| SuperNova said:
I think the fact that america has such a rich tradition of celebrating local heritage indiscriminately is great, actually. Everyone gets to get sloshed on St.Patricks day just as much as everyone gets to dress up for halloween and celebrate Oktoberfest. We need more of that, if you ask me. I think it's a great opportunity to educate a little as well, whenever possible. I certainly don't take offense to anyone wearing a Dirndl, even if it's a bit reductive of German culture overall. As a notherner, I've never even worn a Dirndl (Dirndl and lederhosen are specifically Bavarian traditional dress and the Oktoberfest is a celebration for the Bavarian kings wedding if I remember correctly). Why we still celebrate it, I have no Idea but we have our own inner german mini culture appropiation going on, with Oktoberfest parties getting bigger in the north every year and more and more people dressing in Dirndls and Lederhosen. For the most part bavarians seem to be very proud of their traditional clothes and their international popularity and tend to be really inclusive about it. Like you said in the end it brings cultures closer toghether and I'd much rather be reduced to Lederhosen and Dirndls than to the atrocities comitted in WW2. Although I try to break it to people gently that for the most part, that is very much a bavarian thing and they should not expect to see them anywhere else outside of oktoberfest season. |
It is likely that Bayern accounts for most of the German influence, the diamond flag is as popular as the national one for example.
I'd like to visit your country someday. My husband has been there and really wants me to see Berlin someday due to all the rich history. He'd have to be my guide as I misunderstood him when he said "Kuss mich" and wondered what the heck a "Moose Kiss" meant. Hate to have a mix up with a local when they ask for a "handy".
I tend to think of Kant and Beethoven, but they are both very far back. I'd be curious what is popular among the culture there today.
I think I've gone off topic here, get excited when I talk to foreigners about their culture.
