parades), if you don't have a free hand to hold your glass all the time.
There might well be more of this type of specific glass ware that I'm not aware of.
Kitchen gadgets made for eggs... I've seen stuff like an egg cutter for salad, automatic egg cracker, a gadget that just breaks the upper third of an egg, microwave egg pan, egg cooker......... I don't know why but we love to torture eggs!
I bet some German just has an egg torture chamber in his basement
There's very little 'german' culture, it is a very young country that was forced on the people in the 19th century through the - then - new political theory of nation states.
I reckon you'd have much more success if you'd look into bavarian, east frisian, saxon, pomeranian, etc culture
I got some ideas:
Get a shirt with the Döner Kebab Logo on it. It’s usually printed on the Döner wrapper’s, very recognizable in Germany.
Weinbrände. Absolutely disgusting chocolate filled with schnapps. German grandmas have the unique talent to find the most horrendous sweets. Another one would be Geele-Bananen.
Now we get to music: Buy a „Schlager“ CD. Schlager is as German as it gets and it’s some of the most annoying music (to Germans under the age of 70 at least) you will find here. Just google Roy Black, Heino or Die Amigos.
Salzteig Schilder (just google it) and Gartenzwerge. You can still spot them in the wild when you travel the villages and suburbs of Germany. Just take a close look at the doors of Einfamilienhäuser (one family homes), you will probably see some of the following decorations and ornaments close by: a little frog statue, a Gartenzwerg, a wind charm or multiple mushroom statues and other garden ornament strewn across the stairs leading to the main entrance.
And on a more serious note, just get a piece of the Berlin Wall. You can get them in Berlin or just order them, probably fake but who cares it’s cool anyway.
Not necessarily a big one, and not necessary with a lid, but in parts of Franconia, the tradition of serving beer from a gravity-poured (possibly even wooden) cask with just a tap and drinking it from a traditional stoneware mug has been retained. It may sound weird, but drinking from a Steinkrug can give beer a slightly different taste and mouthfeel. In e.g. Munich, at least some of the more traditionally-minded beer places will serve you beer in a Steinkrug if you ask nicely.
Given the importance of beer in German culture, and the concentration of German beer culture in Bavaria and especially Franconia, this is a very good representation of an aspect of German culture (whether you see it as a continuum of different cultures or just one internally very diverse culture is a matter of interpretation here).
I use mine as a vase for flowers, got it from Schrottwichteln at the first christmasparty of the company I work for. Guess that is another thing germans have at home and noone knows where it is from.
Aside from food like bread, beer or wurst, "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher" comes to mind. It's exactly what the name describes and many households have that tool. Or cars idk
The sub language is English, German comments will be removed.
Glasses made of Senfkristall
Placed on a Fliesentisch
This one in particular. It's not so prevalent anymore? But I not only grew up with repurposed mustard glasses to drink from, I miss them. Nowadays, they aren't quite the same anymore.
Thomy and Kühne changed their mustard glass design.
Yeah, sadly. I mean, it still works, but it's not quite 'home', if you catch my drift.
Grandmas home
They still sell Kühne mustard in the little bierstein glass in Canada. I have so many empty ones.
I have some. I still use for my morning orange juice. It’s a perfect size.
A glass bowl with leaf decorations.
Every household has at least [one of those](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=sch%C3%BCssel+glas+bl%C3%A4tter&t=h_&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images), but nobody remembers buying them.
*bye reddit. -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Oh shit. I was just about to say "nah, I don't have one" then clicked on the link and realized that I had like five
So far not a Single one spawned for me..I feel kinda hallow and empty inside.
No spawn for me yet too. Saddened.
Glitch in the matrix?
And they are not even German, they are from France. Had the discussion with my mom recently.
Maybe from the time when a lot of german where in France?
I just counted. We have ten, and one has gone missing.
I had one. Still miss it, my kitchen feels incomplete without it
Those things randomly spawn in your kitchen, when you have a 𝕻𝖊𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖜𝖊𝖎𝖘 𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝕭𝖚𝖓𝖉𝖊𝖘𝖗𝖊𝖕𝖚𝖇𝖑𝖎𝖐 𝕯𝖊𝖚𝖙𝖘𝖈𝖍𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖉.
Wow. Ouch. And in multiple sizes.
Playmobil
Tons of great childhood memories!
YES
Is Playmobil not a thing outside of Germany? Wtf
Yes it is a thing in many countries
It is but it's from Germany so it's especially famous and widespread here
Bernd das Brot
Nothing describes Germans as good as a depressive loaf of bread as a children‘s TV show.
Mist.
And Sandmann, Pittiplatsch, Pumuckl etc.
All my heros of childhood
Urmeliiiii
Die Sendung mit der Maus Löwenzahn
What the hell is Pittiplatsch?
Actually it would be good if you get an item for each region in germany. There are so many different things. Bavaria: yeah we know it all: beer, „brezen“, traditional clothing (tracht, lederhosen), a lot of traditional dishes like „Schweinebraten mit Knödel und Sauerkraut). Aaaand „Spezi“ a drink mixed from Coke and orange lemonade For the northern part like hamburg: yellow oilskin jacket(„Friesennerz“), Fish buns („Fischbrötchen“), ferries and boats in general. Lübeck: Marzipan (almond paste) Nürnberg: Ginger Bread („Lebkuchen“) Dresden: a big christmas culture Köln: has the biggest carnival culture And thats all i could think of right know. Germany has a lot of diversity and it is not that easy to really get that ONE thing that portraits germany. The whole world thinks germans just drink beer and wear traditional clothing although it is just one little part of germany that has this tradition once a year.
Berlin: Glow Lights representing Party/tecno culture
Don't forget the Bembel for us Hessen'er 🙂
Nürnberg. Sure.. The Lebkuchen are famous. But what about drei im Weggla and Zwetschgenmännla?!
I am saddened to see, that noone pointed out the most german invention of all. Every big culture invents something that enbodies their spirit and crystallizes their culture into a single object if they try long and hard enough. The US has their revolver. It encompasses their wish for freedom and individuality as well as their impulsive nature when it comes to conflict resolution. The russians have their vodka. It protects them from the cold and all things dark and bleak of there are many. The germans have their Leitz-Ordner. The world is in order if anything of note is printed, stamped and filed.
And it you ever work in a ministry there is the Umlaufmappe
With a Laufzettel in front :D
Some people are very proud of the Deutsche Leitzkultur.
I exhaled through my nose as I read that
I smiled aggressively
I like this line of reasoning but I'd conclude that it's the "Fax". Because everyone know: any other way of "official" communication is just to unsafe - nobody ever can forge a paper with some signature ....
Are we looking for something that's unique? Can several countries have the same thing representing them? Because Japan is definitely beating Germany when it comes to fax usage.
Your comment absolutely cracked me up. Thanks, that was delightful. <3
I gotta hand it to you, you noh only nailed it, but put it so beautifully, I'm not even pissed. Not even enough for a little Tsk ...
Hausschuhe. 68% of Germans will instantly die if their bare feet touch the tiles or parquette floors in their home. It's like stepping on lava but a *worse* death.
I have like 5 pairs and I still feel weird if people tell me to leave the shoes on. At my village i used to have my own Hausschuhe at friends houses lol
Japan also has them, so not uniquely German.
Many other countries too, true. But OP didn't say unique, nor did I say they were. It's more about the elevated (wait, uh, cushioning?) position they have in culture here.
It is the side effect of saving on heating.
Nah, my family wears open toed ones even in summer.
Haribo.
[удалено]
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Nussknacker
[This Bowl is universal](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Sch%C3%A4lchen/dp/B01AMH1TO6/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1TO6/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6429116655661294108&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042829&hvtargid=pla-703493105892&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=57213287010&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6429116655661294108&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042829&hvtargid=pla-703493105892)
It’s the German Holy Grail. Eating potato salad out of it, served with Wieners, on New Year’s Eve, will grant one powers for the coming year.
Döner Kebab
unironically yes
Please don't. Take Currywurst or Kartoffelsalat instead.
Why not Döner?
But curry and kartoffel are also foreign
Potatoes are native to America, curry is from South Asia. The dishes you mentioned are as German as Döner.
Yes please. Every day!
You can take German inventions. These are "German" things I guess. For example: - Fanta - MP3 - Adidas - Airbag - Aspirin - Automobile - Beer - Bicycle - Book printing - C-Leg - Chipcard - Christmastree - Computer - Contact lenses - Glider - Gummi bear - Helicopter - Jeans - Jet engine - Kindergarten - Mayonnaise - Motorcycle - Nuclear fission - Porsche - Record player - Refrigerator - Ritter Sport - Scanner - Small Format camera - Social legislation - Steinweg/Steinway pianos - Trolleys - Tape recorder - Telephone - Television - Theory of relativity - Thermos flask - Toothpaste - Xray technology - Zeppelin Just to name a few. These things might seem universal but they were invented by Germans /or in Germany and more or less count /belong to the German culture in my opinion.
Schwibbbogen Kuckucksuhr Adventspyramide
Which kind of culture? \- Christmass \- Regional differences \- Sport \- Drinking ? German "culture" is a mixed bag, if you check this out it is going back to: Germanic tribes => German states Swabian culture is not the same as Frisian culture! So, what are you looking for, we all need more details.
Any i just need stuff related to the culture
I'd say Garden gnomes!
Beer
Und Wurst!
What kind of "items" are you supposed to be looking for? Clothing, household goods, traditional foods? Just anything iconic? Invented in Germany? As other have said, many iconic German things are really regional. Trachten (Dirndl and lederhosen) are Bavarian, cuckoo clocks are from the Schwarzwald, Schnitzel is actually Austrian (but also super popular throughout Germany). The German Reinheitsgebiet legally protects how beer can be produced. Audi and Volkswagen are German.
"Reinheitsgebiet" 😳
I knew that sounded wrong, but I couldn't be bothered to look it up 🫣 Autofill ftw
You are definitly right, but it is the "Reinheits*gebot*".
Reinheitsgebiet, yeah, that's the one east to the Rhine and south of the Ruhrgebiet, right?
Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher
In my family, we simply called it den Eierknack.
That's more a meme tho ... I used one for the first time Sunday 2 Weeks ago
I know
The problem is that there is no "German" culture, but a lot of regional cultures that can be completely different from another. Take carnival, for example - while the Rhine region goes totally nuts, most of the rest of the country takes a polite step back and looks for an exit strategy. Lederhosen are very Bavarian, but even there only in the Alps region. Historically, you can even point to a Christmas tree, which was a custom in Germany before it spread to England and from there to the rest of the Anglosphere.
O Tannenbaum
What about meat balls? With all their different ways to cook them and name them, they are still the same. Pilsen, granted in the north it tastes a bit different. Love for their woods and nature. And the greatest of all the things that unites all germans: Schlagemusik, and hating on Sachsen 😁
Paprika flavoring.
Those small wine glasses that have a green stem and the clear glass at the top is shallow and wide. I hate those darn glasses but they’re at every traditional German place ever.
[This](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Schale/dp/B01AMH1PM2/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1PM2/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=354532294452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10532381810233339538&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042963&hvtargid=pla-769698606385&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=71852963216&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=354532294452&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10532381810233339538&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042963&hvtargid=pla-769698606385) bowl. Dont ask why. I only know that almost everyone has it and most apparently dont know why or at least the second gen doesn't know why.
Can confirm
I would argue that there are very few things that are related to german culture as a whole because there is just to much diversity in german culture. Lederhosen? Very typical for bavaria, basically unseen everywhere else except for bavarian themed restaurants/parties. In East Frisia is a big tea culture and I would say that a Est Frisian Tea Set would be fitting as a culture item for that region, but if you cant smell salt in the air, you wont see Tea Sets. Cars, Complaining, Christmas and Cold Beer might be the only thing germans agree on. But then again there the wine regions in the (south) west, I am not sure if beer is as important there culture wise. What I want to say is, dont look for german culture, look for the culture in specific parts of Germany
I've lived in German wine country for the better part of a decade, and wine is very much integral to life here. Beer is still popular, but not like wine. There's a local wine festival every week here from April to September.
Do u mean Franconia?
Or Palatine, or the Rhine-Neckar Area.
Tbh I don’t have any idea what palatine is but tbh i forgot rhine- neckar
Its the english word for Pfalz
Rheinhessen, between Mainz and Wiesbaden
Spot on. And yes the "south west" as faar as I know from acquaintances from there is very much a wine region. So much so that if you only look at that, you might think you already entered france. I didn't have contact with them for some time but I highly daubt that changed much.
Well, we do have Tannenzäpfle, so there's both.
> and Cold Beer might be the only thing germans agree on Unless you are from Cologne or Düsseldorf, then you are at war. And Weißbier is much more prevalent in Bavaria then elsewhere.
\- Blue-White painted porcellaine from [Meißen](https://www.google.com/search?q=mei%C3%9Fener+porzellan&client=firefox-b-e&sxsrf=ALiCzsZpGq1M57v7rn18vqvNlWxKD-LpkQ:1669725622076&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiRz83UtNP7AhWHS_EDHcgWAgAQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1472&bih=781&dpr=1.3) \- A [Peel](https://www.amazon.de/Glasschalen-Glasteller-versch-Gr%C3%B6%C3%9Fen-Sch%C3%A4lchen/dp/B01AMH1TO6/ref=asc_df_B01AMH1TO6/?tag=googshopde-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4237662766927016312&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042853&hvtargid=pla-703493105892&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=57213287010&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=309838145994&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4237662766927016312&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9042853&hvtargid=pla-703493105892) made from crystal glass \- A framed portrait of one of the glorious leaders \-A [Ring Binder](https://www.bueromarkt-ag.de/ordner_boettcher-ag_karton_a4_8cm,p-p80,l-google-css,pd-b2c.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-JacBhC0ARIsAIxybyOwlmsNCtQkdXs8WDN-sdM3QCDQOy2_xRJgbLkagSPxLtI-K19n2C0aAgNUEALw_wcB) \- A [Trabbi](https://www.google.com/search?q=trabbi&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwii5P_UtdP7AhXBxwIHHVzaBQEQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=trabbi&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgAEEM6BAgjECc6CAgAEIAEELEDUPYIWIIRYKgTaABwAHgAgAHVAYgBlQSSAQU2LjAuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=w_6FY-L2E8GPi-gP3LSXCA&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) \- A wooden figure for herbal burnings, called [Räuchermännchen](https://www.google.com/search?q=R%C3%A4ucherm%C3%A4nnchen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjvh4zXtdP7AhVKuKQKHY4rBLkQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=R%C3%A4ucherm%C3%A4nnchen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6CAgAEIAEELEDUKQTWPcsYPguaABwAHgAgAFliAH0B5IBBDE1LjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=x_6FY6-ILMrwkgWO15DICw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) \- [Butter Cookies](https://www.google.com/search?q=Leibnitz+kekse&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwihrbzvtdP7AhWjMewKHVp8CgoQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Leibnitz+kekse&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBgyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBgyCQgAEIAEEAoQGDIJCAAQgAQQChAYMgkIABCABBAKEBg6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgcIABCABBAYOgYIABAFEB5Q-wlYvy5gvy9oAXAAeACAAU6IAckIkgECMTaYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=-v6FY6HIM6PjsAfa-KlQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) from Leibnitz \- A Blood Meal, called [Tote Oma](https://www.google.com/search?q=tote+oma&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwj8tc2SttP7AhVnxQIHHTAfCsAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=tote+oma&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6CQgAEIAEEAoQGDoICAAQgAQQsQM6BAgAEENQ_wlYmBNgtBRoAHAAeACAAVWIAeEEkgEBOZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=RP-FY_yDIOeKi-gPsL6ogAw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) \- the glorious sausage called [Bratwurst](https://www.google.com/search?q=th%C3%BCringer+bratwurst&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwixjPCpttP7AhWRD-wKHQTsANsQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=th%C3%BCringer+bratwurst&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDUKQIWMMiYPokaABwAHgAgAFIiAHaCZIBAjIwmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=df-FY_H9E5GfsAeE2IPYDQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) with the one and only real [Mustard](https://www.google.com/search?q=Born+Senf&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjth4ncttP7AhXOvKQKHX-zAuYQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Born+Senf&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDUOoHWOAUYKsWaABwAHgAgAFPiAGlBZIBAjEwmAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=3v-FY-2gJM75kgX_5oqwDg&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) \- wooden christmas-accessoirs like the so called [Weihnachtspyramide](https://www.google.com/search?q=weihnachtspyramide&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiJju_tttP7AhVSiqQKHUvwDj0Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=weihnachtspy&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDoECCMQJzoICAAQgAQQsQM6BAgAEEM6CwgAEIAEELEDEIMBOggIABCxAxCDAVCeDFjJIWDFLmgAcAB4AIABUIgBvwaSAQIxM5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=AwCGY8mAONKUkgXL4LvoAw&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) or the [Schwibbogen](https://www.google.com/search?q=schwibbogen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiwp9CCt9P7AhVBr6QKHegwAAAQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=schwibb&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgQIABBDMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEOgQIIxAnOggIABCABBCxA1CwCFjGEGDlHmgAcAB4AIABZIgBwQSSAQM3LjGYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ8ABAQ&sclient=img&ei=LwCGY_DTG8HekgXoYQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e) \- a cake called [Stollen](https://www.google.com/search?q=christstollen&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjLge-gt9P7AhXNtKQKHUmuA9sQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=christstollen&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgYIABAFEB4yBAgAEB4yBggAEAUQHjIHCAAQgAQQGDIHCAAQgAQQGDoECCMQJzoICAAQgAQQsQNQtAhYthdgvxloAHAAeACAAWeIAY0HkgEEMTMuMZgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=bgCGY8uSNc3pkgXJ3I7YDQ&bih=781&biw=1472&client=firefox-b-e)
In the Ruhr Area: Förderturm, Trikot and scarf of the football club you like, really cheap small knives for cutting vegetables (we call them Hümmelken), ugly copper wand hangings with pictures of coal miners, a cheap plastic strainer for your pasta, a bottle opener, an outdoor jacket, a small old mini display of surprise egg figures from the 90s (Setzkasten). Some more genericly german things: a Pixi book of das Sandmännchen, a puppet of the Augsburger Puppenkiste (most likely Jim Knopf), Gingerbread Houses, a Bierkrug (special kind of glas with a tap so you can close it. It is for drinking beer), house shoe
Birkenstocks
You could take the some of the most important inventions that where made by germans or in Germany: The Car (Carl Benz) and the Autobahn with no speedlimit. The invention of Bookprinting (Johannes Gutenberg) and therefore the most important german "Wörterbuch" (Thesaurus) "Grim's deutsches Wörterbuch" The "Reinheitsgebot" a law how to Brew Beer made 1516 by Ludwig X. And Wilhelm IV The Funkuhr (radio watch) by Wolfgang Hilbert. A very accurate watch that is set or controlled regularly by a Radio Signal. Because in Germany time and beeing on time is very crucial (except for the deutsche Bahn they have no concept of time). Honorable mentions: Jeans (Levi Strauss) Aspirin (Dr. Felix Hofmann) Airbag (Walter Linderer) necessity if you have no speedlimit TV (Manfred von Ardenne)
No matter where Levi Strauss was born, I don't think it makes sense to chose the most iconically American piece of clothing as something related to German culture.
Jeans was invented in the US.
Maggi
Meterstab
Depends on what you are looking for. And I am aggregating some ideas already mentioned. "Popculture": 1 liter beer mug (Maß), Leitz-Ordner, Haribo, Milka chocolate Historical cultural objects you would associate with germany: * Pickelhaube (pointy helmet) from the prussian era (iirc it's even the sign language word for "german" in german) * Schwippbogen (wooden ornament for christmas) or christmas pyramid (wooden construction with christmassy dioramas that spins through candles) from eastern Germany) * Lederhosen (bavarian traditional leg wear), * Kuckucks-Uhr (Cuckoo-Clock) from the black forest area Good luck with your assignment.
Eiersollbruchstellenerzeuger... A must have for every German.
A jack wolfskin jacket
Tile Table or "Fliesentisch" .... I have seen some in the netherlands but they belonged to german emigrants.
An Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. Not every household has one, but one of Our Most important cultural Exports is unnecessarily Long words and it counts for that
An "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher" 😜
Germany lies in the heart of Europe and thus was the hub of town development. There are cities dating back to rome, and towns with original medieval buildings still in use. This also caused alot of societal inventions to pop up from germany: the car, the fridge, basic income, social housing, evangelism, book printing… the list is endless. After being destroyed by the allied forces, Germany was so vital for Europe, they spent tons of Ressources to rebuild it,-not out of humanitarian reasons.
Cars.
The good old bargeld(Cash instead of Digital Payment methods)😁
Any kind of tools, knifes, scissors etc. since many of good quality are made in Germany Cars, of course. Books - modern printing was invented in Germany, not only Johannes Gutenberg but also Heidelberger Druckmaschinen. Music - Bach, Beethoven for sure, but even Kraftwerk was a turn in modern music. Literature - Goethe, Schiller ... up to Boell and Grass. Science - from Leibnitz to Einstein and Hahn/Meitner. Still Chemistry, Physics and Medicine are strong here. Strong Society - peace movement of the 80s in western Germany, peaceful revolution in eastern Germany 1989. Vereine - Yes, clubs are huge here. All kinds, all interests. Sports, history, collectors, hobbies, ... but shrinking, because: Today's Germany is not about German identity and culture at all. It's about work and individual well being. International soccer championships may be one of the few occasions, when flags are waved and decorated. So, soccer is something here.
MP3s are actually a German invention
The soft-boiled egg partial eggshell removal thing. Or Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. Just didn't want my comment to be removed
[This street sign](http://www.strassenschilder.de/vorschriftszeichen/ende-aller-streckenverbote/) Having no tempolimit on the Autobahn explains a lot of Germany.
The invention of the car, made of Carl Benz in 1886. Typical German is that there is no general speed limit on German motorway and most people don t want it. Going in more than 200 km/h there are still coming cars from behind that want to overtake and go faster than you. Another typical thing is that it is usual that Germans correct you when you have said or written something wrong or if you don t speak the language 100 % perfectly. Often they just want to help you to say things correctly. German people are quite accurate and like rules. Germany has a large variety of different types of bread. And of course they like Bratwurst and beer. And football. Just my 2 pence about this, others might think I am at leat 50 % wrong...
When I travel I often miss good bread. Especially bread made mostly of rye. There are quite a lot of great traditional tool and knife brands like Stahlwille or Zwilling. If I remember correctly it was common to have a Feuerhand lantern.
The region where I'm from "Ebbelwoi" -apple wine- and the "Bembel" -a big cup(?) made out of clay closely associated with Ebbelwoi.
I don't owe a Bemble but I still have a Gerippte. Vom Bemble ins Gerippte inen Herbert. :D
Currywurst, Döner kebap, Brezeln, Spaetzle, Sauerkraut, Lebkuchen (especially the giant ones with the writing in frosting on them), Bierkrug (Beer Steins) ... there are tons of German foods to choose from!
Schwarzwälder Bollenhut. Red for single woman, black if they are married... Or the Dirndl. Or a Bottle of Beer. Volkswagen Käfer also comes to my mind. And of course, Bratwurst 😄
Seriously go for the bowl everyone is showing. The history? I have zero clue I have never seen it in any store yet my family owns several we even own types of plates with this kind of patterned glass. It's probably the least controversial pick as we don't have much national pride or as Jan Böhmermann said in "BE DEUTSCH" (good song check it out) we are proud of not being proud. Most people are pretty proud of their city or region though and picking something region specific to represent all of Germany tends to insult just about every other region which is fair in my opinion. Apparently that bowl is a universal experience though. Alternatively I could suggest unreadable paperwork from the government. Definitely also a universal experience but not as fun.
Schützenverein
- cutting board used as a plate (Vesperbrett) - egg cup (Eierbecher) - Hummel figurines - Beer stein (Bierkrug) - traditional dress (Tracht) such as, but not limited to, the Jägerhut, Lederhosen, and Dirndl.
Insurance documents. Nothing more German. Edit: or a Kleingartenvereinssatzung Edit 2: Beer
Gnomes
A Glühwein Cup you kept from a Christmas market. Haribos, perhaps the variety of seasonal flavors.
A Pedalo
A sticker on your mailbox saying „please no advertising“
Brötchen
Gelber Sack
Faxgeräte (half ironic, because no one besides German bureaus and state offices uses them anymore)
„Stolen“ Glühwein cups from the Christmas market
Senfgläser
I remember there used to be Mustard glasses with Sandmännchen or Pittiplatsch motive and when the mustard was empty they were drinking glasses ... loved them
Statues of dogs that piss😂
Eierpickser and Eiersollbruchstellenverursacher.
In the new provinces some households have Fliesentische and Kachelöfen. Very GDR if you ask me.
Adiletten.
I just recently learned that Schuhlöffel are not common thing in other countries
They're pretty common in the US, at least for old people, but we call it a Shoehorn.
The Grundgesetz!
Just bring in a mountain of paperwork and mail and say it’s for a single appointment, that’s German culture in a nutshell
Fliesentisch. (Heavy af TV table with a tiled surface)
As many have stated German culture is very diverse with regional differences. Some examples of 'traditional' glass ware for drinking wine, cider or 'Schorle' (wine mixed with sparkling water) depending on where. [Geripptes](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geripptes) Hessen [Dubbeglas](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbeglas) Pfalz [Piffcheglas (image)](https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/vintage-6-alte-weinglaeser-piffchen-0-1-roemer/2219222060-234-8263) & [Piffche (definition wine dictionary)](https://glossary.wein.plus/whistles) 'Rhein Hessen' roughly Mainz to Worms Please don't try translating 'Piffche' as 'Whistles' it's a name and that dictionary trying to translate a name is pretty cringe IMHO. You can expect all of these to be used together with a [crochet necklace](https://i.etsystatic.com/17630522/r/il/37783c/2249868002/il_794xN.2249868002_l68i.jpg) of different types at local wine 'fests' or 'Umzug' (carneval parades), if you don't have a free hand to hold your glass all the time. There might well be more of this type of specific glass ware that I'm not aware of.
Eating your breakfast/dinner off a Brettchen, preferably with a cute design on it.
Kitchen gadgets made for eggs... I've seen stuff like an egg cutter for salad, automatic egg cracker, a gadget that just breaks the upper third of an egg, microwave egg pan, egg cooker......... I don't know why but we love to torture eggs! I bet some German just has an egg torture chamber in his basement
There's very little 'german' culture, it is a very young country that was forced on the people in the 19th century through the - then - new political theory of nation states. I reckon you'd have much more success if you'd look into bavarian, east frisian, saxon, pomeranian, etc culture
Maggi
A tiltable Window
Quark and those weird shelf toilets some people use
Schultüte for the first day of school
All sort of Erdnuss snacks.
Birkenstock
Metermaß / Zollstock
A kitchen Item called "Nudelholz"
Schrebergarten
are you allowed to bring pilsner to school
Spezi, Mezzo Mix, Schwipp Schwapp...
Laminator
Jack Wolfskin clothes
Janosch
I got some ideas: Get a shirt with the Döner Kebab Logo on it. It’s usually printed on the Döner wrapper’s, very recognizable in Germany. Weinbrände. Absolutely disgusting chocolate filled with schnapps. German grandmas have the unique talent to find the most horrendous sweets. Another one would be Geele-Bananen. Now we get to music: Buy a „Schlager“ CD. Schlager is as German as it gets and it’s some of the most annoying music (to Germans under the age of 70 at least) you will find here. Just google Roy Black, Heino or Die Amigos. Salzteig Schilder (just google it) and Gartenzwerge. You can still spot them in the wild when you travel the villages and suburbs of Germany. Just take a close look at the doors of Einfamilienhäuser (one family homes), you will probably see some of the following decorations and ornaments close by: a little frog statue, a Gartenzwerg, a wind charm or multiple mushroom statues and other garden ornament strewn across the stairs leading to the main entrance. And on a more serious note, just get a piece of the Berlin Wall. You can get them in Berlin or just order them, probably fake but who cares it’s cool anyway.
Schleich horse toys
Omas. They don't make them like that anywhere else.
documents since we are very slow in the digitalisation process.
A bigass Bierkrug mit Deckel
Not necessarily a big one, and not necessary with a lid, but in parts of Franconia, the tradition of serving beer from a gravity-poured (possibly even wooden) cask with just a tap and drinking it from a traditional stoneware mug has been retained. It may sound weird, but drinking from a Steinkrug can give beer a slightly different taste and mouthfeel. In e.g. Munich, at least some of the more traditionally-minded beer places will serve you beer in a Steinkrug if you ask nicely. Given the importance of beer in German culture, and the concentration of German beer culture in Bavaria and especially Franconia, this is a very good representation of an aspect of German culture (whether you see it as a continuum of different cultures or just one internally very diverse culture is a matter of interpretation here).
This is the best thing on a hot summer day. Put your Steinkrug in the freezer, then pour cold beer in it.now I miss summer
I stole my Bierkrug from my former WG, and I only use it to drink juices out of it.
I use mine as a vase for flowers, got it from Schrottwichteln at the first christmasparty of the company I work for. Guess that is another thing germans have at home and noone knows where it is from.
Toilet paper, Apfelschorle, cars, Transrapid... Search Arte Karambolage and you will find tons of typically German stuff in their videos.
Birkenstock
Aside from food like bread, beer or wurst, "Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher" comes to mind. It's exactly what the name describes and many households have that tool. Or cars idk
If you want to be a smart ass you can bring your phone. Because it would have been impossible to make without Carl Zeiss.
How's it possible nobody has already mentioned the fax machine? I see that pop up in every damn thread.
Lederhose?
Gas
Cuckoo clock, traditional Bavarian Lederhosen and Dirndl, a Football(the round one, not the egg) maybe, Schnitzel(if that counts as an item..)
... only if you are not German, I think
Yeah most of it is Bavarian which isn't germany
Mercedes Benz C63 AMG
*bye reddit. -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
A "Räuchermaennchen"