Kultur 10, Alex Hoge

I am going to make a point of watching “Dinner for One” now. Maybe even several times, just to make sure I have every nuance of the film down. I want to be ready, should I ever end up in Deutschland, for the giggling inquisition and counter it with my own about “The Sound of Music,” just like the article suggested. Although I’m not sure I’d have the heart to tell any newly made German companions the “Dinner for One” isn’t nearly the world-wide hit that the article depicts them as believing it is. I’m not above going an extra mile for some good ole’ one-sided humor, but I don’t want to break any hearts.

Moving on from New Year’s to Christmas tradition, the Weinacheten traditions detailed in that article seem like a storybook ideal. I would love to experience some of the Weinachstmärkte with such extremely historic traditions (like the Dresdener Striezelmarkt and Stollenfest). It’s especially impressive that Germans are able to capitalize on the huge market Christmas presents while leaving at least some part of it feeling wholesome and some sort of traditional (as opposed to the incredibly plastic Christmases, religious or otherwise, that I’ve seen in the states).

Finally, I kinda love the semi-state-sponsored time off produced by the across the board closing of German shop doors during weekends and evenings. It takes the convenience of big cities and marries it with the laid-back atmosphere one finds in more rural locals, provided one can manage their time well enough to take care of their errands while everything is still open.