12 Fascinating Facts To Know About Germany
- Helen
- Aug 4, 2019
- 5 min read
Germany is a country we probably all think we know a bit about... if only from history lessons about both World Wars, the Cold War and the Berlin Wall...
However, how much do you really know about Germany?
Whether you are planning a trip to this Western European nation or you want some fun facts to entertain friends with, here are some fascinating facts to know about Germany!
12 Fascinating Facts To Know About Germany
Germany Recycles More Than Any Other Country In The World
Yes, the German people are very keen to save this planet... they recycle well and leave the rest of us hanging our heads in shame when it comes to how much of our waste is recycled... (source)
In Germany It Is All About Renewable Energy
Alongside recycling their waste, Germany also invests very heavily in renewable energy, ranking 5th in global investment. Today Germany produces about 30 % of its electricity from renewable sources, with an aim to produce 80 % by 2050 (source).
Germany Is Led By The World's Most Powerful Woman... & A Barbie Doll!
The German Chancellor since 2005, Angela Merkel, is said to be the most powerful woman in the world today and the fourth most powerful person in the world according to Forbes (source).
Feminists will no doubt be proud of Merkel's work to prove to the world that women can be equally powerful and as highly esteemed as men... However, the feminists might not approve quite so much of the fact that Angela Merkel is also a Barbie doll!
Yes - in 2009, the creators of Barbie (Mattel) released their own Angela Merkel version of the toy to celebrate 50 years of Barbie (source).... I'm not quite sure the likeness is there!
Oktoberfest Is Predominantly Held In September
Many people have doubtless heard about Oktoberfest, or might have even attended it!
Oktoberfest is the world's largest folk festival, held in Munich each year and best known for its traditional German beer and costumes.
However, many are misled to believe that Oktoberfest is held in October.
In truth, Oktoberfest actually starts mid-September and runs for around 18 days ending the first weekend of October.
When Oktoberfest started it was originally just run over one week in October but as it grew in popularity it was extended and brought forward to September to improve chances of better weather.
Einstein Worked At Oktoberfest
It is reported through history that Albert Einstein, as a very young man, helped deliver the first electricity to one of the tents at the Oktoberfest. Einstein's father and uncle briefly owned an electrical company and the young Einstein was working for them at this time!
The German Motorways Have No Speed Limit
Ok, this statement is not entirely factually correct...
The German Autobahn (or motorways to my British readers and highways to my American friends) are without speed limits on 70 % of the network.
There are 'advisory limits' of 130 km/hr but this is not enforced.
Earlier this year (2019) there was a bid in German Parliament to try to introduce a speed limit on all German Autobahn roads in order to make them safer and reduce emissions but the notion was rejected.
German University Education Is Free!
For any students or wannabe students out there, you will be interested to learn that in Germany all higher education at University level is entirely free....
That is free to German students AND free to people from other countries wishing to study in Germany.
No tuition fees or scholarships are needed in Germany to continue to learn!
Daylight Savings First Started In Germany
Although Germany did not come up with the concept of daylight savings time, they were the first country in the world to introduce it.
On 30 April 1916 Germany implemented daylight savings across the German Empire and Austro-Hungary as a means to try to conserve coal during this wartime period. Other countries, including the UK quickly followed suit.
The Concept Of A Christmas Tree Was Introduced In Germany
According to legend, it was Martin Luther, a religious reformer who one winter's night was walking through woods at his home in Wittenberg when he noticed the beauty of the stars glinting through the branches of surrounding trees. As a result he set up a candle lit fir tree in his home that Christmas and by 1605 the tradition of a lit Christmas tree in the home in Germany was a common sight.
Over the following years and centuries the concept spread slowly to other nations as the higher classes travelled, introducing the tradition as they did.
Germany Has Many Many Castles!
If you enjoy visiting or admiring a castle or imagining yourself in a fairytale then Germany is the country to visit.
It is estimated that there are over 20,000 castles in Germany...
Historically, a castle was a symbol of power and a means to provide a fortress and look-out. Today, many are museums, galleries, hotels or monuments and most are at least 100 years old - plenty to keep any castle lover very happy!
Germany Will Have The World's First Church-Mosque-Synagogue
A unique religious peace project has been in the planning stages in Berlin for some time and its foundations are due to be laid imminently!
Germany will be the first country in the world to have a place of worship for three religions under one roof.
The 'House of One' will bring a synagogue, church and mosque together in one building.
Each section will have its own space for worship and the three will interlink with a central communal room in which the worshippers can come together and learn about one another and their religions.
The foundation stone is due to be laid for the building in April 2020.. (source).
Inventions You Might Not Know Were From Germany
There are a few everyday items that were invented within Germany that many might not realise. These include:
- Magazines - the first magazine launched in the world was in 1663 in Germany and it was a literary and philosophy magazine.
- Fanta - the fizzy orange soft drink was invented in 1940 in Germany as Coca-Cola was no longer available due to the cessation of shipping between the USA and Nazi Germany.
- The hole punch - invented in Germany in 1886 by Matthias Theel.
- The accordion - perhaps not such a surprise that the accordion was invented in Germany in 1822!
- Contact lenses - the first examples of contact lenses were invented, tried and tested (initially on rabbits!) in Germany in 1887.
- Aspirin - introduced in 1900 by Felix Hoffmann, a chemist who created the drug to help his father's arthritic pain.
So, there you have 12 fascinating facts you might not have known before about Germany.
Be sure to also check out my soon to be published, 12 fun facts about Berlin and post on facts you probably did not know about Switzerland for more nation-specific trivia!
**To make my travels possible and affordable I do so through international house-sitting, using both Trusted Housesitters and Kiwi Housesitters**
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