Posts under "School"

Religionen in Deutschland – Religions in Germany

Posted by jan 8 Comments
Jan 9 2012

At the end of the year 2011, I posted an article called „Some simple fatcs about Germany“. While doing the research for this article, I discovered some other interesting facts about Germany that I didn´t know before though I´m living here since I was born.

One of them was about religions. For not being very religiös (religious) myself, I normally don´t care much about religious topics. But when I read about the spreading of the different religions, this sounded quite interesting to me.

So, to come to a point, we have countless religions respectively subassembly groups or Abspaltungen (split-offs) of them. The biggest main religion is das Christentum (Christianity). Out of this main religion there are also the most split-offs. Take a look:

- Römisch-katholische Kirche (Roman Catholic Church)
- Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Protestant Church of Germany)
- Orthodoxes Christentum (Orthodox Christianity)
- Neuapostolische Kirche (New Apostolic Church)
- Zeugen Jehovas (Jehovah´s Witnesses)
- Baptisten (Baptists)
- Mennoniten (Mennonites)
- Selbständige Evangelische-Lutherische Kirche
- Pfingstler
- Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten
- Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
- Altkatholische Kirche
- Christliche Wissenschaft
- Anglikaner (Anglicans)

Beside Christianity we also have Islam, das Judentum (Jewry), Hinduismus (Hinduism) and Buddhismus (Buddhism) in Germany.

Here are some numbers of the strongest religions in Germany:

Konfessionslos 28.214.000 34,60%
Römisch-katholische Kirche 24.909.332 30,50%
Evangelische Landeskirchen 24.194.986 29,50%
Islam 4.000.000 4,88%
Griechische-Orthodoxe Kirche 450.000 0,55%
Neuapostolische Kirche 359.833 0,44%
Rumänisch-Orthodoxe Kirche 300.000 0,36%
Serbisch-Orthodoxe Kirche 250.000 0,31%
Buddhisten 245.000 0,30%
Juden 200.000 0,24%
Russisch-Orthodoxe Kirche 180.000 0,22%

Martin Luther

Die Missionierung (proselytization) took place from the 6th to the 10th century. Whereas Protestant reformation began in the 16th century with Martin Luther (1483-1546). The interesting thing is, before World War 1, approximately 60% of the Bevölkerung (population) in Germany was affected by the Protestant Church. Nowadays, the two main religions have almost the same number of members. The Roman Catholic Church even has a slight Vorsprung (advance).

The orthodox churches came with the immigrants. Most of them were coming from eastern countries like Greek, Serbia, Russia, Bulgaria…

Jehovah`s Witnesses were founded in the USA and exists in Germany since 1903.

Islam has its own Untergruppen (subassembly groups) as well (Sunnites, Shiites, Alevites and even further ones). Most of the people in Germany with an islamic background have turkish roots.

Most of the Jews living in Germany have their origin in Eastern Europe. Nowadays we have approximetaly 200.000 of them in Germany. There are Jewish communities in Germany since the 1st centruy, so this is the oldest Glaubensgemeinschaft (denomination) that we have here.

Well, as far as I can overlook this, almost every religion is somehow represented in Germany. But also a third af the population is konfessionslos (undenominational), that means without a certain religion. In my optinion this makes people diverse and interesting. As long as everybody stays tolerant and respects other persuasions, it is a great way to do so.

Some vocabulary to this post:

religiös – religious
die Abspaltung – split-off
das Christentum – Christianity
die Römisch-katholische Kirche – Roman Catholic Church
die Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland – Protestant Church of Germany
das Orthodoxes Christentum – Orthodox Christianity
die Neuapostolische Kirche – New Apostolic Church
die Zeugen Jehovas – Jehovah´s Witnesses
die Baptisten – Baptists
die Mennoniten – Mennonites
die Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
die Anglikaner – Anglicans
das Judentum – Jewry
der Hinduismus – Hinduism
der Buddhismus – Buddhism
die Missionierung -  proselytization
die Bevölkerung – population
der Vorsprung – advance
die Untergruppe – subassembly group
die Glaubensgemeinschaft -  denomination
konfessionslos -  undenominational

German tradition: The Abitur – More than just taking annoying examinations (pt. 2)

Posted by Sandra Rösner No Comments
Nov 30 2011

The Abizeitung and Abi-Shirts

In order to remember the time of the Abitur, German students usually make a journal and T-shirts. My schoolfellows and I made an Abi-journal under the motto “imprisonment”. We treated each student as an inmate of a prison (our school) and drew up ‘psychological profiles’ which revealed the particular characteristics and interests of students as well as possible means of ‘socialization’ that disclosed the plans for the future, that is, subjects of studies and career aspirations.

Another custom is to make Abi-shirts or sweaters, which students wear on the day of the Abifez. It generally displays the school-leaving year. Other features are voluntarily. Some students imprint their motto and we imprinted all names of graduates.

 

 

 

The Abiball and the Abifahrt

The most important part of the Abitur is, of course, the Abiturball or Abiball (prom night) and the Abifahrt. The Abiball is quite similar to the American prom night. All school-leavers wear festive clothes: the girls wear ball dresses and the boys wear suits and ties. On the day of the Abiball all hairdressers and make-up artists are usually booked out because all the girls want to look perfect on that night.

Unlike the American prom night, it is not common that boys ask girls out. School-leavers attend the Abiball either with their girl-/boyfriend or as singles. But that does not mean that all singles go alone to the Abiball. Another difference between the American prom night and the German Abiball is that the parents of the school-leaver accompany him/her, so that students, their parents, and teachers celebrate and conclude school-time together. The relationships between Gymnasiasten (German high school students) and teachers are usually very close, friendly and respectful.

The Abiball begins around 7 p.m. and starts with a ceremonial entering of the graduates. Afterwards, the ball is officially opened with the so-called Eröffnungstanz (opening dance). For the following hours, the attendants help themselves from the buffet, drink, talk, dance, and pose for photos. At around midnight graduates and parents separate. Parents go home and the graduates continue to celebrate in discotheques or clubs until dawn. I remember that the day of my Abiball was quite warm and it was raining when a friend of mine and I left the discotheque, my feet were aching, so, I put off my shoes and walked barefoot through the rain. This wasn’t a good idea because afterwards I had had a bad cold.

Last but not least, Gymnasiasten do a final trip together, called Abifahrt. It should be noted that German students go on Klassenfahrten (class trips) or Bildungsfahrten (educational trips) annually. My schoolfellows and I, for example, had been to Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy (Rome, Pisa), the Netherlands (Amsterdam), France (Paris) and Great Britain (London). In this way, we had had the chance to get to know different cultures and practice the foreign languages we had been learning in school, which first of all had been English and French. But the final trip or Abifahrt is neither intended to educate oneself nor to get in contact with other cultures. In the first instance, it is intended to have fun and celebrate one’s freedom. It is the only time whenGymnasiasten go on a trip without teachers. Usually, all students head for the same destination but we weren’t in agreement for our final destination, therefore, we split into three groups. One group went to Spain (Lloret de mar), another to Czechoslovakia (Prague) and the third to the Baltic Sea (Germany).

 

I hope that was enough info for you ;)

 

Vocabulary:

das Abi-Shirt = a T-shirt or jumper on which the motto and final school year of a class is printed

der Abi-Ball = prom night

der Gymnasiast – male German high school student

die Gymnasiatin – female German high school student

der Eröffnungstanz – opening dance

die Klassenfahrt – class trip; school trip

die Bildungsfahrt – educational trip

German tradition: The Abitur – More than just taking annoying examinations (pt. 1)

Posted by Sandra Rösner No Comments
Nov 28 2011

I’m quite sure that you cover the topic “German school system” at an early stage when you learn German as a foreign language in school. Thus, you may already know that the Abitur is the secondary school leaving examination in Germany, which allows you to apply for university. But I’m not sure if any of your textbooks discuss what German students do apart from learning and preparing for the upcoming tests. Thus, I’d like to give you an insight into what was, is, and will always be the most fun thing for German students to take the Abitur.

 

Students usually don’t like to sit tests, and German students traditionally do partially wreak revenge for that on their teachers when they take the Abitur, of which the short form is Abi. The German Abitur contains several traditional customs like: Abifez (= a festival procession), Abistreich (lit. Abi-prank), Abizeitung (lit. Abi-paper), Abi T-shirts, Abiball (prom night), and Abifahrt (final trip).

 

The Abifez and Abistreich

The Abifez is a during-the-schoolday-party and also contains the so-called Abistreich (Abi-prank). It usually takes place after the last day of examination. And it is nothing else than simply going wild. Our Abifez was May 16th. Traditionally, students form a motorcade on that day and go hooking at walking pace through the city, stopping at other schools, entering them and making a lot of noise with rattles and whistles. To come rushing into school buildings is, of course, not legal but most teachers and principals keep cool. My schoolfellows and I, for example, were requested to leave one of the buildings we had entered and we had been threatened that they would had called the police if we hadn’t obeyed.

Additionally, students usually stick a particular creative and funny saying or motto on the back window of their cars, e.g. “ABIgasmus – 13 Jahre bis zum Höhepunkt” (ABIgasm – 13 years to the climax) – allusion to sex, orgasm, and the long time of going to school for thirteen years; ABIsutra – Jetzt geht’s auf Stellungssuche (ABIsutra – Now we are looking for positions) – allusion to sex positions, Kama Sutra, and vacant position on the job market; ABIlieve I can fly; ABIlity for life, etc.

The Abifez also contains a particular program that is performed in the assembly hall of the school. We, for example, established some fun categories for awarding teachers and ‘forced’ them to take part in games in which they had to improvise and showcase their knowledge.

The Abistreich is a part of the Abifez. What exactly students do depends on their creativeness. My schoolfellows and I papered the whole smoker teachers’ lounge with cigarette packets and filled the non-smoker teachers’ lounge with 3000 balloons. This took, of course, a lot of time, therefore, we camped in the schoolyard and prepared everything during the night before the actual Abifez. But we also did some nice thing. For example, we prepared a breakfast bazaar where teachers and other students could buy sandwiches, coffee, and juice. And we additionally, set up some bounce houses in the sports hall.

To be continued…

 

Vocabulary:

das Abitur = German school leaving examination

der Abifez = festival procession

der Abi-Streich – Abi prank

die Abi-Zeitung – Abi (news)paper (comparable to a year book)

der Abiball – prom night

die Abi-Fahrt – the final trip that graduates take together

Tradition: How Germans celebrate the adolescence of young people

Posted by Sandra Rösner No Comments
Nov 24 2011

In the years of the separation of Germany (1949-1989/90), the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic) refused to nominate a state religion and propagated a non-religious Weltbild (worldview), instead. Thus, the East German government neither supported Christian ceremonies that celebrate the reception of a child or adolescent into a society, e.g. communion and confirmation, nor did they welcome that. In order to celebrate the absorption of a young person the state made recourse to an initiation custom that is rooted in the 1890s.

At the end of the 19th century supporters of religious humanism developed an initiation rite that differs from church ceremonies and religious beliefs. Advocates of that approach supported a freigeistige Weltanschauung (free-spirited ideology) and established the so-called Jugendweihe (lit. youth dedication), which German youngsters celebrate when they are 14 years old. The Jugendweihe originally was a school leaving ceremony, as it was common to leave school at that age in those times. Later, the Arbeiterbewegung (labor movement) of the GDR adopted this tradition.

Jugendweihe in the former German Democratic Republic.

The Jugendweihe may still be celebrated in the former eastern parts of Germany. But I do not think that it is still a must to have an official celebration. For example, when I was 14 my teachers at school asked me and all of my schoolmates, if we would like to have an official festivity. Of course, we agreed, as this was still somehow part of our culture and tradition. Jugendweihe festivities usually proceed like this: The adolescents invite family members and friends of the family to a huge celebration, which basically consists of two festive parts. In the morning, the adolescent and his/her parents and close family member, e.g. grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, attend a ceremony, where speeches are given and songs, dances, and short plays are performed on a stage. At the end of this ceremony all adolescents go on the stage and are personally congratulated on their special day. Additionally, each adolescent receives a Blumenstrauß (bunch of flowers) and a little present, usually, a book with Sinnsprüchen (epigrams) and a Grußkarte (greeting card). After the official ceremony the young people celebrate in the family circle. They either go out eating in restaurants or they have a garden party at home with taking coffee in the afternoon and having a barbecue in the evening.

Jugendweihe today.

A very special custom is to give the adolescent some money, instead of Sachgeschenke (gifts in kind, non-cash gifts). This is usually a quite large amount, which can exceed 500 or 1,000 Euros. I think the money symbolizes that adolescents should have a good start to spread their wings and lead an own and independent life. Far-seeing adolescents take the money to the bank and save it for the time when they will leave home to do an apprenticeship or go to university.

 

 

Vocabulary:

die Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR) – German Democratic Republic (GDR)

das Weltbild – worldview

freigeistig – free-spirited

die Weltanschauung – ideology; worldview

die Jugendweihe – lit. youth dedication

die Arbeiterbewegung – labor movement

der Blumenstrauß – bunch of flowers

der Sinnspruch – epigram

die Grußkarte – greeting card

das Sachgeschenk – gift in kind; non-cash gift

das Geldgeschenk – gift of money

Tradition: How Germans celebrate a child’s first day at school – Einschulung

Posted by Sandra Rösner 4 Comments
Nov 22 2011

A friend of mine, who studies French, is currently in France, where she teaches French students German. In one of her first lessons she wanted to find out to what extend the students were able to communicate in German, so she showed them a picture and asked them to describe what they could see. Although the students were able to describe the picture they were not able to make out and label a Schultüte (paper cone). Eventually, it turned out that there is not a similar festive event for Schulanfänger (school starters) in France as it is in Germany. This made me ponder on whether other countries do also not celebrate this day in the way we Germans do. Thus, I decided to share this German tradition with you.

 

When children in Germany enter school they are not merely send to the school building on their very first day and immediately start to have lessons. Zuallererst (in the first instance), German ABC-Schützen (abecedarians) celebrate a huge party on the weekend before another school year officially starts. Dazu (for that to happen), the whole family and friends of the family are invited.

The Einschulung (enrollment event) basically consists of two parts. In the morning, the actual Einschulungszeremonie (enrollment ceremony) takes place. The child and her/his parents as well as close family members, usually siblings and grandparents, accompany the child to school where they are received by the Schuldirektor (principal) and den zukünftigen Klassenlehrern (the prospective class teachers).

It is a common practice that the principal gives eine Begrüßungsrede (a welcome address) in the Aula (assembly hall) and that older students perform some songs and poems. According to Wikipedia, these older students are usually Drittklässler (third-grade students) and Viertklässler (fourth-grade students). After the ceremony, the parents and family congratulate the child on their enrollment and the children are given the Schultüte (lit. school cone/bag), which is also called Zuckertüte (lit. sugar cone/bag). The cone is basically filled with sweets. Therefore, the alternative name ‘sugar cone’. But it can also contain jeglichen Schulbedarf (any school supplies), for example, Füller (fountain pens), Lineale (rulers), and Radiergummis (erasers), as well as Spielzeug (toys). Unfortunately, I cannot recall what I had found in my Schultüte, since this is much too long ago.

Children with their Schultüten

 

Schultüten can have different designs. Some are 'boyish' and others are 'girlish'.

After that, the ceremony continues in einem kleinen Kreis (a small circle). The children follow their class teachers to their classroom where they may also get a small Willkommensgeschenk (welcome gift) and are handed out the Stundenplan (class schedule). Before the children can finally head back home they need to pose for a photograph in front of the black board and another one in front of the school with their Schultüten in hand.

When this roller-coaster ceremony is over the child may eventually celebrate ‘school entrance’ im Kreise der Familie (in the family circle). How people celebrate thereafter can vary. Some families go out eating in Restaurants and others are taking coffee at home.

Although I can hardly remember my own Einschulung I can recall that I liked it to be given the Schultüte and I was indeed convinced that I would get a Zuckertüte at the beginning of every school year. So, I almost burst with anticipation during my first summer vacation but eventually, I had to realize that this is not so, and I was very, very sad that I had not gotten one when my second year in school began.

 

Are there any special customs in your country that are similar to that?

 

 

Vocabulary:

die Schultüte – paper cone

der Schulanfänger (m) / die Schulanfängerin (f) – school starter

die Schulzeit – school time

zuallererst – in the first instance

der ABC-Schütze (m) / die ABC-Schützin (f) – abecedarian

Dazu… –  for that to happen

die Einschulung – enrollment

die Einschulungszeremonie – enrollment ceremony

der Schuldirektor (m) / die Schuldirektorin (f)– principal

der Klassenlehrer (m) / die Klassenlehrerin (f) – class teacher

die Begrüßungsrede – welcome address

die Aula – assembly hall

der Drittklässler (m) / die Drittklässlerin (f) – third-grade student

der Viertklässler (m) / die Viertklässlerin (f) – fourth-grade student

die Schultüte / die Zuckertüte – paper cone

der Schulbedarf – school supplies (uncountable noun in German, thus, only singular)

der Füller – fountain pen

das Lineal – ruler

der Radiergummi – eraser

das Spielzeug – toy

im kleinen Kreis – in a small circle

das Willkommensgeschenk – welcome gift

der Stundenplan – class schedule

im Kreise der Familie – in family circle

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