Learn the superstitions about not saying goodbye and pigs bringing good luck
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Eric: Hello and welcome to Culture Class: German Superstitions and Beliefs, Lesson 3 - Saying Goodbye and Pigs Bringing Luck. I'm Eric, and I'm joined by Jennifer. |
| Jennifer: Hallo! I'm Jennifer. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| Eric: In this lesson we’ll talk about two common superstitions in Germany. The first superstition is about bad luck. What’s it called in German? |
| Jennifer: Beim Abschied nehmen |
| Eric: Which literally means "not saying goodbye." Jennifer, can you repeat the German phrase again? |
| Jennifer: [slow] Beim Abschied nehmen [normal] Beim Abschied nehmen |
| Eric: I once went to a party in Germany and started to drink a little. |
| Jennifer: Typical. |
| Eric: Anyways, I realized that I had a bit too much to drink. I grabbed a cab and went straight home to sleep it off. |
| Jennifer: Wait did you say goodbye to anyone? |
| Eric: No I didn’t...why, is that bad? |
| Jennifer: Well in Germany, it's considered rude to leave a place without saying goodbye. |
| Eric: Germans are known as vigorous hand-shakers. So if you leave without a proper goodbye, it’s seen as very impolite. |
| Jennifer: Did you ever see the people at the party again? |
| Eric: No... |
| Jennifer: Well, that’s why you always have to say goodbye. |
| Eric: The second superstition is about good luck. What’s it called in German? |
| Jennifer: Schweine bringen Glück |
| Eric: Which literally means "Pigs bring luck." Let’s hear it in German again. |
| Jennifer: [slow] Schweine bringen Glück [normal] Schweine bringen Glück |
| Eric: I think in general, Americans have an unfavorable view of pigs. They think of them as dirty and gluttonous. |
| Jennifer: Well in Germany, it's believed that pigs bring wealth, luck, and prosperity. |
| Eric: Is that why so many Germans have a piggy bank at home? |
| Jennifer: That’s right! |
| Eric: There are many theories regarding this superstition. It's widely said that the pig was considered a symbol of fertility in the past. |
| Jennifer: And in the past, those who owned pigs were seen as privileged and well-off. |
| Eric: So if I see a pig, good luck should be coming my way? |
| Jennifer: Well, that’s what people say. |
Outro |
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| Eric: There you have it - two German superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Jennifer: Auf Wiedersehen! |
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