Good Luck, Bad Luck And Happiness In Germany | Meet the Germans 

How does this compare to your country?

Rachel, your German pronunciation is impeccable...

I think the equivalent to "break a leg" would be "Hals- und Beinbruch" wich translates to: Neck and leg break or better break neck and leg.

Wie heist es doch so schön: "Freude ist nur ein Mangel an Information." As the saying goes: "Joy is just a lack of information."

Great video! The "Minister of Happiness" looks like Joy, from Pixar's "Inside Out" 😂

finally! Rachel made a new video !

I'm actually studying to become a teacher and we intentionally wish the students "success" and not "good luck" because of the very reason you stated: we want them to feel like they can have an impact on the result by studying and not just being lucky :D

The secretary at the welcome desk in our university mentioned to me that the following day was her birthday, and I very innocently and enthusiastically said, "Alles Gute!". I will never forget the almost terrifying face, the awkward silence, like I had committed a crime. "It's not really good to wish someone happy birthday before the day," she said. I had no idea. She tried to laugh it off, but her eyes looked seriously worried I carry the guilt to this day.

there is also "Glück Auf" in the portal of every mine or tunnel in construction in Germany, Austria and Swistzerland

in Turkish we say ''tü tü tü maşallah'' and then knock on the wood for 3 times to not catch the evil eye. so when i heard toi toi toi it immediately reminded me of our saying. and the grannies also make the spit sound.

From my German ancestry I also believe that you make your own luck. For me, that luck was clicking on the "Subscribe" button to watch Rachel's entertaining and informative videos.

We are very lucky to have you to show us all these wonderful things about Germany!

“Break a leg” is a LITERAL TRANSLATION from German “Hals- und Beinbruch!” This comes from Jiddisch/Hebrew “Hals- und Bein-Baruch” meaning neck and leg be blessed and comes from the performing arts.

Nice one Rachel. Glad to have you back.

My mother's family is Austrian, and they shared many of these phrases and practices to me. Suddenly, I felt young again.

Excellent video. Thank you

Interessant und unterhaltsam wie immer.

A little luck in life is always a good thing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Another FUN video, well done 🍀🐖🍄

Lucky me, a new Rachel video, made me happy! Your vids packed with really good infotainment made me subscribe and binge watch your films, hope for more to come and so nice you're back🤗!!!

Nice to see Rachel in a new #meetthegermans video again 😊

You can also say “Schwein gehabt”, when you are lucky because you dodged a bullet, like “phew!”

How come you didn't mention one of my favorite german words; Pech It means bad Luck, its great!

Don't forget "Hals- und Beinbruch!" - "break a leg... and a neck!"

Schönes Thema... Danke für die Anregung 😊

We're glücklich you're back at last! In the Middle East (I'm Syrian) people associate several things, gestures, days, timings and sayings with good or bad luck - deriving from religion, popular traditions, myths. A common belief is the evil eye: to protect against it (especially protecting beautiful children), a blue bead is worn. Other examples are scattering rice at weddings, using the right hand for good things, the left for bad things, "spitting" to avoid evil eye, saying "in the name of Allah" before eating, drinking or starting doing something, etc.

Ach gott sind die Ferkel süß! Und natürlich mal wieder ein top Video von die Rachel.

The knock on wood is interesting because here in Indonesia we do similar thing but for avoiding something bad that has happened to someone else (from happening to you) 😂

Thanks Rachel! Hope the New Year is treating you well.

Always nice to find out something new about your own country😉😅

I like her. She brings a lot to the channel!

Da bist du ja endlich wieder! :) Welcome back!

Yayy, Rachel is back :D

überall so gute Videos, da muss ich jetzt doch echt mal followen :D

You know what ``Glück auf!`` means? Its when miners went down in the deep mines-it was the greeting between the miners- means lucky returning!

Hi Rachel! Glad to see a new video. In spanish we say the same: toco madera( literally I touch wood) and we touch either something made of wood or our head!!! Funny how these ancestral superstitions show a common cultural background...👋🏻 from Argentina

Rachel - I really like your videos! I started German language classes nearly 60 years ago in elementary school and then a couple years in 7 thru 10th grades. (I really haven't studied the language in earnest since) But girl, you have got to slow down "just a tad" when you "spit out" the German phrases. :) (Maybe even repeat them for us "old timer, southerner, Americans) I love the sub-captioning. I really would like to be able to hold a conversation someday in German. You have such a grasp of both languages, you make it actually interesting to watch all these videos. (and I do learn more about Germany as well) We loved Germany. We visited a year or two ago, but nearly everyone also spoke English. (well the autobahn, did get our attention - I got more than a little worried when we'd run in to one of those glass reflective signs with a slash. Geez, the speed... but I digress) If you could just slow the German down a bit for an old southerner, it would be greatly appreciated. I love hearing how you pronounce, actually both languages , but especially the German. Keep "it" going Rachel...

To press thumbs, I learned that you usually put your thumb in between your index and middle finger and press them together. When you "surround" your thumb with all fingers, like you did in the beginning of the video, your thumb points down and I have been told that is actually bad luck because luck "falls down" through your fingers. But might be done differently in different areas in Germany.

Wir sind jetzt glücklich und wir haben das Glück, weil Rachel wieder da ist!

Neat "Two Ronnies" ref at the very end...☺

Hey Rachel, mit deinem Punkt "viel Erfolg" vs. "viel Glück" hast du Recht. Ich persönlich wünsche beispielsweise bei Präsentationen oder ähnlichem immer "viel Erfolg", schließlich beruht das Ergebnis auf der eigenen Leistung. "Viel Glück" dagegen sage ich zum Beispiel, wenn ich jemandem gutes Wetter bei einer Wanderung wünsche. Zuletzt noch die besonderen Fälle wie ein Fußballspiel. Da wünschten meine Eltern mir als Kind oft "viel Erfolg und viel Glück" ;)

We actually have luck as a subject in school. It's all about mental health, discovering your strengths and dealing with your weaknesses🙃

Every country should have a Ministry of Happiness.

Nice topic much love from 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

These stories are always so interesting and a nice distraction during crappy pandemic

HEY HEY RACHELLLL WELCOME BACK! WIR HABEN DICH VERMISST! 🥳😊

There's indeed a more fitting equivalent for "break your leg". We do say "Hals- und Beinbruch" (break your neck and leg), so it's a bit more brutal. But the idea is the same: wishing someone the worst possible thing for that the end result may be pleasent :)

Jaa jaa jaa!! Ich bin sehr gluecklich. Und hoffe, dass dieses Video verwunderich waere! Willkommen zurueck Rachel.

Wicked! I will be quite ponderous tonight how to praise da presentress tomorrow!

Pechvogel is also commonly used for someone that is unlucky.

I would actually Love to See a Video about the Public Transport or the firefighters ^~^

Very nice :)

Hey! How about talking about most common German Haustieren... (pets).

You're German is amazing! As a German myself I wouldn't be able to tell that German isn't your native language.

The custom to look each other in the eyes when you drink together supposedly stems from medieval times when people poisoning each other was still a possibility, especially among the nobility. When people clinked their goblets together, it was done in a way that the drink from one would spill over to the other. This is how it was made sure that both actually drank the same drink. If you looked down to check whether the content had actually reached the other goblet while clinking, it was seen as a sign of deceit and a possible attempt to poison the other person. That's why today it's still considered a sign of good luck to look each other in the eye while clinking glasses. Or at least it's the explanation I know. 😊

Beautiful natural area.

2:51 omg, it´s my hometown ;)

Omg Nat from the community channel and rachel are practically twins. Their mannerisms and looks are so similar.

Neulich gelernt: In Frankreich wünscht man "Viel Shei..." Kommt vom Theater. Wenn viele Pferdeäpfel vorm Eingang liegen, haben wohl viele Kutschen dort gehalten und Gäste abgeladen. Toller Kanal!

I have a friend who is 83. She is German, and the sweetest woman! I wonder if anyone has any ideas on something I could take to her that would remind her of home? She recently lost her husband. I’d like to brighten her day!✨ Thank you!

*COOL!!!*

Happiness from Inside Out…that’s her!

I have often wondered about this word and it somehow seems that in the German mindset Luck and Happiness refer to the same concept...

Mach bitte weiter so Rachel!

Some of these good lucks like toi,toi,toi or knocking wood are similar in middle east!

Lovely 🙂️

I got introduced to DE Euromax when I tried to move to Germany on Job Seeker Visa, Alas Glück is not on my side! Visa expires, nobody wants to hire anyone without a Visa. Any term for this?

Yes, seeing all this wood and Rachel not knocking on it and then she finally did.

I can definitely identify with "viel Erfolg". It's something I struggle with in English as a Brit, because before an exam, a new job or a university course, it's more about what you put into it than any luck. What can I say in English? I end up with a feeble "All the best with your XXX". I prefer the German approach to this.

I cant remember but I think I have seen the host of this program somewhere like a young girl ..

What about Winkekatze and Hand der Fatima..? Are they a sign of Glück Or Unglück?

I see Rachel. I hit like 👍🏻

I know from my own experience that eating dried fly agarics can make you very happy. 🍄

Hello Rachel.i Like your Videos .

I saw Helmut Schmidt interviewed; he said that glücklich, like Glück zu haben, was unreliable, much better to be zufrieden - content.

Ich habe dich vermisst. Ich spreche nur ein bisschen Deutsch aber taglich lerne ich neue Worter und ich hoffe besser werden.

In Argentina if you stomp your feet in dog's poops is good luck. About bad luck we share the similarities with the Germans (black cats, mirrors, salt and the stairs). In matters of happiness Germans seem to have some beliefs as the ancients greeks. Happiness for the greeks was a mix of good health, not being poor, having good friends but also included beauty as tool for making your life easy, as well as courage, decision and a rational judgment, but they also consider luck or fortune to be a part of life and finally be happy, always guided by the "middle term".

Ich dachte, es reicht, einen Schornsteinfeger zu sehen. Wusste nicht, dass man den auch anfassen muss... Das erklärt einiges!

Hi Rachel, I really enjoy your channel - it is funny as a German to see who other people sees Germany :-) and I like your accent in english. For me you don't have an accent in German. Cheers, Uli

Funny to read how people abroad have a view on other countries. Scotland must be doing some Grade A PR in order to come across as a place where people are happy because of its focus on health and well-being.

Would have liked to hear something of a little more substance from the last interviewee/more time :)

1:17 a "girly wheel barrow" or "Mädchenschubkarre" ;) :D

Tell me Rachel, to an English speaking person, you sound completely fluent in German, but do you sound German to a German? Where did you pick up your fluency; how much is schooling and how much is living there? Are you still learning?

Interesting to know👍

Good morning, looking to move to Germany from Canada for a few months, ( after Covid) , I hear rents are cheaper in the former East , can you recommend an area or town, Thanks

A week ago I started learning German,this are few thing that I have learned: Ich bin yadunath(I am yadunath), Ja(yes),hallo(hello),nein(no),mutter(mother),vater(father),vasser(water),bier(beer),und(and),oder(or),katze(cat),tochter(daughter),and many more😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

The Dutchs also use the terms: "Knock on (wood) and toi, toi, toi". Also the Dutch say "veel succes" (a lot of succes) for good luck. Althrough the Dutch do not see piglets as a good luck charm.

Rachel's shouldn't you say auf wiedersehen after each video? Because we will see you again!!

When i see Rachel, i am happy. ;-)

love you rachel!

"Minister of Happiness"....only in Germany....... !!

"Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied" means you are the blacksmith of your happiness. Because you can take decisions to come nearer your wishes. Luck ist different. You cant influence it.

Listening to this video while using headphones was a... well... weird experience. Most of the time it was okay, but sometimes your voice came silently out of the right earpice, while the piano music came out of both pieces. Strange thing, reminded me to a not-that-good-recorded popsong. But anyway, I agree to the content of the video. ;) (but not to the audio balance)

Cái màu xanh lá cây dùng trang trí làm đẹp

I remember seeing horseshoes fixtured to front car grills.

Today I was sitting in a walking bridge in Munich and enjoying the sun. I got harassed by many people, they pass a make annoyed sound, or they looked at me as I am bothering them. I checked everything and there was lots of space even for a car to pass. Then when I came home told my wife(from Munich) and I said to her, I don't understand the society here, In Denmark people would smile and enjoy someone is happy about sun and chilling. But here there is so much anger, why? Then she said I know we will move some day and we said we should move to Copenhagen or New Zealand.

Your pronounciation is perfect. if you talked to me, i wouldn`t know you#re not german.

I was anxiously waiting for the next episode of Meet the Germans and yeah, I feel glücklich! But Why the thumbs down?

The red Amanita muscaria mushroom is found in Children's literature, Lutheran advent wreaths, and antique glass Christmas ornaments and not fatal if eaten in moderation.

Do rabbit paws bring luck? Not necessarily to the rabbit... But another nice episode!

I am still a bit weirded out when people wish you a happy birthday before your actual birthday. Just doesn't feel right....