custom
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custom
A traditional action or habit that is maintained in a community or culture on certain occasions.
Das Aufstellen eines Maibaums ist in vielen bayerischen Dörfern ein alter Brauch.
Putting up a maypole is an old custom in many Bavarian villages.
'Der Brauch' (custom) belongs to the word family of 'brauchen' (to need) and 'der Gebrauch' (use/usage). A custom is a habit that is traditionally 'used' or practiced in a community.
Der Gebrauch von Feuerwerk an Silvester ist in Deutschland weit verbreitet.
The use of fireworks on New Year's Eve is widespread in Germany.
'Brauch' is often combined with adjectives such as 'alt' (old), 'schön' (beautiful/nice), 'lokal' (local), or 'fest' (firmly established). Typical verbs are 'einen Brauch pflegen' (to maintain/practice a custom) or 'einem Brauch folgen' (to follow a custom).
In unserer Familie pflegen wir den Brauch, am Sonntag gemeinsam zu essen.
In our family, we maintain the custom of eating together on Sundays.
A very useful structure for describing a custom is the sentence 'Es ist Brauch, dass ...' (It is customary that ...). This is followed by a subordinate clause that explains the traditional action.
In vielen Ländern ist es Brauch, dass man dem Gastgeber ein kleines Geschenk mitbringt.
In many countries, it is customary to bring the host a small gift.
law
'das Gesetz' and 'der Brauch' can both influence how people behave. A law is usually a binding rule of the state. You have to follow it, otherwise there may be legal consequences. A custom is a traditional action or habit in a group or culture. It is usually not legally required. The words can be confused because a custom can also feel very strong, almost like a rule. Still, the basic distinction is: 'Gesetz' belongs more to the state and law, while 'Brauch' belongs to tradition and culture.
In vielen Familien ist es ein Brauch, an Weihnachten gemeinsam zu essen.
In many families, it is a custom to eat together at Christmas.
Das neue Gesetz verbietet das Rauchen an diesem Ort.
The new law bans smoking in this place.