RESEARCH PROJECT: GERMANY
Pau Casanovas Marc Herrera Arnau Montiel Ricard Pique
1
INDEX 1. Introduction ..............................................................................................................3 2. Geography and Population ......................................................................................4 2.1. Climate 2.2. Demography 2.3. Languages 2.4. Religions 3. History .....................................................................................................................5 4. Economy .................................................................................................................6 5. Government and Politics .........................................................................................6 6. Education ‌.............................................................................................................7 7. Culture .....................................................................................................................7 7.1. Architecture 7.2. Folklore 7.3. Gastronomy 7.4. Arts 7.5. Literature 7.6. Performing Arts 8. Sport .......................................................................................................................11 9. National Symbols ....................................................................................................11 10.Curiosities ..............................................................................................................11 11.Conclusion ..............................................................................................................12 12.Webgraphy .............................................................................................................12 13. Glossary ................................................................................................................12
2
1.INTRODUCTION Germany is a country in central Europe that is part of the European Union. In the north there are Denmark, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. In the east there are Poland, Belgium and the Netherlands; and in the West there is France. This project has been carried out with the objective of learning more about Germany and at the same time learning about its geography, history, economy, education, culture, sport, curiosities and more. To complete this work we searched for information on the Internet and we also used some books and encyclopedias.
3
2.GEOGRAPHY AND POPULATION a. Climate Germany's climate is moderate and has generally no long periods of cold or hot weather. In the northwest and in the coast of Germany the climate is maritime but it also has by warm summers and mild cloudy winters. Most areas on the country's North Sea coast have midwinter temperatures about 1.5°C or even higher. In the centre, the climate is continental, marked by greater seasonal variations in temperature, with warmer summers and colder winters. Temperature change between night and day and summer and winter are considerably less hot in the north than in the south. In January, the coldest month, the average temperature is about 1.5°C in the north and about -2°C in the south. In July, the warmest month, it is cooler in the north than in the south. Temperatures are between 16°C and 18°C; in the south, the average temperature is almost 20°C or higher. b. Demography The population of Germany is approximately 81,859,000 people , and it is the 16th most populous country in the world. Germany's population is not growing, with people become old an aging population and small population of teenagers. c. Languages The official language of Germany is Standard German, more than 95% of the country speak this lenguage. The other languages spoken in Germany are Turkish, Kurdish, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Dutch, Igbo, Italian, Polish, Serbo-Croatian and Spanish and these are the languages of the immigrant population. d. Religions The religions with more followers is Christianity. From 65% to 70% of the population follow the Christian religion in Germany, they are more or less evenly split between Evangelical Church in Germany and Roman Catholic Church. In the thirty Years War in the 15th and 16th centuries, religion in Germany ended up being distributed according to the preferences of local rulers, therefore, most areas in the South or West are Catholic while the North and East are mainly Protestant. The other religions in Germany are Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism. 4
3.HISTORY • 1918: End of the First War. The Treaty of Versailles was disadvantageous to Germany and they blamed the Socialists and their strikes. The leaders believed in a dictatorship revolution. On the other hand, it was the basis of the constitution of the Republic in 1919.
• 1919-1923: It is the most violent stage of the Republic. Germany paid the cost of the Treaty of Versailles. The monarch gave the power for not paying the costs. A financial crisis began in 1922 to pay the repairs.
• 1923-1928: Hitler and some soldiers founded their own party. In 1923 there was much violence. “Gustav Stressman” tried to solve the crisis. The “Plan Dawes” appeared in 1924 to help to pay war dept. In 1927 there was a crisis of Germany public treasury there are 700,000 people uneployed. • 1928-1930: stage of coalition to take Germany out of the crisis. In 1931 there were 2.5 million of unployed. The “Plan Young” appeared, was a new model to help the recovery Germany.
• 1930-1933: There was a big fragmentation, 17% of the votes went to small parties. The economic crisis and unemployment grew in 1931. The right members formed the Hindemburg front. In 1932 a big ideological violence appeared. There was a civil war, which was produced when the “Reichstag” burned down.
5
4.ECONOMY As regards Germany's,it is considered as the third largest worldwide economy and the first in Europe. The main manufactured products are transportation means such as cars, electrical and electronic equipment, machinery, chemical products, synthetic materials and processed food.
With an extensive road infrastructure and an excellent living standard, it is one of the world's most developed nations.
5.GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Germany is a federal, parliamentary, representative and democratic republic. The German political system was established in the 1949 constitutional document called Grundgesetz (Basic Law).
The chancellor, currently Angela Merkel, is the head of government and has the executive power. The Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament and it consist of the Bundestag (Federal Diet) and Bundesrat (Federal Council), together form the legislative body. Germany has a civil law system based on Roman law with some references to Germanic law. The Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) is the German Supreme Court responsible for constitutional matters, with power of judicial review.
6
6.EDUCATION Preschool, from three to six, is optional. At the age of six, the first level of primary school education starts. Primary school education is compulsory and educating children at home is prohibited, even being punished by law. The only exception is in the case of serious illness. The criteria for selection of school are the grades a students gets during elementary school and the recommendation of their primary teacher. Generally, parents are not involved in the decision. Children go either, to the Gymnasium (high school that allows college), the Realschule (middle school that allows certain learning) and Hauptschule (middle school learning whose completion enables handicraft). In Germany the child goes to primary school from age six to age ten. After that, the child goes to secondary school: part I from age ten to age fifteen. The child goes to secondary school, part II from age fifteen to age eighteen.
7.CULTURE a. Architecture The Reichstag: The Reichstag was built by Paul Wallot from 1884 to 1999. His construction system was made by cute stone, glass and steel. The style of this building is Neoclassical with Modern objects. Is the house of the parlament of Germany.
7
Olympic Games Tent: Gunter Behnisch is the architect who built in 1972. It an urban sport complex with expressionist modern art. Neuschwanstein Castle: It was built by Eduard Riedel and finished in 1892. It’s a castle at the top of a mountain. This palace was intended as a personal refuge for the king, but it was opened to the public immediately after his death in 1886.
Nikolaikirche: St. Nikolai-Kirche is the oldest church in Berlin, the capital of Germany. The church is located in the eastern part of central Berlin, the borough of Mitte. The area around the church is bounded by the River Spree and MĂźhlendamm,and it is known as the Nikolaiviertel 'Nicholas quarter, and is an area of restored mediaeval buildings. b. Folklore German folklore shares many characteristics with Scandinavian folklore and English folklore due to their origins in a common Germanic mythology. It reflects a similar mixfure of influences: a pre-Christian pantheon and other beings equivalent to those of Norse mythology; magical characters associated with Christian festivals, and various regional 'character' stories. As in Scandinavia, when belief in the old gods disappeared, remnants of the mythos persisted: Holda, a "supernatural" patron of spinning; the Lorelei, a dangerous Rhine derived from the Nibelung myth; the spirit Berchta ; the Weisse Frauen, a water spirit said to protect children; the Wild Hunt the giant RĂźbezahl; changeling legends; and many more generic entities such as the elf, dwarf, kobold and erlking. Popular holiday-related folklore includes Krampus and Knecht Ruprecht, a rough companion to Santa Claus; the Lutzelfrau, a Yule witch who must be appeased with small presents; the Osterhase and Walpurgisnacht, a spring festival derived from pagan customs. Character folklore includes the stories of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the trickster hero Till Eulenspiegel, the Town Musicians of Bremen and Faust.
8
c. Gastronomy If you think of German cuisine only as a mere mix of beer and sausage, then you are wrong because it has a very fine and traditional cuisine. It is a well-known fact that Germans appreciate vigorous, well-prepared, well served foods. In fact, German cuisine impresses every person who has a great craving for nice food. Can you mention and describe the typical German meals? Pretzel is a type of baked bread that is circular interlaced (loop). In some countries it is known as "pretzels". The name comes from the Latin bracellus "small arm". There are two types of sweets and salty pretzels, the latter can be of different flavors, such as garlic, oregano, etc.. Sauerkraut is a type of cabbage (cabbage) finely chopped and fermented in salt water. Preparation used to accompany almost all dishes. Chile is like sauerkraut. BrĂśtchen is a type of biscuit also known as Semmel in parts of Germany. The origin of this name comes from Brot means bread and chen is the diminutive of the word. These breads are salty, sell them alone or with a filler (such as meat, sausage, etc..) Together serve at breakfast or can also be found in bakery or street vendors. This biscuit is made from wheat flour or rye, have a circular shape of approximately 8 cm and its surface is covered by forming a thin seed separate crispy layer. Eisbein: This is a preparation with boiled pork knuckle, also known as pork. To prepare the pork should be cooked several hours until the flavor and cooking have need. The pork knuckle or high in fat and a very strong flavor. Serve with boiled potatoes, sauerkraut and dumplings.
Kartoffelbrei: It is mashed potatoes, which is often add salt, pepper and nutmeg. There are also variations in the preparation in which they can add spices and / or vegetables. Rheinischer Sauerbraten Sauerbraten: A type of beef roast that has been marinated in red wine vinegar, vegetable broth and blend of spices like juniper, pepper, mustard seeds, etc.. SĂźlze: sausage type gelatin containing pieces of meat or chopped chicken, cooked vegetables and seasonings. It can be served at room temperature or slightly warmed, also can be served with bread or potatoes Frikadellen or Buletten: This is a very popular preparation. The frikadellen are fried minced meat (pork, beef or veal), onions or chives, egg, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper. Has a round and slightly flattened. Depending on the taste can be served with tartar sauce, white sauce, hot or cold.
9
d.Arts German art has a long and distinguished tradition in the visual arts, from the earliest known work of figurative art to its current output of contemporary art. Germany has only been united into a single state since the 19th century, and defining its borders has been a notoriously difficult and painful process. For earlier periods German art often effectively includes that produced in German-speaking regions including Austria, Alsace and much of Switzerland, as well as largely German-speaking cities or regions to the east of the modern German borders. e. Literature While disregarding the language of institutions and ministries, German-language literature, whether it comes from Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Russia or Germany, is generally seen as an entire corpus with a variety of different cultural facets. So when, in their splendid novels, authors such as Hans-Ulrich Treichel, Norbert Gstrein, Angela Krauss, Melitta Breznik or Robert Menasse draw their readers into the complexities of the modern age and family histories, this seems like a genuinely valid, interesting literary confrontation with experiences that know no borders. Consequently, it is not at all surprising that a Rumanian-German writer like Herta Müller receives such great acclaim and that young women like Terézia Mora (Seltsame Materie, 1999) and Zsuzsa Bánk (Der Schwimmer, 2001) enjoy such successful debuts with their stories and novels set in Hungary. German literature comprises those literary texts originating within Germany proper and written in the German language. The term may also denote any literature composed primarily in the German language, though in other countries; for example Austria, Switzerland, the former Czechoslovakia, etc. f. Performing Arts The performing arts, and the arts in general, are extremely well regarded, funded, resourced and attended in Germany. Culture is valued and embedded in German society. Leisure is respected and taken as seriously as work. Both are inextricably connected with an understanding of the need for wellbeing, which includes access for citizens to the arts. This ready availability appears to induce a sense of (largely willing) obligation to engage with culture. Many of the larger theatres in Germany operate on a ‘repertory’ system which is becoming less and less common in the UK due to the cost implications. Although the provision of theatre is notably stratified, consumption of it does not appear to be defined by class. There is a thriving independent scene and audiences were notably mixed in terms of age, if not other demographics.
10
8.SPORT Sport is an important part of German culture and society. In 2006 about 27.5 million people were members of the more than 991,000 sport clubs in Germany. Sport is financed by state funding and state contributions, voluntary service, private sponsors and membership fees. Germany has got 26,000 clubs and 178,000 teams and the German Football Association (DFB) is the largest individual body in the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Federation). Germany's top level football league, known as the Bundesliga, has one of the highest average attendances of any professional sports league in the world. In the 2010–11 season, the Bundesliga was placed third in UEFA rankings, which are based on the performance of clubs in the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. This year two of the four semi-finalists of the Champions League are German. Other important sports in Germany are ice hockey, basketball, handball, motor sports, winter sports, tennis, cycling, golf, boxing, athletics and rugby.
9.NATIONAL
SYMBOLS
The symbols of Germany are the set of symbols, icons, images, ideas and buildings that represent the German people and Germany. Some symbols such as oak are associated with some German people under its wood is turned to the medieval Teutonic symbol of immortality and consistency, a quality that is often associated since then the German character. Others have been and are very associated with the Nazi regime, such as the black cross barada to have been used by the Wehrmacht, the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe during World War II, the Iron Cross with the swastika in the center having been granted by high-ranking Nazis and German officers fighters and who were discriminated against other foreign decorations, and they were forbidden to carry swastika unless the symbol is erased. Other symbols such as the Imperial Eagle were computed by the Federal Eagle.
11
10. CURIOSITIES Some of the curiosities of Germany is when the Germans answer the phone, always answering his surname. Likely to answer you by saying "Müller" are high, since it is the most common surname in the country and is also the country that best treats dogs. Dogs can get into all the restaurants, transport, shops hotels etc.. The only place you are forbidden to enter it in the butchers, but is offset by having their own parks and pools.
11. CONCLUSION We liked this project about Germany because we learned many things about culture, traditions , foods and buildings. Germany is a great country and we would like to go there in the future. All this project is very difficult but all the members os the group we worked very good and we handed tasksin the correct deadline. The group in general works well but some days someone doesn’t work. For everthing else the all of project was well. This is the better country in european union. Bibliography
12. WEBGRAPHY https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany http://wikitravel.org/en/Germany http://www.germany.travel/es/index.html http://www.food.com/recipes/german
13. GLOSSARY Kindergarden: pre-school Grundgesetz: basic law Bundesrat: federal concill Bundesverfassungsgericht: Federal Constitutional Court Brötchen: Is a type of biscuit. Sülze: A type of sausage.
12