German Etiquette: Restaurant/home

Germans tend to find it important that you use your best Etiquette. When eating at the table make sure to eat properly and act appropriately.
In my own experience, I still had a lot of rules to learn in order to make a good impression in Germany. This is especially important when meeting Germans for the first time.

Meeting Etiquette
• Greetings are formal.
• A quick, firm handshake is the traditinal greeting.
• Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person’s title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You should say Herr or Frau and the person’s title and their surname.
• In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a group.
• When entering a room, shake hands with everyone individually, including children.

Gift Giving Etiquette
• If you are invited to a German’s house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers.
• Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.
• Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.
• Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.
• Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.
• If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian. Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think the host will serve a good quality wine.
• Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a German’s house:• Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never arrive early.
• Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained.
• Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

Table manners
• Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.
• Table manners are Continental — the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says ‘guten appetit’ (good appetite). • At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her napkin in her lap before doing so yourself.
• Do not rest your elbows on the table.
• Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork.
• Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender.
• Finish everything on your plate.
• Rolls should be broken apart by hand.
• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the knife.
• The host gives the first toast.
• An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
• The most common toast with wine is ‘Zum Wohl!’ (‘good health’).
• The most common toast with beer is ‘Prost!’ (‘good health’). “

Follow these steps and you should do fine!