What is 'Stammtisch,' the German culture of people gathering in bars and restaurants with a common purpose?
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Foreign media NPR talks about the traditional culture in Germany called 'Stammtisch', where people with a common purpose gather in bars and restaurants to drink alcohol and talk.
How I discovered a German way to fight loneliness: The Stammstich : NPR
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/22/nx-s1-5233033/holidays-loneliness-cure-stammtisch
'Stammtisch' is a combination of the two words 'Stamm' (tree trunk) and 'Tisch' (table) and means 'gathering of regulars'. It is a long-standing German tradition of people with a common purpose gathering regularly at a bar or restaurant to chat over beer or other alcoholic beverages.
Traditionally, many German bars and restaurants have a large round table reserved for regulars, where patrons sit around it, and Stammtisch is a common occurrence, but according to NPR, sometimes foreign tourists end up sitting at these tables without realizing it, only to be chased away by the bartender.
Germans born in the 1980s and early 2000s saw Stammtisch as something their parents and grandparents did, but in recent years Stammtisch has spread to younger generations, and 45-year-old German man Robert Christoffel said, 'Recently, my friends have started holding Stammtisch.'
'Men tend not to be shy about expressing themselves to others, but in a Stammtisch atmosphere, people gradually become more open and start to express various things, including their personal feelings,' Werner Hein told NPR. 'Stammtisch is difficult to hold online on Zoom or other platforms.'
NPR reporter Laurel Wamsley attended the Stammtisch in Berlin and recalled that 'it wasn't just about drinking, but the monthly get-togethers fostered friendships.'
Traditionally, Stammtisch is often held in groups of men, but in recent years it has also been held in groups that include women. Also, according to Hein, there is a culture similar to Stammtisch called 'Kaffeekränzchen,' in which women traditionally gather in cafes to order coffee and cake and talk.
NPR said of Kaffeekränzchen, 'These events are a valuable opportunity for women who are under pressure from work, family, and other factors to feel a sense of goodwill and empathy from others. Many women seem to look forward to Kaffeekränzchen, rather than attending out of a sense of obligation.'
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