DarkObsidian 
Smiling Panzerfuchs 2.0
**Funny facts about Germany*
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1._*On the first day of first grade, every child gets a giant cone filled with toys and candy_
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The Schultüte, a tradition that dates back to the 1800s, gives kids toys when they enter school to celebrate the "seriousness of life." Going back to work after vacation would be a whole lot more bearable if employers were like Germany. These days, it’s not unlikely for kids to even get video games and a cell phone in their cones, too.
2._*Drinking alcohol in public is legal_
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Germany’s laws about boozing in general are seriously loose. In fact, by the age of 14, you can already crush beers or swig wine "in the company of a custodial person". And that means like, mom or dad, not the janitor.
3._*The government can (and will) reject weird baby names_
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According to German law, a person’s gender must be obvious by first name. So the civil registration office, or Standesamt, can refuse names that don’t comply. Re-applying can be a costly process, so that’s why many parents go for traditional names like Michael and Maria.Basically, Frank Zappa would never have been able to have kids in Germany.
4._*Prostitution is legal_
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Back in 2002, Germany declared the world’s oldest profession within the law, clearing the way for everything from department store-sized brothels to drive-thru sex boxes.
5._*Everything is closed on Sundays_
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Except church. And probably brothels, for that matter. But don’t expect to get errands or shopping done on Ruhetag, or "quiet day". In fact, don’t think about home renovations, either – drilling on Sundays is also illegal.
6._*It’s bad luck to wish someone “Happy Birthday” in advance_
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There’s a saying that sums up the German mentality nicely – "Du sollst den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben", or "You shouldn’t praise the day before the night". It means don’t be sure of something until it happens, because then it won’t happen. So wishing someone a happy birthday early could mean they won't have one, or more precisely, that they'll die.
1.
The Schultüte, a tradition that dates back to the 1800s, gives kids toys when they enter school to celebrate the "seriousness of life." Going back to work after vacation would be a whole lot more bearable if employers were like Germany. These days, it’s not unlikely for kids to even get video games and a cell phone in their cones, too.
2.
Germany’s laws about boozing in general are seriously loose. In fact, by the age of 14, you can already crush beers or swig wine "in the company of a custodial person". And that means like, mom or dad, not the janitor.
3.
According to German law, a person’s gender must be obvious by first name. So the civil registration office, or Standesamt, can refuse names that don’t comply. Re-applying can be a costly process, so that’s why many parents go for traditional names like Michael and Maria.
4.
Back in 2002, Germany declared the world’s oldest profession within the law, clearing the way for everything from department store-sized brothels to drive-thru sex boxes.
5.
Except church. And probably brothels, for that matter. But don’t expect to get errands or shopping done on Ruhetag, or "quiet day". In fact, don’t think about home renovations, either – drilling on Sundays is also illegal.
6.
There’s a saying that sums up the German mentality nicely – "Du sollst den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben", or "You shouldn’t praise the day before the night". It means don’t be sure of something until it happens, because then it won’t happen. So wishing someone a happy birthday early could mean they won't have one, or more precisely, that they'll die.