Weird German Wedding Traditions | Germany In A Nutshell

Why do Germans smash plates before the wedding? Why do they often marry twice? And why do the bride and groom saw a tree trunk in half? Euromaxx reporter Hannah Hummel delves into the world of crazy traditions and finds out what is essential for a typical German wedding.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:24 Wedding 101
02:57 Inside Stories: Wedding Attire
03:43 Very Brief History
04:21 Ein bisschen Deutsch
04:56 Deep Dive: Wedding Traditions
06:16 Outro
#Wedding #Germany #weddingtraditions
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CREDITS
Report: Hannah Hummel, Shaheen Welling
Camera & Edit: Neven Hillebrands
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[@viffer94]

I have a feeling Hannah would enjoy the Polterabend even if there was no wedding. 😊

[@dweuromaxx]

Because she looks like she's enjoying smashing the plates? 😏

[@blondkatze3547]

I hadn`t brought my wedding dress myself, but rentedit from a second -hand bridal shop, because you normally only wear it once in your life and there fore didn`t need to buy it separately. After the wedding , I had it dry cleaned and returned it clean. I found it very practical. Very many bridal couples in Germany on a marry in a civil ceremony and no longer in a church.🌺🌻

[@dweuromaxx]

Renting a dress sounds like a much more sustainable option 😁

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

That is sad....so our moral. Goes down t he drain. Mein armes land.....blind

[@leonmiguel459]

​@@dagmarvandoren9364what do you mean exactly?

[@f5faiz]

Renting your wedding dress for practical reasons. Very german indeed.

[@nriamond8010]

That's great :) I would have loved to do that, but I found out that you only can do minor alterations at rented dresses (I'm super short and have large bust, so this was not an option for me anymore :( ).

[@megumim6795]

It's not actually the tradition in GErmany, the father of the bride brings the bride to the altar. It's another huge influence from Anlgo American tradition

[@claudiakarl7888]

Actually it wouldn’t be allowed in a wedding service in a Catholic Church. Because the idea is that bride and groom walk in as a couple.

[@popsicle3649]

Same for Protestant wedding. According to Lutheran doctrine the bride and groom enter the curch as a married couple to confirm their marriage before God and the congregation.

[@AdorableSenses_AdoraReal1]

I really like the different content and enjoyable videos on this channel❤️ Good job, Hannah!

[@jeissondavidsuesca]

Awesome!

[@hariatninovitasari6998]

It’s out of topic, but I love Hannah’s nail colors 😃

[@juliaclaire42]

Sorry, but there is no common tradition of the father bringing the bride to the altar. The bride and the groom enter the church together while family and friends are waiting inside.

[@manub.3847]

True, this also stems from the tradition/attitude that the marriage bond is a willing, freely given promise by the couple before God.

[@js-aus-haar]

True - this is Anglo-Saxon, so US or maybe UK

[@Baccatube79]

Yep, the Anglo-Saxon tradition of the father giving away his daughter is sexist, patriarchic, overcome, kitsch and crept into German weddings via Hollywood.

[@chillfluencer]

​@@manub.3847...but in fact it's just peer pressure.

[@joseph40ninjas88]

Wow 6:16 Thanks, Hannah

[@jeffersonleandro]

So beautiful!

[@lowkii611]

Good job Hannah

[@dianaavram249]

I was invited to a JGA party and did not understand if it's a misspelling, or mistake. Later on, I understood it's the Bachelorette Party. Thanks for the informative and fun content 🙂👌

[@Alex2007MUC]

Trauzeuge... there is a difference ..and it's not Maid of Honor/Best Man. The Trauzeuge (one word for both) is in general chosen "in Trust and Love". So, the groom can choose a woman as Trauzeuge and the bride can choose man. Trauzeugen have a job to do ... not only to organize a party. There job is (chosen in Trust and Love) to step in, if things get hard in the marriage, if things are getting to wrong side of the "marriage-road". There job is it to give a hand if things get rocky.

[@yiluxu]

Ich habe meine Deutsche Hochzeitsfeier diesen Jahr. Es freut mich, um diese Video zu schauen. 🤩 But as Asian, I would like to say that, throwing rice at the wedding is not a tradition for all Asian countries. 😂

[@marastuff9256]

In the countryside its also subtradition to give the couple a sh*tty saw so its extra hard to part the log.

[@HelloWorld-hf7zv]

I want Rachel.

[@Wolfspaule]

Elternzeit

[@jetrondlacaran-ms8bn]

Wow so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

[@DJone4one]

So one tradition I hadn't seen before that a neighbour did on her Polterabend was to take off her future husband's trousers, set them on fire and throw them into a pit. Her shoes were taken off and nailed to a tree. We celebrated the party in the village fire station until shortly after midnight. With everyone from the village.

[@Mostrichkugel]

Total nonsense and no tradition anywhere.

[@HelloWorld-hf7zv]

Where is Rachel?

[@aparajitasuman9727]

Exactly. Where is she?

[@shahlabadel8628]

keep asking!!

[@dweuromaxx]

Rachel is still with us, but working on different projects at the moment :)

[@Semmelein]

​@@dweuromaxx Good to know! I really miss Rachel! 😊

[@Mostrichkugel]

05:40 'the bride is kidnapping' - whom? In German schools the passive voice is usually taught in the 4th year of learning English. Maybe he missed that part. Very often Germans don't know what to do with the -ing form of the verb.

[@harshithreddy3433]

Where is rachel?

[@shahlabadel8628]

yes, that is the question!

[@thepatriot47]

Me watching this knowing well that my chances of getting married are not 0, but rather in the negative lol 💪

[@cosminvalentinoancea9036]

In Romania the money is used too as 🎁 at weddings 😂

[@SoCalFreelance]

A week of caressing.🥰🥰🥰

[@dweuromaxx]

Sounds lovely, right?❤️

[@anagonyaowusu3119]

Cough, creepy, cough

[@kirkanderson3265]

Damn it man your smile!!!!!!!!

[@racheldahliamusic]

Wait…so weddings rings are worn on the right hand??? Why didn’t my grandmother do this?? I love this idea….and explains why I’ve never felt right wearing a ring on the left hand!

[@TheBooty28]

I think in most of Europe it is on the right. I think only in UK , Ireland, France , portugal , Spain, Belgium it is on left. Most Eastern European countries it is the right. Very interesting indeed.

[@MuhammadZahoor-wl9um]

❤❤❤

[@MuhammadZahoor-wl9um]

❤❤

[@roselandpetals]

Ok, but I'm going to need the designer name of the dress you're wearing at the end. 👀

[@lenateaches5146]

It´s probably Franziska Burgert´s design - the women she is talking to in the video.

[@Otto_Maher]

Wow, I didn't know most of the German wedding traditions is like my country's traditions

[@andrelopez2514]

oh yeah the wedding dresses are very different, they do show a lot xD in comparison to my country

[@attackfastace]

could it be that the divorce rate is decreased coz the marriage rate is ALSO decreased?

[@shahlabadel8628]

Rachel please!

[@SivaparvathiAkula]

💕💕👍

[@mateocolegial5571]

*¡¡¡ESPLEENDIDO!!! (spanish)*

[@SixFootScream]

I am getting married at 33!

[@jorg4443]

For real! Where is Rachel??? We want answers!!!

[@CharlieTheMuffin]

Throwing rice is done in Indian Wedding Ceremonies

[@Norman_Foster8748]

Here are lotes of semiler things in our Bengali wedding tradition

[@damianlopez7630]

Good video. It is good to know. The breaking of china plates is wasteful. But other traditions are good.

[@seorsamaclately4294]

It's mostly old and chipped tableware, sometimes even old washbasins, tiles or toilet bowls.

[@damianlopez7630]

@@seorsamaclately4294 thank you good to know

[@sajith.c]

😘😘

[@Squamousepithilium]

Lol no dogs allowed in church 😂😂

[@firstlast-em2yq]

Marriage lacks financial stability and security when couples enter into it without a prenuptial agreement. This is particularly true when the wife is a stay-at-home spouse, as the risk to her financial stability and security becomes significantly higher. Moreover, if the woman is older and the marriage is long-term, the risk escalates to a massive level. The only effective measures to mitigate this risk are the implementation of either a prenuptial or a postnuptial agreement, as they clearly outline the consequences of divorce within the framework of the marriage.

[@manub.3847]

In Germany I actually only know a few full-time housewives/househusbands. In accordance with divorce law and social security legislation, maintenance compensation* depends on the length of the marriage and income. Any children are considered separately and the partner, who has been responsible for the majority of the upbringing and household chores, is obliged to find a job (I think it is from the age of 3 of the youngest child = kindergarten age). Nevertheless, the main parent is usually at a disadvantage, as they often only work part-time and are dependent on social support. *does not depend on gender or role, but solely on income

[@firstlast-em2yq]

@@manub.3847 Yep, that's right. Mostly though it's females who perform that role.

[@seanthiar]

@@manub.3847 No, that changed. The age isn't 3 years anymore, It is 12years or older if the child need support because of special needs. If the parent where the children life is at an disadvantage is worth an discussion, because the other parent get restrictions that would not exist in an marriage. For example you can't change into a job the that would give you a better development in the future, but would be at the moment pay less. And earning more money is not interesting as the parent where the children not live, because from every raise the biggest chunk goes to the children even if that raise would have never been happened if you were still married..... And another thing - what the parent where the child lives earns gets never in to the calculation what the other part has to pay. I have a friend, who worked in a company that got bankrupt. He now works in a gas station for money that is just above social minimum. His ex-wife earns as a branch manager of a discounter about 8k a month and there is no need for the 200€ they cut from his income, but he must still pay and is struggling with daily life because of the high costs at the moment. But the law doesn't care.

[@walli6388]

That's why I invest in bitcoin and make 10000 € per week. To learn more about this.... Nah, just kidding ^^

[@firstlast-em2yq]

@@seanthiar Indeed, implementing a mandatory prenuptial agreement as a legal requirement would effectively resolve such issues prior to granting legal recognition to any marriage. Moreover, by examining cases involving young individuals with careers who undergo divorce, it becomes evident that the risks involved are excessively unacceptable for elderly individuals who have been homemakers throughout a long-term marriage and are now seeking a divorce.

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

So many German guys and girls married into both sides of my family in Canada.

[@henri6595]

Tons of German people live in Canada?

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

@@henri6595 yes. There is a strong multi generational German Canadian presence in Canada. Germans are the 5th largest ethnic group in Canada after all.

[@henri6595]

@SpencerLowe-kg4rg So these are desendents of Germans. I thought you ment new Germans from Germany 🇩🇪 living/studying/working in Canada.

[@SpencerLowe-kg4rg]

@@henri6595 yes German-Canadians

[@alessbritish228]

@@SpencerLowe-kg4rg Canada is not a real country, and also even if their grandparents were Germans, if they've lost direct contact with Germany, they're not considered Germans by German legislations.

[@dublinhomes1951]

Bride throwing Rice is a Hindu Marriage custom.

[@patrickfitzgerald2861]

Those new, sexy wedding dresses look great . . . especially on Hannah! 🥰

[@knut8556]

I fully agree ❤

[@helianacastro3026]

I love it...but i think thats to much money i would prefer something simple ..

[@rupertmay3453]

what about cake

[@holger_p]

It's the essential part of any family celebration. So normal, people don't even talk about it. The habit of having storages, some took over, but that's mainly an import. Besides the wedding cake , you normally have 20 other cakes. So everybody can find something they like. Germans are picky with their cake, It's about taste, while American cakes seem to be about decoration only. And the cake is a meal by itself. Around 4pm, like English tea time. It's not a desert, people are hungry, it's a meal.

[@justcallmejohn2833]

I think Hannah has replaced Rachel

[@Nils.Minimalist]

😢

[@holger_p]

Germans just realize, it doesn't make any difference to have a marriage certifcate or not, except for taxes. People just move together in the same appartment, may have kids, and no marriage is necessary. Unless you got some religious burdon, who declares this shameful.

[@covenawhite4855]

Well how do you claim your spouses property after death and how do you divide assets if the couple breaks up without divorce.

[@holger_p]

@@covenawhite4855 as you like it. That's maximal freedom. As said, marriage is only to save taxes, also inheritance tax. In your will and Testament you can inherit to whoever you want. Your spouse is just not the default, if you have no Testament.

[@ArumWaharatri]

No because they're getting more atheistic marriage is a worship if you have religion you should get married before having sex

[@holger_p]

@@ArumWaharatri this tradition is really extinct for sure. But worldwide, not just in germany.

[@seanthiar]

A typical DW video with many half truths like other DW videos about Germany. For example a wedding ring is always gold never silver. If it looks silver it's white gold. Silver is sometimes used for engagements. Nowadays some use a wedding band made out of steel, but that is rare. The first work they do is not sawing a log - that happens only in a few regions, but not as the first thing - The first work they do together is getting through a barrier like a wall out of paper or barrier tape after leaving church or the town hall. Next work they do together is cutting the wedding cake and it is said that whose hand is one top when holding the knife will 'wear the trousers' the marriage. Carrying the bride over the door sill is another tradition. More common than stealing the bride is a veil dance at midnight. At midnight (wedding night) the bride mother removes the veil and depending on the region the unmarried women fight over the veil and who gets the biggest piece will marry next or the veil is hold in the air and everyone who drops money in the veil can dance with the bride or the groom. The money in the veil is then used by the couple as additional allowance for their honeymoon.....

[@loonyinasia2261]

Our wedding rings are made from silver, we simply couldn't afford gold....and I see no shame in that

[@seanthiar]

@@loonyinasia2261 I only wrote that silver rings are not the common choice like it was said in the video and if you look in to the windows of a jewelry the wedding bands shown are all made of gold. They sell pairs of silver rings, but those are intended as friendship rings, same with the steels ones. I didn't say anything about shaming when you don't use gold- it's just not common to not use gold and most wedding bands that look like silver are in fact white gold.

[@hightidemidafternoon]

I've been to quite a few weddings but I have never seen or heard of the veil dance (Schleswig-Holstein).

[@leahegeloh8929]

Sorry but I have never seen the veil dance, or the barrier thing either. But stealing the bride however is very normal in Bavaria.

[@cosminvalentinoancea9036]

In Romania the bride is stolen too at weddings do Germany copied ours traditions 😂

[@skeleteleportation8043]

the way this is filmed reminds me of an airplane safety video

[@mohammadhosseinganjyar]

I hope to finding a nice german girl in the future😊

[@edicomp5428]

🙂😀👍👍👍👍🔥👍👍👍👍

[@engineeringmadeasy]

I really want to marry this lady 😂😍

[@KPPO200]

Wasn't also that Israel tradition?

[@bangcrisnaok2616]

Weird German Wedding Traditions | Germany In A Nutshell

[@paulhewson4600]

What a hot little spinner,,,,

[@thewokefindergeneral7631]

How c(ommon are inter-racial relationships in Germany? Greater than 50% ? )

[@holger_p]

No, that's completly impossible. Remember around 1990, there have been about 7% immigrants. So if maybe 2% of those immigrants marry Germans, you got 2% of these marriages. A term like "interracial" does not exist, the term race is not used at all. You marry a foreigner, that's exotic enough, if it's one from denmark or nigeria doesn't make a difference, it's rare. With 2nd/3rd generations, and an immagration background rate of 25% today, it's becoming more common. but still less than 10% I guess. The question is Turkish or Danish a race, we don't want to discuss or answer in Germany. It's common knowledge to say "There are no human races".

[@peteregan3862]

Terrible dresses are another tradition going by the reporter's choice of dress.

[@Visionery1]

Mich interessiert wo du Englisch lerntest, der Akzent ist interessant, ein typischer Englischer Akzent ist es nicht. Nebenbeigesagt, mir ist noch nie aufgefallen, daß wir Deutsche Porzellan zerbrechen, na ja, ich lebe ja auch schon seit vielen Jahren im Ausland.

[@knut8556]

Oh, der Polterabend ist uralt, zumindest kenne ich ihn seit meiner Kindheit in den 1960er Jahren.

[@jimhamilton5392]

Sie ist Schottinnen.

[@thomasschumacher5362]

It's a posh Scottish accent

[@dweuromaxx]

Hannah is from Scotland :)

[@wandilismus8726]

​@@dweuromaxx ihr Name passt schon mal, den Sie hat definitiv Hummeln im Mors (viel Energie) 😂

[@chillfluencer]

...as if weddings aren't a weird tradition all by themselves. Sorry to my bros who fall for this tool of social control.