Episode 13: Superstitions in Germany
19. Nov, 2007 
7 Comments
in recognition of this 13th episode I thought that it might be fun to talk a bit about some common superstitions in Germany. I wouldn’t really consider Germans more superstitious than any other nationality, indeed many of the same superstitions about good and bad luck that we English speakers have are to be found in Germany. There are, however, several which are particular to Germany and you can hear all about them (some of them) here.
Hope you enjoy the podcast and I look forward to your comments!
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cheers,
Hi!
Back again with a couple of things to add to this podcast:
1) The number 13 is considered unlucky for religious reasons, and dates back to the middle ages. Jesus with his 12 disciples at the Last Supper were numbered in 13 persons, so the 13th person, in this case, Judas, was considered the traitor, and is the “unlucky” or “evil” person.
2) The number 11 is considered a lucky number. Karnival starts in the 11th month on the 11th day at the 11th hour in the 11th minute. The Karnival council consists of 11th council members. People who have their birthdays on the 11th day of the month are considered lucky.
3. Actually it’s not touching the chimney sweep that brings luck – you have to shake his hand. Anybody can do this – most don’t mind, and they automatically do it when they come to your house. Everybody has a chimney sweep, it’s law in Germany. They are considered lucky, because their job, cleaning the chimney prevents the house from burning down. If enough soot gets in a chimney, it could catch fire, just like lumps of coal, and burn the house down, which is why community laws demand that ever house that has a chimney, has to have a chimney sweep.
4. If you drop a spoon while drying them in the kitchen, it means somebody will be coming to visit you soon.
5. For housewarming parties, it’s traditional to bring bread and salt (actually bread & salt, and herbs & wine – the 4 elements), so that the household dwellers never suffer hunger.
6. It used to be traditional to bury your dead dog under the door step so that his dead ghost would keep thieves away from the house.
7. When building a brandnew house, the carpenters have a ceremony of raising a green wreath over the highest point of the house. A sprig of this wreath is supposed to be nailed in the attic later. It supposed prevents the roof from ever caving in.
8. Sprigs of yew bushes are supposed to keep the ghosts of dead relatives away from your house. Sometimes people hang yew branches on their houses or gates, when a close relative has recently died.
9. It is said that when a man can slice even slices of bread with a knife (not a machine) then he is capable of making a good husband.
10. Setting a loaf of bread upright in the sliced off surface brings bad luck.
11. Cats born in the winter should be drowned, because they apparently are uncapable of catching mice.
12. Toasting others with water is supposedly wishing the death upon Stammtisch guests.
13. Taking an umbrella with you guarantees nice weather.
14. Likewise washing your car on a sunny day, brings rainy weather.
15. When you see your friends at a Stammtisch in a German bar, you have to greet them by knocking on the wooden table 3 times. It is said that most Stammtisch tables used to be made of Oak wood, and the Devil was unable to touch Oak wood, because it was a holy tree. So knocking on the table was proving you weren’t the Devil.
16. If you biermat sticks to date’s glass or bottle, then your relationship will be a good one.
17. Women who chew ice are frigid – don’t ask – I don’t know how this one came about!
18. The Gl?ckpilz expression came from people who were mushroom pickers – those who knew which mushrooms were edible and which ones were poisonous. 1/3 of all mushrooms are edible; another third are inedible; and yet another third are deadly poisonous.
19. Wallets should always be given with a penny in them, so that person receiving it will never be in financial want.
20. Giving knives as a present is wishing the person injury and death to the members of his household. This is why you should always give them a token coin so that they can “purchase” the knives. Supposedly this comes from the superstition that the Devil once swore to a smith that he would curse all recipients of his work for tricking him out of his deal with the Devil for his soul.
21. When embarking on a sailing excursion, you always have to offer the first sip of a bottle of spirits to the Gods of the Seas for a safe journey.
22. Giving your ship a female name protects you from the angry wrath of the Gods of the Sea.
23. Women on board a ship, means something will always go wrong.
24. The 30th of April is a day that people have to dance from the evening all the way into the wee hours of May 1st, otherwise the Devil will rule the world.
Hello Celeste,
glad to get you valuable feedback once again! You certainly added some interesting points, some of which I was familiar with, others which I had never heard of. I particular enjoyed learning where the “Gl?ckspilz” expression comes from: very fitting!
Perhaps we should do an interview for the podcast sometime. I think it would be fascinating for the listeners.
Best regards,
Taural
In thinking of how I’m going to gorge myself into a coma tomorrow..I was wondering..
Do you celebrate Amerikanische Erntedankfest with your family? Can you procure the ingredients needed for a bangin’ pumpkin pie??
hi Jim ,
actually I hate pumpkin pie, so I don’t really miss it. you could probably find the ingredients here. I miss pecan pie (good southern boy that I am) and pecans are hard to come by here!
What!? Taural, you hate pumpkin pie? No way, that’s my fav anyway. I always thought mom made a pretty good pumpkin pie. If you want pecan, you should probably tell her now so that she knows to make it for Xmas.
–ToMtOm
Friday the 13th being bad luck is actually from the slaying of the Knights Templar. On Friday the 13th 1307 at the orders of King Phillip of France and Pope Clement V. There is no information found that Friday the 13th has anything to do with the Christ and his deciples. Loved this cast!! Study the past to find your future!
Peace to all!!!
Hi Teresa!
I did not know that. Thanks for the comments, I was glad to see that someone is listening