German

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• They do not use first names when being introduced, but after the initial meeting first names are often used. Handshaking is normal when saying hello and good-bye.
• It is considered impolite to enter a restaurant or shop without saying Guten Tag or, more usually, Grüss Gott; similarly, to leave without saying Auf Wiedersehen can cause offense.
  If invited out to dinner, flowers should be brought for the hoste
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• Roman Catholic
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• A typical Austrian meal includes usually from 2 to 7 courses according to the importance of the meal's guest or occasion. It is usually made up of an appetizer (Vorspeise), a soup (Suppe), and a main course (Hauptspeise) with one or two either raw or cooked side dishes (Beilagen). It may also include a dessert, which can be a cake ("Kuchen" or "Torte"), any baked specialty made with flour ("Mehlspeise"), or a warm or cold after-meal sweet treat ("Nachspeise").
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• The most famous Austrian dessert is the strudel, a baked dough filled with a variety of fruits and a sprinkling of raisins and cinnamon.
  One famous composer from Austria is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who composed many famous operas and concertos.
• It is illegal for pregnant women to work eight weeks before their due date and eight weeks after their delivery, and they receive their full net pay during this period.
• The Austrian flag is one of the oldest in the world. It dates from 1191, when Duke Leopold V fought in the Battle of Acre during the Third Crusade.
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