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Topic of the week

Christmas

Nazim Alemdar vor seinem Kiosk in Frankfurt

Christmas A kiosk that brings people together

Weihnachten im Erzgebirge: An vielen Orten erinnern Bergparaden an die Bergbaukultur der Region.

Christmas

Praising Christmas trees and sausage singers: regional Christmas customs

Gemeinschaftliches Singen schafft Nähe – besonders in der Weihnachtszeit.

Community

Together rather than alone over the festive period

Wie deutsche Weihnachten feiern: Alles was ihr über deutsche Weihnachtstraditionen wissen müsst.

Traditions

How Christmas is celebrated in Germany

Test your knowledge

Quiz

What do you know about Christmas in Germany?

A popular pre-Christmas tradition is the...

When do most Christmas markets open?

What do Germans like to drink at Christmas markets?

Which of the following is not a Christmas biscuit?

What percentage of Germans celebrate Christmas?

How many Christmas trees are bought in Germany each year?

When do most Germans give each other their Christmas presents?

Which of the following is a popular Christmas meal served on 24 December?

German cake is loved all over the world

According to patisseries, this is not how to cut a Baumkuchen.

What actually is a Baumkuchen (pyramid cake)? Why is it so popular worldwide? Where does it get its name? Find out everything you need to know about this cult delicacy here.

Find out more

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Newsroom

Mit dem neu gestarteten „Deutschlandfonds“ setzen Bundesregierung und KfW einen Impuls für mehr private Investitionen in zentralen Zukunftsfeldern.

Private sector Germany Fund: “Growing ideas in Germany”

Soldaten bei der Feier zum 70-jährigen Bestehen der Bundeswehr

The Federal Armed Forces New military service is coming

+++ Ticker Foreign Relations Germany succeeds to attract international academic talent

Ukraine war EU secures Ukraine funding until 2027

Culture The German film Sound of Falling has been shortlisted for an Oscar

Climate change Research vessel Polarstern embarks on expedition to Antarctica

Rabbiner Yehuda Teichtal, Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier und Elke Büdenbender entzünden am Sonntag die erste Chanukka-Kerze vor dem Brandenburger Tor.

In the wake of the Sydney attack Commemoration during the Jewish festival in Berlin

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Christmas 2025

Christmas

Traditions

How Christmas is celebrated in Germany

Spending Christmas with the Germans: Which rituals are important and why potato salad is part of a traditional celebration.

Christmas celebration Holiday tips A Christmas Manual

Christmas Christmas markets Magical Christmas markets

Christmas

Christmas dishes

Eating Christmas: Three Traditional German Dishes for December

One thing a German Christmas should always conjure: food, and plenty of it.

Schnitzel & small talk

Countdown of possibilities

Advent calendars have evolved from unpretentious timekeepers into dazzling consumer goods.

Skilled crafts

Dieu Hue Tong aus Vietnam macht eine Ausbildung zur Bäckerin.

Made it!

They have come from Ecuador, Tunisia and Vietnam, and all have found their place in Germany. Let’s meet Victoria, Aymen and Dieu Hue.

Hier wird ein Dach auf traditionelle Weise mit Reet gedeckt, also mit getrocknetem Schilfrohr.

The art of craftsmanship: handmade joy

The German TV series “Handwerkskunst” opens the doors of workshops across the country. It present people for whom work is about talent and devotion.

Starkes Team: Geschäftsführerin Claudia Frick (M.) mit den Schneiderinnen Tetiana Korenivska (l.) und Reyhane Heidari

Sewing: a universal language

A fashion workshop in Frankfurt am Main shows how diversity can be key to a successful business. People from many different nations work together there and enhance the business.

Raum für Kreativität: Ana Paniagua in ihrem Büro in Frankfurt am Main

Ana and Imad hit the ground running

The media designer from Mexico and the mechanic from Syria who have set out on their own. What does being self-employed mean to them? They share their experiences and tips.

Five steps to gaining a qualification in Germany

Rohan Gupta from India wants to train an electronics technician in Germany. Our infographic explains how he will get here.

Moderne Werkstätten und hohe Sicherheitsstandards: Das Handwerk bietet gute Arbeitsbedingungen.

Five great reasons to work in the skilled crafts and trades

Great working conditions, a secure job, development opportunities – there are so many reasons to train and work in the skilled crafts and trades in Germany.

Digital magazine: Careers in the skilled crafts and trades – talented people wanted!

Read our free 56-page magazine to find out all about job opportunities in the skilled crafts and trades in Germany.

Read the e-magazine now

From Ecuador to Germany: Working as an industrial mechanic

From Tunisia to Germany: Working as a mechatronics engineer

From Vietnam to Germany: Working as a baker's apprentice

Regional Focus

Berlin: Jedes Jahr wird ein zehn Meter hoher Chanukka-Leuchter vor dem Brandenburger Tor aufgestellt.

Jewish life

Israel

Hanukkah in Berlin: light in times of darkness

This year’s Hanukkah celebration in Berlin is guarded by the police. Rabbi Mendel Brandwine speaks about visibility and Jewish life.

Singapur ist das wichtigste Ziel deutscher Investitionen in Südostasien.

German investment in Southeast Asia

Asia

German companies’ preferred investment locations in Southeast Asia

From Singapore to Vietnam: find out why German companies have been increasingly investing in ASEAN states and which countries are particularly attractive in this context.

44 Millionen Fans auf Tiktok: Noel Robinson

Dancing

Africa

Moves that bring people together

Noel Robinson, Oumi Janta and Isaac Kyere are reaching a global community through dancing, social media and empowerment.

Find out more about Germany and the world

Schnitzel & small talk

Schnitzel & smalltalk

Schnitzel & small talk

Pushing the boundaries at an exclusive club

Rosalía’s hit Berghain cements Germany’s most iconic dance temple as pure myth – somewhere between door-drama, style anxiety and bass onslaught.

Migration

Deutschland ist seit Jahrzehnten ein Einwanderungsland.

Migration Migration policy Germany remains a country of immigration - with clear rules

Zugewanderte bringen neue Perspektiven und Geschäftsideen ein.

Skilled workers Migration One in seven patent applications is filed by somebody with an migration background

German roots abroad

In Namibia finden sich vereinzelt noch Straßenschilder mit deutschen Bezeichnungen.

How diverse German can sound

German is spoken only in Germany? You couldn’t be more wrong. German is still alive and well in Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Namibia.

“I attempt to reveal the intangible”

The photographer and teacher Irina Unruh talks about her childhood in Kyrgyzstan, her sudden move to Germany and her search for home in her images.

Sonnenaufgang über der Düne 45 in Namibia

“Christmas here smells of sunscreen”

Namibian open-water swimmer Phillip Seidler talks about his daily life, in which he combines German and Namibian traditions.

Junge Frauen in traditioneller Tracht der Siebenbürger Sachsen.

“Many preserve customs that have become rare in Germany nowadays”

German minorities in Transylvania, Upper Silesia or Kazakhstan. Cultural studies expert Karoline Gil from ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen explains what characterises these groups to this day.

America’s German roots

Germans are the largest immigrant group in the USA – and yet are the least visible.

Julia Tayps mit Kindern im Deutschen Haus in Mukatschewo

“Aid is blind to nationality”

Julia Tayps is a member of the German minority in Ukraine, where she has set up a cultural centre. When war broke out, it transformed into a source of aid.

Humanitarian aid

Mehr als 26.000 Menschen in Sudan sind kürzlich von Al-Faschir in das Lager Tawila geflüchtet.

“Standing by the people”

Violence in Darfur is escalating, and hundreds of thousands are fleeing. Germany is providing additional funds – for drinking water, food and medical care.

Vertriebene Sudanesinnen und Sudanesen im neu errichteten Lager Al-Afadh

“Abhorrent violations of international law”

In the face of hospitals unable to cope, blocked convoys and serious human rights violations, numerous states have called on Sudan to end the attacks.

2025 hat die Bundesregierung bislang 35 Millionen Euro für humanitäre Hilfe in Südsudan bereitgestellt.

Combating hunger, sack by sack

Securing the food supply, saving lives: Germany is one of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid and supports numerous organisations in South Sudan.

Kein Raum für Trauer: Diese Südsudanesin muss ihre verbliebenen Familienmitglieder versorgen.

Where German help is changing lives

Armed conflicts, drought and flooding have plunged South Sudan into crisis. German projects provide food, water and protection.

Kambodscha: Eike Hesselbarth (rechts) vom Auswärtigen Amt spricht mit einem Mitarbeiter der Nichtregierungsorganisation The HALO Trust.

An invisible threat to 60 million people

The Federal Foreign Office supports efforts to remove unexploded ordnance around the world, aiming to protect the civilian population of current and former conflict areas.

Halo Trust arbeitet an der Beseitigung von Minen in Syrien

The invisible threat

Every day, people in Syria are killed by explosives hidden in the ground. Germany is helping to remove the devices.

Alleviating crises around the world

Germany provides humanitarian aid to support millions of people, including in countries and regions that are not at the centre of media attention.

Sustainability in everyday life

#LivingResponsibly

Be kind to the environment - here’s how!

Cycling to work, buying regional fruit and vegetables and using green electricity - we present some great ideas for how to make your day-to-day life more sustainable.

German economy: #LeadingInnovation

Germany’s Hidden Champions: unknown but indispensable innovation drivers

German Mittelstand “We are the backbone of the economy”

Germany’s big players: driving innovation forward

“Germany is a great place to found a startup”

Fraunhofer: a hub for cutting edge research and innovation

Read more

Day-to-day life in Germany

Deutsche sind sehr vielfältig. Doch wie sind sie im Durchschnitt?

Statistics

Facts about Germany

How do Germans live?

How do average people in Germany live and work? How old do they get? How much do they earn? We have all the facts and figures.

Germany’s most popular beers

Pilsner or wheat? Germany is seen as the country of good beer. Here are the regional specialities.

Living in Germany

Friendship

How and where can I get to know people?

New to a German city? We'll show you the quickest way to make contacts and where you can meet people.

find out more

Getting Started in Germany

Work, German lessons and buttered pretzels - Ayushi Sharma’s life in Germany

After completing her master’s in Munich, the young woman from India embarked on a career in Germany as an IT manager. This is how she got off to a successful start.

In sieben Schritten zum Job in Deutschland

Finding your job in Germany in seven steps

Mаríа Fernаndа Gаrcíа López is from Mexico and wants to work as IT specialists in Munich. The journey of this 28-year-old skilled worker is just one example of how you can come to Germany.

Die Erzieherin Daniela Noya wagte den Schritt nach Deutschland.

Teaching, learning, making friends – Daniela Noya’s life in Germany

The nursery school teacher from Colombia works at a nursery. She talks here about how she started out in Germany.

Das neue Digitalmagazin „Ankommen in Deutschland“

How to get off to a successful start in Germany

The new digital magazine from deutschland.de provides international skilled professionals with useful tips when they arrive in Germany.

From the Red Sea to the Black Forest – Khaled Elbarbary’s life in Germany

Qualified staff from abroad are also in demand in Germany’s hotel sector. Let us introduce you to a young Egyptian who works in the Black Forest.

Read more

Development and Dialogue

Erhält den Deutschen Afrika-Preis 2025: die Aktivistin Namatai Kwekweza aus Simbabwe.

German Africa Prize

A bold voice for young democracy: Namatai Kwekweza

Garry Kasparov, Masih Alinejad und Leopoldo López bei der World Liberty Conference in Berlin

Europe

Global Alliance for Democracy

Treffen der Außenminister von EU und AU in Brüssel

25 years of the EU-Africa partnership

A joint vision for peace, prosperity and mobility

Mobility and Travel

Mit dem Fahrrad kommt man nah ran an die Mauerreste.

Europe

Following the Berlin Wall trail

Getting around in Germany

Mit dem Deutschlandticket nutzt du Busse und Bahnen im Regionalverkehr.

Travel in Germany

Deutschlandticket: travel across Germany by bus and train

The economy in Germany

German investment in Southeast Asia

German companies’ preferred investment locations in Southeast Asia

Santhosh Jayaprakash aus Indien hat mehrere Start-ups gegründet.

Five tips for getting started in Germany

“Reliability matters a lot in Germany and I think that’s a good thing”

Skilled crafts and trades

Made it!

Choose your topic

Germany - the Federal Government

#BetterTogether: Global engagement

Neuankommende Fluechtlinge im Registration Center Kakuma, Kenia

Humanitarian Assistance

Renewable energies

Germany in the United Nations

Working in Germany

Your guide to studying in Germany

Famous Germans

Rainer Maria Rilke, hier vermutlich 1906, gilt bis heute als einer der größten deutschsprachigen Dichter.

A portrait

Poetry

The perfect poet

Rainer Maria Rilke was born 150 years ago. The German-language poet was much admired even in his lifetime, and his works continue to touch people around the world to this day.

Ihre Gedanken sind bis heute aktuell: Hannah Arendt (1906–1975)

A life in exile: Hannah Arendt and her escape from evil

Hannah Arendt was one of the most influential political theorists. Her works reveal how important it is to stand up for democracy and human rights.

Reformation Day: Martin Luther, the Reformer

How Martin Luther and the Reformation have continued to influence German society until the present.

Wim Wenders bei der Verleihung des Europäischen Filmpreises 2024

Wim Wenders - travelling the world through film

Wim Wenders has made a name for himself not just as one of Germany’s leading directors but also as a photographer.

Sophie Scholl: Resistance icon

Sophie Scholl is one of the most famous women in German history. As a member of the “White Rose”, she was part of the resistance to the Nazi regime.

Albert Schweitzer 1965 vor dem von ihm gegründeten Krankenhaus in Lambaréné

Albert Schweitzer: out of reverence for life

What drove the doctor, humanist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate – and how he built an entire hospital village in what is today Gabon.

Ihr Tagebuch wurde nach Anne Franks Tod weltberühmt.

Anne Frank and her diary: writing for eternity

Anne Frank died in a concentration camp aged 15. Her diary is one of the most important documents which bear witness to Nazi atrocities.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: faith in contradiction

It is not possible to be a National Socialist and a Christian at the same time: this is the attitude that defined the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The theologian was murdered by the Nazis on 9 April 1945.

Johannes Gutenberg – knowledge for the whole world

It was his invention of letterpress printing with movable type that enabled books to be produced rapidly and inexpensively.

Erich Kästner: a great children’s book author – and much more besides

His children’s books have been translated into more than 70 languages and continue to sell millions of copies to this day. Erich Kästner didn’t just write for young readers, however.

Blick in die Schau in der Hamburger Kunsthalle

Caspar David Friedrich: the master of silence

Forgotten, misunderstood and celebrated: Caspar David Friedrich’s works are ready to be rediscovered again in his 250th anniversary year.

Goethe ist einer der bekanntesten Dichter und Denker Deutschlands.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: a genius, even beyond literature

Goethe shaped German culture like no other. His persistent thirst for knowledge was his greatest motivation.

Marlene Dietrich, Hollywood-Star aus Deutschland

Marlene Dietrich - world star, style icon, myth

The actress and singer was a phenomenon of her era and continues to inspire many people around the world today, partly because of her political stance.

Franz Kafka – the eternal enigma of world literature

The world's most widely read German-language author died on 3 June 1924 – and left instructions for all his writings to be destroyed.

Käthe Kollwitz mit Selbstbildniss (vermutlich von 1940)

Käthe Kollwitz – a dauntless woman and major artist

Her works are of timeless significance and exceptional artistic quality. Käthe Kollwitz campaigned against war and poverty and for the rights of women.

Thomas Mann – a literary giant of the century

2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Thomas Mann’s birth and the 70th anniversary of his death – a good moment to revisit the work of the Nobel laureate.

Clara Schumann – art is the air I breathe

She was a pianist, composer, piano teacher, superstar – and she is the most famous woman in music history. A portrait to mark the 205th anniversary of her birth

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All information and services at a glance

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In focus

Teilnehmende der Besucherreise tauschen sich aus.

Journalism

Fake news

Joining forces against disinformation

Around the world, media professionals are fighting manipulation and the decline in public trust. They came together to share their experiences at the invitation of the Federal Foreign Office.

Karnevalsumzug mit einer Figur von Kanzler Scholz

Humour

Artistic freedom

Satire in Germany: as provocative as possible, please

Mockery and malice: artists in Germany have plenty of opportunities to critically engage with politics and society.

Meinungsfreiheit ist in Deutschland ein hohes Gut.

Law

Legislation

Where do the limits on freedom of expression begin?

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Germany – but it still has its limits. Putting this much-debated issue into context.

Hybride Angriffe auf Deutschland nehmen zu.

Crime

Propaganda and sabotage

Protecting democracy against hybrid attacks

Germany is focusing its attention on the risks posed by information manipulation, cyberattacks and acts of sabotage. Most of the attacks are orchestrated from abroad.

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