In summer especially, many couples marry. That's why I am telling myself I thought today about weddings in Germany. The most popular months are May and June, but also in other months there are many weddings. Before the marriage is the betrothal. It is much less important in Germany than for example in the USA. There is neither a large diamond ring, still a great celebration.
Who wants to get married in Germany, the must do first and foremost a lot of paperwork. So, documents show before the public authorities. When that's done, you can marry in a civil ceremony. So you go on a date agreed to the registry office, and there will be married by the state. Most of the time goes very quickly. The registrar, who leads the ceremony speaks but few words to the couple to agree on a common future.
There are various registry offices. Sometimes these are relatively official offices, without jewelry. Sometimes there are also old town hall rooms, small castles or you can also get married in castles or on islands. German married but almost always in buildings. Weddings in the open, as is customary in America, there is hardly any. This is probably because the weather is too bad.
To marry in registry offices need to be present as a pair. Previously it was mandatory to have witnesses. These were two people standing close to the couple and the present as a witness at the wedding were. Today it is no longer required by law. Whoever wants to can after the civil marriage marry again in church. Who, for example, Catholics who marries a Catholic church again. Since most Germans are not very religious, they, the church wedding rather important, because we are dealing with a solemn ritual. In the church there is festive music, the bride wearing a beautiful white dress, and all the friends and relatives may be present.
How big a wedding is left to the bride and groom. Of course, there are celebrations with over 100 guests, many couples prefer to celebrate in a small circle. Often there is also the case that only a few guests to celebrate the actual wedding - and then later a big party celebrating with all the other friends and relatives.
It often happens that will be married on Saturday morning at the registry office, and afterwards in the church. But there are many couples that marriages between two months and even years can pass. It is extremely unusual, several witnesses to have, as in the U.S.. Also, the "Rehearsal Dinner" does not exist. Instead there is a stag, at which to celebrate the last night of single-pair. This dish is broken, this must return the couple together and then clean up. Outland will bring good luck.
After the marriage at the registry office or church will celebrate yet. You eat together, dances and rejoices with the bride and groom. Important is the first dance of bride and groom, the first waltz they dance together. Here you see all around mitzutanzen thereafter. It is also a custom to cut the wedding cake together. There are many different rituals and customs. Sometimes the bride and groom together cut a tree stump from - teamwork, so to speak. Many celebrations go until well after midnight, and if the couple does not go straight to the honeymoon, celebrate with them until the end.
The Germans marry very late. 2004, a German man was statistically on average 36 years old at marriage. The woman was 33 years old. Incidentally, in Germany, about one in three marriages fail. This means that three married couples to divorce one can.
Suitable for that I have brought you this music, and that "the love is gone" by Marc Loehrwald , found in the Podsafe Music Network.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. The latest version is here ready for download. And for JavaScript to be enabled in your browser.
Here are the download sequence
Text here to download as PDF
Learning material download (1 €)
Learning material downloaded here (follow 21-30, 8 €)
Learning material downloaded here (follow 08-50, 25 €)
In summer especially, many couples marry. That's why I am telling myself I thought today about weddings in Germany. The most popular months are May and June, but also in other months there are many weddings. Before the marriage is the betrothal. It is much less important in Germany than for example in the ...
