Do's and Don'ts

This is what a big company of Southern India gives at advise to people visiting Germany. I cannot affirm all of the rules, so you better contact me before following them religiously.

Do’s

TABLE MANNERS

  1. Hold Fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand.
  2. Close lips while eating.
  3. Use fork and spoon for eating a cake.
  4. Use fork for eating fish.
  5. Only chicken can be eaten without using knife and fork.
  6. Hold a wine glass at the stem.
  7. “Mokka” Coffee after dinner should not be emptied in one gulp.
  8. Spit stone in a fruit into the hand and then put it into the small plate.
  9. Cover the right hand with the left while using a toothpick.

SOCIAL CUSTOMS

  1. It is better to be a little more polite than a little less polite.
  2. Do take flowers to the lady of the house, when you are invited for dinner / lunch.
  3. Do remove the packing of the flowers in front of the house before ringing the bell. Put the packing paper in the pocket. Don’t throw it on the road.
  4. Use toilet paper in the toilets & there are only European type water closets. Generally, there is no water in a toilet.
  5. Wear dark suits for 1) an evening dinner, 2) for an official party, 3) on sundays.
  6. Use greetings as “Danke” and “Bitte” frequently.
  7. Wear clean and ironed clothes and well polished shoes.
  8. Use an old newspaper for cutting nails and for polishing shoes.
  9. Flush toilet after every use. Ensure that toilet is clean before leaving a bath room.
  10. Clean bathe tub and dry the surrounding area immediately after a bath.
  11. After a shave ensure the wash-basin is clean.
  12. Make the bed daily after waking up.
  13. Keep clothes, shoes and other articles in the room tidily.
  14. In winter leave the shoes near the shoe rack or in the bath room and then wear house slippers.
  15. Wear house coat or dressing gown over the night dress in case you meet visitors / others in the house. Night dress is to be used only in your room.

GENERAL

  1. Do wear socks from the time you get out of bed till you lay back in bed.
  2. In case of cold bite, keep the effected portion (fingers or toes) under running cold water to revive blood circulation.

Dont’s

TABLE MANNERS

  1. Don’t lean the elbows on dining table.
  2. Don’t make noise while eating.
  3. Don’t smoke during lunch / dinner.
  4. Don’t cross knife and fork after completion of lunch / dinner, but place them at 45° and parallel to one another.
  5. Don’t belch while eating.
  6. Don’t fold napkin after use.
  7. Don’t leave the dining table till all the persons at the table have completed eating.

GENERAL

  1. Don’t drink water straight from the taps, it is better to boil & use.
  2. Don’t cross the road when red signal for pedestrians is “ON”.

Source: Werner Piper: Willkommen! Gastfreundschaft weltweit. Löhrbach o.J.