Printer FriendlyGerman Dining Etiquette
Like for everything else in Germany, a high level of formality is expected at dinners, even if they are organized in private homes. Dress should be formal with dark suits and white shirts. It should always be borne in mind that Germans dress formally even for informal occasions. It is therefore important to avoid casual wear such as colorful clothes, flashy jewelry and shorts as far as possible. The following points should be noted before attending a German dinner:
1. Table manners
- On arrival, please remain standing until you are invited or shown a seat to sit.
- Continental table manners are observed (fork in left hand and knife in the right)
- Do not begin eating until everyone at the table has been served. In fact, wait for the hostess or somebody else to say “guten appetit” before beginning to eat.
- You may put your hands on the table but not the elbows.
- Use the fork to cut food as this compliments the cook by indicating that the food is tender.
- Do not leave leftovers, as this is insulting to the cook.
- The host gives the first toast. An honored guest can return the toast later in the meal. The most common toast with wine is “zum wohl” (good health).
However, foreigners are not normally expected to fulfill all the requirements of table manners so long as they are not overly noisy or offensive. For example, chewing loudly and belching would be considered very inappropriate.
2. Payment of Bills
If you are the host, remember never to pay the bill in the presence of your guests. This will avoid pointless misunderstandings. It also allows you to leave a 10-15% tip, a customary procedure in restaurants.
3. Napkins
After eating, never place paper napkins in the plate. Instead fold it up and place it to the left side of the plate. The same should be done with cloth napkins. The Germans have a very firm recycling system. In this way, the napkins end up in the right bins.
4. Giving Toasts
If you want to give a toast, do not bang the sides of your glass to attract people’s attention. Instead, simply stand up and raise your voice a little while speaking. Most people will stop their conversations and listen to what you have to say.
5. Consuming Alcoholic Drinks
Germans have a lot of beer, even during their work hours. They are very tolerant to this drink. However, public drunkenness gathers a bad impression and is unacceptable. At dinner parties, you may be asked to have alcoholic drinks. You should be aware of your limits so that you do not become drunk and cause an embarrassing scene. It is normally alright to turn down offers for alcohol in Germany so you can easily control the amount you are consuming.
These are but a few of the key elements of etiquette that is observed in German society. Most Germans are quite tolerant to mistakes in etiquette. This is because they usually voyage beyond their borders and have committed the same mistakes elsewhere themselves. However, to blend in and gain acceptance and respect, adopting these key elements is crucial.
From: www.germanphrases.org.uk