By: Cassie Laing Culture Research Project Germany and America Germany • Their native language is • Their flag German • Ethnic groups: – German 91.5% – Turkish 2.4% – Other 6.1% • Greek • Italian • Polish • Russian • Serbo-Croatian • Spanish Figure 1 “German Flag” (“German People” Global road warrior) three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold; these colors have played an important role in German history and can be traced back to the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Emperor - a black eagle with red claws and beak on a gold field (German Flag) Map of Germany Figure 2 “Map of Germany” Personal Values Figure 3 “Value change” United States • Native language is • Our Flag English • Ethnic groups – White 79.96% – Black 12.85% – Asian 4.43% – Alaskan .97% – Hawaiian .18% – Hispanic 15.1% Figure 3: United states flag Google images Figure 4: Map of the United States Map of the united states states Mapunited of the Americans personal values By: Barack Obama • We, the people, still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity. • We, the people, still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. • We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. • We will defend our people and uphold our values through strength of arms and rule of law. Religion in Germany • Christianity is the predominant religion in Germany with 67 percent of the population. • About 3.5 percent follow Islam • And 1 percent and divided among smaller religious groups like Jews, Buddhists, Jehovah's Witnesses and Hindus. • Remaining 28.5 percent and either atheists or unaffiliated with and religious group. American Religion • According to the 2001 Census • 80 percent of Americans characterized themselves as Christians. • Roman Catholics were 25 percent of the population. • Baptists (17%) • Methodists (7%) • Lutherans (5%) • Presbyterians (3%) • Pentecostal/Charismatic (2%) • Episcopalian/Anglican (2%) • Church of Latter-Day Saints (1%) • Churches of Christ (1%). • 14% of the population have no religious affiliation or described themselves as atheist or agnostic. Americans religion continued… • Presbyterians (3%) • Pentecostal/Charismatic (2%) • Episcopalian/Anglican (2%) • Church of Latter-Day Saints (1%) • Churches of Christ (1%). • 14% of the population have no religious affiliation or described themselves as atheist or agnostic. German Stereotypes • Stereotypes accepted • Stereotypes accepted by the foreigners by some Germans – Very Precise – Europe’s engineer – Stuck in the Past – Failing system – Beer Meisters – Ashamed no more – Old-Fashioned – Hard Workers – Unemotional American Stereotypes • Stereotypes accepted • Stereotypes accepted by some foreigners by some Americans – Money Talks – Number one – Violence Prone – Microcosm – Overweight – Jealousy – Provincials abroad – World cops – Friendly folk – Work hard, play harder German Holidays • New Years Day • Whit Sunday • All Saints’ Day • Epiphany or the • Whit Monday • Repentance Day Festival of the three kings • Corpus Christi Day • Christmas Day • Good Friday • Assumption Day • Boxing Day or Saint • Easter Sunday • Oktoberfest Stephen’s Day • Easter Monday • Day of German • Labor Day Unity • Ascension Day • Reformation Day Easter Monday Ascension Day German Holidays Date: varies Date(s): Date Epiphany or the Festival of the Three Description: A post-Easter varies annually, but Kings celebration. always falls on a January 6th Thursday Description: The Feast of the Three Description: A day Whit Sunday Kings celebrates the wise men from the to commemorate (Pentecost)/Phfingsten East, who visited the baby Jesus in the ascension of Date: varies Bethlehem. "Epiphany" refers to the Jesus Christ to Description: Commemorates the Christian belief that God revealed heaven. descent of the Holy Spirit to the himself to humankind in human form. disciples of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament of the Bible. Day of German Unity Assumption Day Date(s):October 3rd Date: August 15th Description: Commemorates the Description: Commemorates the reunification of East and West death and ascension of the Virgin Germany in 1990. Mary to heaven, in accordance with Christian tradition. German Holidays Continued… Repentance Day Date(s):Date varies annually Description: Boxing Day/Saint A day to observe fasting, Stephen’s Day All Saints’ Day contemplation, and Date: December 26th Date: November 1st examining one’s conscience. Description: A day of post- Description: celebration of Christmas Commemorate the Day and a time of gift souls of the giving. departed. Oktoberfest Dates: Autumn, date varies annually Reformation Day (usually in September) Date(s): October 31 Description: Description: Commemorates the marriage of Crown Commemorates the Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Reformation of the Saxe-Hildburghausen. Lutheran and Reformed church communities. American Holidays • New years eve • Cinco de Mayo • Thanksgiving • Martin Luther King Jr. Day • Memorial Day • Christmas Day • Valentines day • Independence Day • New Years Eve • presidents day • Labor Day • Mardi Gras • Columbus Day • St. Patrick's Day • Halloween • Easter • Veterans Day Video of Germany and how nice it is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEHFqoLpn R0&spfreload=1 Video of the United States showing the scenery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHZc6I_uE pc German Superstitions and Folklore • Actions • Bad luck – Immediately burn hair strands that have – Harming or killing cats and spiders fallen out due to combing before a bird takes the strands to the nest. Failure to – Walking between two old women do so causes the owner of these strands first thing in the morning to go blind with cataracts or to have a – Putting the left foot on the floor headache. first when getting out of bed – Take a cold bath on the start of Easter – Number 13 for a year of good health. – Glass that breaks/falls on its own – Itching on your right hand means – Breaking a mirror spending money, while itching on your – Thirteen place settings at a dinner; left hand means acceptance of money. even if there are 13 guests, a – Always empty a glass when drinking 14th place setting should be set liquids to avoid having a devilish • Weddings, Married life and family mother-in-law. – A raindrop in a bride’s veil brings good – When giving scissors or knives as gifts, luck always give a penny as well so the – If it rains all day on a wedding day, it former don’t cut into your luck. portends bad luck. – A penny sown into the bride’s dress will bring good luck – A dog running between a married woman’s legs is a premonition that her husband will hit her. German superstitions continued… • Body parts • Pregnant Women/ New Mothers – Scratching a woman’s head is a sign – To protect their unborn children that she shall suffer from beatings from death pregnant women • Good Luck should not walk on graves. – When a pregnant woman walks – Knocking three times on wood behind a criminal who is to be – Pressing thumbs (German version killed later on, her child shall of “keeping fingers crossed”) experience the same fate as the – A penny in your pocket criminal. – Birthstones • Witches and Witch craft – A four-leaf clover – When a witch poses a question, • New Year you should not reply so the witch – Keep a penny and a Fliegenpilz (a will have no authority to take type of mushroom with a red head something away from you. and white dots) inside a pocket to – To counteract a curse brought by be lucky in life and in business the witchcraft or sorcery, carve a following year. wooden figure representing the – Nail a penny on doors for a witch- witch, put nails on the statue’s free year ahead. body part that will inflict pain on the witch, and bury it. Photos can be used in lieu of effigies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGqDud MDZYY Video of German Superstitions Superstitions of German Video American superstitions • Walking under the ladder • Actions • Mistletoe – Turning around clockwise seven th times disarms bad spells. • Friday the 13 – Extinguishing your birthday cake • Knocking on wood candles with the first blow will make • Crossing fingers wishes come true. – Washing the car will cause it to rain. • Bad Luck – To keep a husband loyal, sew a – Getting a coin with its tails’ side swan’s feather into his pillow. up – Throw a coin into a fountain to make – Dropping a comb while using it a wish come true. on your hair – Revealing a wish will prevent it from – Trimming nails every Friday and happening. Sunday • Body Parts – Throwing back the first fish caught into the water – Itching of the soles means one will make a trip. – Not finishing a knitting job – When a person’s left ear itches, he is – Killing a ladybug being backstabbed. If it is the right that is itching, someone speaks well of him without his knowledge. American superstitions continued… • Death • Dreams – Holding one’s breath, raising the feet, and – Dreaming of almonds means temporary closing the eyes while a hearse passes by sadness. will prevent death in the family. – Dreaming of a baby means new life. – Leaving a departed’s eyes wide open means – Dreaming of nursing a baby means he will take another person with him in deception by a trusted friend or relative. death. – An ascending balloon means frustrations – Friday funerals signal another death in the will occur in life. family. – A clean white bed means freedom from • Drowning problems. – A sailor wearing an earring will not drown. – Birds in dreams