- Generally, German greetings are more formal than American greetings. Hand shaking is widely accepted as an informal way of saying hello or goodbye, and even established friends will shake hands at the beginning and end of their interaction. For introductions, the oldest person should be introduced first, and women are introduced before men. The general phrase "How are you?" might be taken literally by a German person, who will then answer the question honestly.
- Traditionally, Germans prefer privacy and formality and may turn down social invitations without reason. Impromptu visits during mealtimes are generally unwelcome and Germans do not feel the pressure to reciprocate an invitation. German custom dictates that a social invitation represents a genuine interest to spend time with the other party. When Germans do attend some type of dinner party, it is polite to bring flowers to the host and to show up on time.
- Germany recognizes several holidays that are celebrated in many cultures: News Year's Day, Easter and Christmas. In addition, here are some uniquely German holidays: Labor Day on May 1, a celebration of labor unions; The Day of German Unity on October 3, which recognizes when Eastern and Western Germany became one nation in 1990; and Corpus Christi Day, which is a specifically Catholic holiday.
- There are several different dialects in Germany. The northern parts of the country, where major cities such as Hamburg and Berlin are located, speak West Low German and East Low German. In the middle, the favored dialects are West Central German and East Central German. The Baden-Wurttemburg region in the southwest corner of Germany features Alemannic traits. Munich is located in the southeast region of Germany bordered by Austria and shows Bavarian traits.
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