Articles about Good to Know

German Constitution (Grundgesetz)

The German constitution is not called "constitution" which would be "Verfassung" in German, but instead it has its own name: Grundgesetz

Historical background

As you might now, Germany was separated after World War II and there have been four different zones: a French zone, a British zone, an American zone and a Russian zone. While Russia wanted to keep contact with Germany from the East, the Western countries aimed to make Germany democratic.

The three Western states together with the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg decided to form a German state again. The first step (in 1948) was the creation of a new currency, our former D-Mark (Deutsche Mark). One year later, in 1949 a constitution for the new German state was proposed and accepted by all Western state parliaments. The Grundgesetz became effective on May 24, 1949.

First article: Human dignity

The Grundgesetz is not structured by paragraphes (like others laws), but by articles. At the moment, there are 146 articles in our Grundgesetz, the first one ensures human dignity for every human. Moreover, the third section of article 1 introduces the whole Grundgesetz and assures that the Grundgesetz is law.

The introductory position for human dignity is a reaction on the horrible deeds in World War II. The Grundgesetz is to ensure that something like this will never happen again and that nobody is discriminated against.

Why not call it constitution?

The German Grundgesetz was not planned as a real constitution, but instead it says that the German people could vote for a real constitution:

Article 146 [Duration of validity of the Basic Law]

This Basic Law, which since the achievement of the unity and freedom of Germany applies to the entire German people, shall cease to apply on the day on which a constitution freely adopted by the German people takes effect.

When East Germany joined the Federal German Republic a special law about the adoption of the law in the Eastern countries was created. Since the union of both parts of Germany, the Grundgesetz is our real constitution and not just a transitional one.

Oktoberfest in Munich started

The Oktoberfest traditionally starts with the mayor of Munich tapping the beer keg. Other tents will be informed by twelve shots so that they can serve beer to their customers. Even though the economic situation is not so good, all tents have been sold out a long time before the official beginning and have already been filled before beer was allowed to be served.

Image taken by StrudelMonkey

The Oktoberfest has a very long tradition for its beginning, e.g. there is a very decorated procession in the last hour before the beginning.

The Oktoberfest takes place for the 176th time this year. It is attended by 6 million people from all over the world each year, the same amount of beer is being drunk. Both people from America and people from Asia celebrate together on the Oktoberfest with fun rides, beer and pretzels (in German Brezeln).

Image taken by StrudelMonkey

I have visited the place of the so called Wiesn (the casual term for the Oktoberfest) one time, but it did not take place then. Yet, it is a very large area and the tents are not really tents like you know them from small festivals, but rather houses (they have wooden walls).

Image taken by digital cat

The typical German in the eyes of foreigners

The usual image on the Oktoberfest by the way also is the usualy prejudice about German people. People from abroad sometimes think that we all run around with Lederhosen and drink a lot of beer. However, this is - of course - not the case. Most people only wear Lederhosen when they go to the Oktoberfest and then put them away for one year.

Discussions about photography rights

The organizers of the Wiesn have put some restrictions on photographers. They are not allowed to take pictures of drunken or (partly) undressed people. News papers have protested that this was censorship to ensure only positive images from the festival. The organizers reply that they do not want photographers to publish images from people who cannot refuse it anymore (because of being drunken).

Interesting details about the Oktoberfest

There is not only beer served on the Oktoberfest, but also wine can be bought. This is due to the fact that the monks in Bavaria have grown a lot of wine in the past.

The organizers were afraid that the Oktoberfest would develop in a bad direction, so they have imposed a rule that tents are only allowed to play traditional music until 6p.m. This rule shall keep up the traditional feeling of the Wiesn. From 6p.m. on tents are allowed to play pop music.

The call for the opening of the Oktoberfest is "O’zapft is!". The mayor shouts it when he has tapped the keg.

There are bets on the number of hits the mayor needs until he has opened the keg. His record was two hits.

The Minister-President of Bavaria will be allowed to drink the first beer, at the moment this is Horst Seehofer.