In German-speaking countries and also Sweden and Latvia the gesture is a sign of lying. Instead, wishing for luck is gestured by holding thumbs. The same gesture is used in many Slavic countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and ex-Yugoslav republics.
The Forearm Jerk
One gesture that you should never make in Germany is the “forearm jerk,” which is just as rude as sticking out your middle finger. The forearm jerk is done by pushing up your right forearm with your right fist clenched, then slapping your left forearm with your left hand.
Instead of crossing their fingers, Germans press their thumbs. So rather than telling someone that you're crossing your fingers for them, you would say: “Ich drücke dir die Daumen.” This translates literally as: "I'll press my thumbs for you" but means "I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."
In Germany, you press your thumbs when you're wishing someone good luck. It's the equivalent of crossing your fingers for someone. Someone might say to you “Ich drück' dir die Daumen!” in the same way one says “I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!” in English.
A German would have ordered “three” with the index, middle finger, and thumb extended. Have a look at this short video where people around the world show how they count with their fingers. I assume that this all changes when we indicate the finger with the index of the other hand though.
This isn't only a way to show the number one in German, but also a universal hand gesture for showing that everything is okay or perfect. Be cautious when using the thumbs up, as someone might think that you're counting. But in general, people understand that you're signing “perfect” or “okay” when doing this gesture.
In Germany they use this expression to wish someone good luck. It is often also accompanied with someone raising their fists and showing you that they are literally pressing their thumbs for you.
many traditional German lucky charms go back centuries. The Swabians of this area have long relied on “a little help from so-called “good luck bringers” – like pink marzipan piglets, chocolate or cookie chimney-sweeps, horseshoes, clover and toadstools, as well as lucky pennies or even ladybugs!
The main difference between the two systems is that the "German" or "French" system starts counting with the thumb, while the "American" system starts counting with the index finger.
Expressing Surprise in German. Usually we Germans exclaim “Oh, my Goodness” when we are surprised. In German this is Ach du meine Güte!
Oktoberfest – also known as Wiesn – is the most famous German tradition, but there are several lesser-known traditional occasions that are just as interesting as well as more original.
The German word bitte means so much more than “please” or “you're welcome.” In some ways, it's a go-to word like “pardon.”
Basic Etiquette
It is rude to chew gum or keep one's hands in one's pockets whilst talking with someone. Cross your legs by putting one knee over the other. It is impolite to rest your feet on furniture. Tight punctuality (Pünktlichkeit) is expected in most professional and social situations.
Some common German greetings include "Guten Morgen" (Good morning), "Guten Tag" (Good day), "Hallo" (Hello), "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (How are you?), and "Auf Wiedersehen" (Goodbye).
Under German law, it is generally a criminal offense to insult a person. The crime is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine. (Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Criminal Code], Nov. 13, 1998, as amended, BGBl.
Germans are connoisseurs of good quality in everything including gifts. Small, well-made, but not overly expensive items like office equipment, pens or liquor are great business gifts. Photo frames, leather goods, and spa gifts are excellent personal gifts for any occasion.
In Germany, there are two main numbers that are considered lucky. These are the numbers 4 and 7. One might call these Glückszahlen.
In Germany, a small gift is polite, especially when contacts are made for the first time. Substantial gifts are not usual, and certainly not before a deal has been reached if you don't want your intentions to be misinterpreted.
The Letter Ä With Two Dots Is an Umlaut
If you've ever wondered what those two dots above an “ä” are about, they're generally called umlauts. Particularly common in German, they're used to modify the suggested pronunciation of the letter a.
Properly speaking, only German and Hungarian words have these two dots over a vowel to indicate a change in sound (as in doppelgänger and über), but loosely, people sometimes refer to its twin, the dieresis (as in naïve) as an umlaut. The word is German and means "change of sound," from um, "about," and laut, "sound."
The symbol of German statehood with the richest traditions is the eagle. Its origins can be traced back to the early years of the Holy Roman Empire. It featured on the King's coat of arms and almost all the Imperial princes bore the eagle on their escutcheons as a way of displaying their status as vassals of the King.
Even in my native country the first time you meet a new person is to give them a handshake. And after knowing each other for some time we hug and kiss on both cheeks. But I learned that giving a hug is the way Germans meet other people and it took me some time to get used to it.
The most common greeting is a handshake with direct eye contact. Men usually greet women first and wait for them to extend their hand. Close friends may hug to greet and younger people may kiss one another on the cheek. "Guten Tag" (Good day) or “Hallo” (Hello) are the most common verbal greetings used in Germany.