Overview

• The trend originated with a satirical Instagram flyer in Karlsruhe in August and spread quickly via TikTok to cities across Germany.
• Organizers in Essen plan a meetup on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the Stadtgarten, led by a five-person team around 16-year-old Maximilian, who estimates at least 200 attendees.
• Berlin has seen large turnouts and another gathering is planned for Saturday at 6 p.m. in Mauerpark, with earlier reports noting more than 1,000 participants in Hannover in late September, according to local estimates.
• Events follow a shared ritual in which participants tap the pudding lid with a fork, count down together, then “fork” their pudding in unison.
• Experts describe the gatherings as low-cost, inclusive social spaces that address loneliness, though some participants emphasize simple fun, and coverage notes both seasonal limits and early interest abroad with flyers for London and New York.