More facts about Germany

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Germany and its neighbours

• Denmark• Netherlands• Belgium• Luxembourg• France• Switzerland• Austria• Czech Republic Commons. wikimedia.org

The Federal States of Germany

• 16 federal states with• 16 federal state governments• 16 provincial capitals

• independent authorities• no centralized system

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Most important cities

Biggest cities: Inhabitants

• Berlin 3,5 million• Hambourg 1,8 million• Munich 1,5 million• Cologne 1,0 million

Structure of the population

1. Residence:

• 74 % live in cities

2. Religion:

• 24.5 million Catholics• 23.5 million Protestants• 4.0 million Muslims

The North of Germany

• North Sea - Northern Islands East Frisian Islands• Baltic Sea – Usedom and Rügen

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coastbeachestourismwatersports

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• plains with lakes• heathlands• moorlands• agriculture

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The West of Germany

The Ruhr:• Cologne, Essen, Bochum, Düsseldorf,

Dortmund• urban centre for coal and steel industry

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The East of Germany

• capital Berlin• area of the former German Democratic

Republic• division of Germany for more than 40 years• reunification after the peaceful revolution in

1990

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The South of Germany

• low mountain ranges

• foothills of the Alps

• beautiful countryside

• tourism

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German traditions - Carnival

• 11th November – start of the 5th season• centre: Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia• big parades with costumes• Ash Wednesday – cutting of the ties

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Advent

• four weeks before Christmas• advent wreath with four candles• each Sunday one more candle is lit

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St Nicholas Day

• 6th December• boots in front of the door• filled with small presents

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Christmas Markets

• markets in the town centres• food, drinks, typical handicraft• hot wine punch

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Christmas

• 24th December – Christmas Eve• decorated Christmas tree• presents under the tree• Santa Claus

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Christmas

• 25th December – Christmas Day• roast goose or duck with red cabbage

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New Year‘s Eve

• 31st December• many parties• big fireworks

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Shooting festivals

• shooting clubs• big parades• competitions for the best shooter• election of a ‚king of shooters‘

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Walpurgisnight

• May Day Eve – night of the 30th April• witches‘ night• gathering on the highest mountain in the Harz• welcoming of the arrival of spring• huge bonfires to celebrate the coming of May

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Onion festival in Uetze

• Uetze – famous for growing onions• big festival in September• music, dancing, lots of food made of onions

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