Marriage in Germany

overview of the status of same-sex marriage in Germany

Polterabend () is a German and to a lesser extent Polish, Austrian and Swiss wedding custom in which, on the night before the wedding, the guests break porcelain to bring luck to the couple's marriage. The belief in the effectiveness of this custom is expressed by the old adage: "Shards bring luck" (German: Scherben bringen Glück). The expression is derived from a time when the word "shard" referred to the unbroken clay pots of pottery makers, and not just the broken pieces. It was said that a full jar was a lucky thing to have, therefore the expression "shards bring luck".

Hochzeitssuppe () is a German soup based on chicken broth, fortified with chicken meat, small meatballs (), asparagus heads, noodles, and savoury egg custard garnish (). Sometimes raisins are added as well.