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GERMANY EXPLAINED

Do Germans really iron wrapping paper at Christmas?

After a picture of former chancellor Angela Merkel ironing her festive wrapping paper went viral online, we look at whether this unusual practice is common in Germany.

Published: 15 December 2023 17:43 CET
Christmas presents under a tree.
Christmas presents under a tree. Do Germans really iron and recycle their wrapping paper? Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Swen Pförtner

At first glance, it looked like a perfectly ordinary – albeit dated – politician’s photo op. A young Angela Merkel standing next to an ironing board with a gleaming smile on her face.

But those who looked closer will have seen that Germany’s former chancellor hasn’t got trousers and shirts piled up on her ironing board, but rather some delightfully vintage wrapping paper.

As you might imagine, the picture had quite a few people scratching their heads when it suddenly appeared on X, or the website formerly known as Twitter, last week.

VIDEO: Watch Merkel’s funniest moments

Numerous questions sprung to mind. Is ironing out the creases in wrapping paper something that Germans actually spend time doing? Why would anyone add an extra chore to their list at Christmas? Should we have been ironing our gift wrap all this time?

Writing on X, Economist journalist Stanley Pignal summed up what many were thinking by saying he found the picture “quite confusing”.

“Is this… a thing in Germany?”, he asked. “Is there much ironing of wrapping paper?”

Riding to the rescue, several Germans – and people with German heritage – tried to explain the concept of de-creasing your gift wrap. 

As it turns out, the practice is a thing in Germany, but a thing very much associated with the thrifty olden days and moral attitudes to avoiding waste.

Germans in particular had memories of their older relatives carefully recycling their wrapping paper.

Spiegel journalist Jan Petter, for example, said his Swabian grandma had done it – and had also ensured the children unwrapped things carefully to avoid ruining the precious paper. 

This certain fits in with the stereotypes that Swabians are both obsessed with tidiness and very careful with their money. 

As one X user quipped, the practice of ironing gift wrap was common around the same time comedian Otto Waalkes made a joke about how best to recycle a tea-bag – a comparison that highlights just how waste-avoidant that era was.

READ ALSO: Thrifty Swabians and haughty Hamburgers – A guide to Germany’s regional stereotypes

According to X user Thomas Wehling, Merkel’s habit of ironing wrapping paper could also be linked to her childhood in the GDR, where many products were scarce, and her disciplined Protestant upbringing. 

As climate advocate Thea Ehlich explained, however, the photo op had much more to do with Merkel’s job when the picture was taken. 

“Merkel was the federal minister of the environment at the time,” she wrote. “She wanted to show that you can reuse lightly wrinkled wrapping paper by simply ironing it again.”

These days, it seems, chucking wrapping paper away after a single use is no longer seen as particularly decadent, meaning most younger Germans are probably unlikely to be ironing their gift wrap anytime soon.

But with Merkel’s old photo resurfacing online, some media outlets have jumped on the bandwagon with special features on how best to recycle your wrapping paper – and yes, ironing is one of the tips.

Given that “waste not, want not” is a philosophy that’s coming back into fashion lately, don’t be too surprised if you see the German in your life getting out the ironing board this season for a far more eco-conscious Christmas. 

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GERMAN LANGUAGE

‘Umpf’: Six noises to help you sound like a German

You may think fancy vocab is the only way to impress your friends in German, but these quirky noises could actually be the key to sounding like a local.

Published: 24 April 2024 17:23 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:39 CEST
'Umpf': Six noises to help you sound like a German

For most German-language learners, it’s a familiar scenario: you kick off your language journey with textbooks and courses and eventually start to get comfortable with the tricky grammar and vocabulary.

But as soon as you start talking to a native speaker, you’ll probably hear several words you’ve never heard before – and even a few confusing noises that are hard to decipher.

These funny sounds – which are usually described as discourse markers by linguists – can be used to express anything from exhaustion to surprise, or even to check whether the person you’re talking to is listening.

If you want to sound like a native, it’s worth getting familiar with these quirky noises and trying to incorporate them in your everyday speech.

The good news is that they’re a lot more fun to use than the tricky words you learn in language schools.

What’s more, they’re an easy way to add some natural flair and personality to your German.

READ ALSO: What are the different levels in German and how do I reach them?

Tja

Hearing this word can be confusing for foreigners, because it may sound an awful lot like “ja”, or yes.

But rather than being an affirmative response to a question, ‘tja’ is often used ahead of a contradiction or as an expression of scepticism, similar to the English word “well”.

You may also hear “tja”, or even “ja”, simply used as filler words for the speaker to buy time to think about what they’re saying. For example, if a stranger asks you if the next train to Dresden leaves from Platform 3, you may respond with “Ja… nein”, if you aren’t quite sure of the answer.

Another key meaning of ‘tja’ is best summed by a meme that defines it as a the typical German response to the apocalypse, nuclear war, alien attack or having no bread in the house.

When something catastrophic has happened – like the apolocalypse or an empty bread shelf – it can be taken to mean either “I told you so” or “sh*t happens”, casting an ironic light over the gloomy situation.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

Hä

This is a word you won’t read in the German textbooks, but “hä” is a sure-fire way to sound more German in your conversations.

Much like the English “huh?”, you can use “hä?” to express surprise or incomprehension. If a friend from your German course tells you they actually enjoy learning German grammar, then a disbelieving “hä?” is probably an apt response.

In a more banal context, if you haven’t quite understood what somebody’s said, a gentle “hä?” could stand in for the more polite and formal, “wie bitte?”.

A word of warning, though: “hä?” is viewed as very informal and can even be construed as rude in certain situations, so be sure to only use it among people you’re very friendly and familiar with.

Here’s how you pronounce it.

READ ALSO: German word of the day – Hä?

Ne

Whether you’re a fan of German podcasts or have a few German friends who enjoy to speak at length about the world, you’ve probably come across ‘ne’ at some point or other.

It’s generally used at the end of sentences to check that the other person is listening and has understood, similar to the English “right?” or “you know?”.

For that reason, it often has a high inflection, as if you’re asking a question – though you don’t necessarily expect a response.

So next time you embark on a long rant in German, try interjecting a “ne?” or two. This can add variety to your tone and at the very least ensure the other person hasn’t fallen asleep halfway through.

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

Auwa

When a German child trips and falls over at the Spielplatz, the first thing they may shout is, “Auwaaaaa!” before calling on their parents to come and comfort them.

But it’s not just the little ones who use this noise to express pain in Germany – adults will also emit an occasional “auwa!” if they accidentally stub their toe.

A sad teddy bear with broken arm

A sad teddy bear with a broken arm. “Auwa” is the most German way to respond to a painful accident. Photo: Photo by Trym Nilsen on Unsplash

An alternative to “auwa” is the more English-style “auch!”, which is pronounced the same as “ouch!” but spelled differently. This can also be used to respond to a comment that stings a little, as a good-natured way of letting someone know your feelings were hurt.

Here’s how “auwa” is pronounced.

Puh

Though hearing this word may bring some toilet humour to mind, “puh” has less to do with bodily functions than you might expect.

It’s actually more similar to the English word “phew”, which is used to express tiredness or relief.

One scenario you might use “puh” is after running to the bus stop to catch the last bus home. Once you sprint through the doors and sink into your seat, you may let out an exhausted “puh!” to show your relief at having made it.

Before you forget the more childish connotations entirely though, it’s worth knowing you can also use “puh” when encountering something disgusting.

If it’s your turn to take out the Biomüll and the rotten vegetables are starting to emit a foul odour, you might say, “Puh! Es stinkt!” (Ew! It stinks!”), before hurrying to the bins as fast as you can. 

Here’s how it’s pronounced.

READ ALSO: 12 colourful German expressions that’ll add swagger to your language skills 

Uff / Umpf

If you’ve ever eaten an entire bowl of Käsespätzle, you probably know the sensation of feeling so full you’re about to burst.

For precisely this situation, you’ll need to know “umpf” or “uff”. Both of these words neatly sum up that feeling of being stuffed to the brim with food – but not necessarily in a bad way.

A bit like “oof!” in English, “uff” and “umpf” are ways of showing that you’re both sated and a little bit sleepy after a big meal. With Germany’s very hearty cuisine, they’re both expressions that you’ll need in your life fairly often.

Here’s how “uff” is pronounced.

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