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Lesson Transcript

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

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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