00:00 This is Michael Müller, the average German, and we're following him to understand how
00:05 German people work.
00:11 Now we're joining Michael for a proper German Sunday.
00:14 But how is he going to spend his day of rest?
00:17 Is he going to go to church, meet a friend, make sport?
00:25 Like 60% of Germans, Michael wakes up after 8am on the weekend.
00:30 Let's see how he's doing.
00:36 In Germany, Sunday is a sacred day.
00:38 The right to rest is even enshrined in the German constitution.
00:43 51% of Germans say they like to chill at the weekend.
00:51 And because it's Germany, there are rules to this chilling.
00:54 Sonntagsruhe, or Sunday quiet time, regulations apply in most German states.
01:07 Breaking quiet time rules could land you a fine, a visit from the police, or worse,
01:11 your neighbour Wolfgang.
01:20 Generally all supermarkets in Germany are closed on Sundays.
01:26 And while that might sound annoying to you, 54% of Germans remain against things being
01:33 open on Sundays.
01:34 So if our Michael still wants his bowl of cereal, the options are limited.
01:38 45% of Germans say they only buy groceries from the gas station in an emergency.
01:44 Why?
01:45 66% say the price is just too damn high.
01:50 And not all hope is lost.
01:53 Many bakeries are open on Sundays.
01:58 Church attendance in Germany has declined dramatically over the past 50 years, both
02:02 for Protestants and Catholics.
02:06 64% of German adults from all religions never go to church services.
02:15 Like 12 million Germans, it looks like Michael is on his monthly visit to the Flohmarkt,
02:19 or flea market in English.
02:21 Besides online platforms, Flohmarkt are the second most popular place for Germans to buy
02:26 second-hand goods.
02:29 He's likely to find clothing, books, furniture, and DVDs.
02:34 DVDs in 2023.
02:39 67% of Germans have bought second-hand clothes.
02:46 And by the looks of it, Michael has found yet another practical rain jacket.
02:51 And now it's time to bargain.
02:54 Germans aren't exactly known for their love of haggling, but there are some rules.
03:00 Build a relationship with the seller.
03:02 Be likable, but don't show too much enthusiasm.
03:05 Use a friend to create time pressure.
03:08 Consider buying more items to get a discount.
03:18 It's 3pm on a Sunday, which means only one thing for the Germans.
03:21 Kaffee and Kuchen, aka coffee and cake.
03:27 Kaffee klatsch, the glorious German tradition of chatting over coffee and cake, dates back
03:31 to the 17th century.
03:34 Germans also have a relatively sweet tooth.
03:36 In 2021, they ate 22kg of sweet treats, with cakes and baked goods being the most popular.
03:46 And when it comes to the cake vs tart debate, one groundbreaking study found that 44% of
03:52 Germans like both equally.
03:59 It's no secret that Germans are a sporty nation, and football is by far the most watched sport.
04:10 One third of German fans watch it multiple times per week on TV, and almost half of Germans
04:15 like to watch football with friends.
04:19 Like mustard to pretzels, beer is a natural accompaniment to watching football.
04:23 And forget the craft stuff, Germans want beer with a low drinking resistance, basically
04:27 beer without a strong aftertaste that you can drink a lot of.
04:31 Although the emotional excitement of football can get too much for Germans, a study in the
04:36 Scientific Report recorded increased hospital admissions for heart attacks during the 2014
04:42 World Cup.
04:51 They finish their day with a Sonntagsspaziergang, a Sunday stroll.
04:54 Germans love walking, and there's a rumour that Michael and Paul are still going.
04:58 Wow, Michael's had a busy day.
05:01 Perhaps he needs a holiday, somewhere... exotisch?
05:06 As always, like and subscribe for more Average German.
05:10 (upbeat music)
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