Germans are creatures of habit; you need look no further
than the customs of December 31st for the perfect example. The
bakeries serve berliners* and little else, fireworks are sold (and set off) in
terrifying quantities and a quaint British sketch from the 60s is shown on
every single public TV station.
It’s Dinner For One.
Freddie Frinton, practically unknown to British audiences,
is a household name in Germany. He recorded the story of an old woman
celebrating her birthday alone with her butler in front of a German audience in
1963. Since then, this simple story (with a quick introduction in German) has
grown into an essential part of the German New Year.
The repetitive catchphrase “Same procedure as every year”
typifies most Germans’ approach to the holiday – the same procedure each and
every year.
And the sexy twist?
Watch it and find out:
*No, it’s not the Germans unleashing their nascent cannibalistic
tendencies – a berliner is a jam doughnut. They can have other fillings, but taste awful.
Of course, Berliners call berliners Pfannkuchen (pancakes) but refer to pancakes as "egg-cakes" (Eierkuchen). Which goes for most east Germans.
ReplyDeleteBavarians, on the other hand, refer to said pastries as Krapfen, Swabians call them Fasnetskiachele (carnival cakes), and neither understand why anyone would eat them on New Year's Eve...
My point being: While Germans might be creatures of habit (which, I believe, is true not only for Germans but for almost everyone as soon as rites of passage or socially important holidays are concerned), said habits are by no means the same throughout Germany. :)
Krapfen aside, I've been reliably informed that all Germans watch Dinner for One at this time but maybe they have to since there's nothing else on TV :)
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