Abitur - difficult exam that German
students take, of which their score determines whether or not they will
gain admittance to university.
Adventskranz – Advent wreath, a
candle is lighted each Sunday of Advent.
Agency - the ability of individuals to
think and act in an independent manner without subordination of social
constraints.
Aryan - blonde haired, blue eyed,
and German
Diversity - the variety of
traits, experiences, and cultures of children in their societies.
Erntedankfest – Thanksgiving; 1st
Sunday in October
Erster Mai – May Day; May 1st
Fasching – The Karneval season
starting November 11th and leading up to Lent.
Federal Republic - a state in which powers of the central government are restricted and in which component parts retain a degree of self-government.
Froebel Methods - a style of
teaching in kindergarten with activities that encourage abstract thought and
free play.
Grundschule - German word for
primary school
Gymnasium - competitive junior and
senior high school that trains students for university.
Hauptschule - general post
primary school that trains students for blue collar work.
Heiligabend - Christmas Eve, the
main day of celebrations; December 24th, Public Holiday
Lander - the different states in
Germany
Literate - age 15 and over can
read and write
Neujahr – New Year's Day; January
1st (Public Holiday)
Nikolaustag - St. Nicholas Day
when children receive presents from St. Nicholas in their shoes they
leave out the night before; December 6th.
Normalization - the
progressing of a government of a society towards a Western
liberal democracy through a
systematic breakdown in politics and adjustments
in society.
Oktoberfest – The largest festival in the
world with about 6 million participants each year lasting 16 days until
the 1st Sunday in October.
Ostern – Easter
Reunification - the process that occured in the 1990's when East and West Germany became one country.
Silvester - New Year's Eve; December 31st
Social Structure - the hierarchy of social relationships within a particular society.Weihnachten - Christmas Day; December 25th, Public Holiday
Zweiter Weihnachtstag - Second Day of Christmas; December 16th, Public Holiday