German Folk Culture

According to research carried out at the University of Southern Maine, 57 million people in the United States--23 percent of the population--are descended from Germans in one way or another. German folk culture typically focuses on good character and strict moral values.

Music

Traditional German folk songs, or "Volkslieder," celebrate the political, economic, religious and natural history of Germany, German culture and German values. They are often coarse and rustic in nature, reflecting the audience for which they were originally written.

Dress

Traditional German dress for men is short, leather trousers, known as lederhosen, with braces or suspenders and long socks, while for women, dirndl dresses--consisting of a bodice, blouse, full skirt and apron--are traditional.

Holidays

German folk festivals of note are Oktoberfest--which, paradoxically, starts in September--Germanfest and Strassenfest. German-American Day, which celebrates the contribution of Germans and German-Americans to the American way of life is held in the United States on October 6 each year.

References

• University of Southern Maine: German Culture
• Life123.com : German Folk Culture
• CVGS: Folk Music (Volkslieder)
• Alpinetoys.com: Dirndl Dresses