Halloween

Halloween is not celebrated in Germany like in America, trick or treating is not done and most kids do not dress up in costumes. Germans do know of the holiday in America and it is become more polular here, but more among the teenagers who want to have halloween parties. Some kids do dress up and go to some houses to get candy, not very common though, but they do not say "tick or treat." Some places and houses are decortated for Halloween but not as extravagent as in the U.S.A and nobody puts up Halloween lights. Carving pumkins has become very popular in the last few years along with watching horror movies around the Halloween time.

On Monday October 31 there is a Holiday

Only in Southern Germany, because their are more christian people, is this holiday celebrated. This holiday is to honor and remember the dead, families go to the graves of their loved ones to lay flowers and get the grave ready for winter. Families also light candles and place them in the latern holders on the grave, this is an important part of the holiday.

Lunch during school days

Like in America it is normal for a person to eat three meals a day in Germany. One of them being a hot/cooked meal, usually eaten at lunch time. Lunch is typically not served at school, so a German students either go home for lunch, to the city, or brings their own lunch from home. Lunch breaks for school are typically an hour and forty-five minutes, giving the student enough time to go home if they want.  During the 15 minute breaks between every 2 classes, student normally go out to the courtyard and eat a snack, such as fruits, vegetables, sweets, or sandwiches.  It is also normal for student to eat during class here, which is typically not allowed in America.

After School

Most schools in Germany offer no clubs or sports after school. If you want to join a club then you need to go through an organization or find a team in your city. Most German students are in 1-2 clubs or sports and have practice/lessons once or twice a week. Practice or lessons are usually 1-2 hours and if you are in a sport there are games on the weekend. Soccer is very popular in Germany almost every boy plays it, or played it when they were younger.

Since school days are not as long as in America it is easy to do lots of activities after school. When students do not have activities they are either with friends or family.

School Breaks and School Facts

German students do not have a long summer break like in America, but most do have a 6 week long break. School breaks are more spread out in Germany, they have 2 week long fall, winter, and spring break, unlike in America where our winter break is based on which day Christmas falls. Students also have shorter school days which makes up for not having a long summer break. Germans like Americans enjoy to  travel during their school breaks and spend time with friends, many travel to neighboring countries since everything in Europe is close.

In German schools students homework is not graded, like in America, instead their grade is decided by tests. Hardly any tests are multiple choice, instead they are essays or short answer questions, and teachers do not give review sheets. Same as in America though teachers give hints to what will be on the test and some will tell you the topic before hand.

One interesting fact that I have learned and experienced is that if teachers are sick or not in school, then the higher level grades do not have that class for the day. Substitute teachers are not common in higher level grades and instead it is just a free period.