There are two ways for me to identify a fellow German abroad: They watch „Dinner for 1“ on New Year‘s Eve and „Tatort“ every other Sunday. No one else would find this funny or exciting.
That’s s bit a unfair. I’m Polish and married to a German. Have lived in Berlin for the past 23 years and must say that I find „Dinner for one“ absolutely hilarious. And „Tatort“ - like every TV series that’s been running for well over 40 years has its heart and not-so/good moments. But all in all, it’s a very solid production. And a staple. So much so that there are Kneipen (pubs) showing it every Sunday. It’s pretty exciting watching it with a crowd of like-minded strangers over a glass of great beer🙂
Thanks for this piece, it took me right back to my childhood memories in Finland melting lead (eek) and divining future from the clump! Also you answered a question I was just briefly wondering about yesterday, looking at the calendar my mum sent me last Christmas. 31 Dec is the name day for Sylvester. It’s a very unusual name back home - now I know why it’s there!
Very nice piece! One of our traditions that I struggle with is the obsession with private fireworks. As per the current discussion - a seeming political impossibility to ban them, despite clear evidence that they're dangerous. Living in Strasbourg, I went over to Kehl yesterday, and got stuck in a 90 hour traffic jam on the way back as French police were checking for illegal imports of feu d'artifice. I got pulled out but only amazed the forces d'ordre with a trunk full of beer and sausages. There are excellent ones of either variety in Alsace of course (though no Jever 0.0, a heavenly product): I really went more for the East German Senf and Ketchup I can't live without. I digressed quickly there. Einen Guten Rutsch und ich freue mich auf mehr großartige Posts in 2025!
PS: Very interesting aside on the origin of the Guten Rutsch. I was twice offered a 'Guter Rutsch' in Kehl yesterday. And for the first time tempted to correct West Germans on their grammar!
Yes fireworks at home is also a strangely dangerous British tradition which I'm surprised isn't illegal. My wife grew up in the States and can never understand it.
Is the 'guten Rutsch' expression an east German thing? I didn't realise but would make sense.
Thanks for your kind words and support. Ich wunsche dir einen guten Rutsch ins 2025 ;)
As far as I know it is an expression used in all over Germany and even in some parts of Switzerland. In Austria they say "Prosit Neujahr", which is my favourite one, especially when said with a Vienna accent.
At uni (so ages ago) when talking about German and English idioms my English professor said he could never understand why we use "einen guten Rutsch", he said it was a more suitable wish for women in labour, haha...
There are two ways for me to identify a fellow German abroad: They watch „Dinner for 1“ on New Year‘s Eve and „Tatort“ every other Sunday. No one else would find this funny or exciting.
That’s s bit a unfair. I’m Polish and married to a German. Have lived in Berlin for the past 23 years and must say that I find „Dinner for one“ absolutely hilarious. And „Tatort“ - like every TV series that’s been running for well over 40 years has its heart and not-so/good moments. But all in all, it’s a very solid production. And a staple. So much so that there are Kneipen (pubs) showing it every Sunday. It’s pretty exciting watching it with a crowd of like-minded strangers over a glass of great beer🙂
Thanks for this piece, it took me right back to my childhood memories in Finland melting lead (eek) and divining future from the clump! Also you answered a question I was just briefly wondering about yesterday, looking at the calendar my mum sent me last Christmas. 31 Dec is the name day for Sylvester. It’s a very unusual name back home - now I know why it’s there!
Glad you enjoyed it! Seems maybe we Brits are the odd ones out for not calling it Silvester :) Wishing you a happy new year!
Very nice piece! One of our traditions that I struggle with is the obsession with private fireworks. As per the current discussion - a seeming political impossibility to ban them, despite clear evidence that they're dangerous. Living in Strasbourg, I went over to Kehl yesterday, and got stuck in a 90 hour traffic jam on the way back as French police were checking for illegal imports of feu d'artifice. I got pulled out but only amazed the forces d'ordre with a trunk full of beer and sausages. There are excellent ones of either variety in Alsace of course (though no Jever 0.0, a heavenly product): I really went more for the East German Senf and Ketchup I can't live without. I digressed quickly there. Einen Guten Rutsch und ich freue mich auf mehr großartige Posts in 2025!
PS: Very interesting aside on the origin of the Guten Rutsch. I was twice offered a 'Guter Rutsch' in Kehl yesterday. And for the first time tempted to correct West Germans on their grammar!
Though I'm no stranger to hyperbole, it was 90 minutes of being stuck in traffic 🚦 of course.
haha that would have been quite a traffic jam
Yes fireworks at home is also a strangely dangerous British tradition which I'm surprised isn't illegal. My wife grew up in the States and can never understand it.
Is the 'guten Rutsch' expression an east German thing? I didn't realise but would make sense.
Thanks for your kind words and support. Ich wunsche dir einen guten Rutsch ins 2025 ;)
As far as I know it is an expression used in all over Germany and even in some parts of Switzerland. In Austria they say "Prosit Neujahr", which is my favourite one, especially when said with a Vienna accent.
At uni (so ages ago) when talking about German and English idioms my English professor said he could never understand why we use "einen guten Rutsch", he said it was a more suitable wish for women in labour, haha...
So, Matthew, happy new year (a bit late, I know).
Thanks Matt, this is so interesting! Happy new year