1. Men marry women (or vice versa).
2. Then they raise a family together.
The other traditions aren’t all that interesting, I find.
In an absolutely, positively and purely political move she has perfected over the years (to take the wind out of her opponent’s sails in the coming election by suddenly doing 180 degrees and making their stand her own)… German Chancellor Angela Merkel has opened the door to a free vote in parliament on legalising same-sex marriage, after signalling a shift in her party’s position on it. Mrs Merkel surprised the German media by saying she favoured a “decision of conscience” on gay marriage. Her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) have previously opposed it – unlike the rival Social Democrats (SPD), Free Democrats (FDP) and Greens.
German politicians, like politicians everywhere, are always talking to you about their principles. This is a prime example of what they mean by that.
Observing Hermann 
And at the same time passing a law that makes it a very, very bad thing to engage in “hate speech” against a certain absolutely loveable and very non-hateful type religion. A bill which nobody is talking about because, hey, gay marriage! And that means it may not be challenged in your courts until it is far, far too late (which it already probably is anyway).
Merkel and Co. sure know how to engage in maskirovka.
And I’m not 100% punning on that word fyi.