It all started with a tongue-in-cheek tweet from the German Foreign Office.
After the German men's hockey team shocked Canada 4-3 last week in the semifinals of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the foreign office tweeted out a travel advisory.
"Germans in Canada should exercise a high degree of empathy," the advisory said. "Buy rounds of hot chocolate."
Travel advisory: Germans in Canada should exercise a high degree of empathy. Be nice, don’t gloat, give hugs, buy rounds of hot chocolate.
Just imagine how you would feel if Canada beat us in soccer 😱
🇩🇪 ❤️ 🇨🇦#CANGER @TeamD @CanadaFP @GermanyInCanada @KanadaBotschaft pic.twitter.com/0HlHoxMA7E
— @GermanyDiplo
The German Embassy in Canada made good on the foreign office's suggestion — at least for hockey fans in Ottawa.
On Monday morning, the embassy set aside any feelings of schadenfruede and offered free hot chocolate to the first 50 patrons at the Bridgehead at Sparks and Metcalfe streets.
We are following @GermanyDiplo's advice and WILL be buying rounds of hot chocolate* for Ottawans! Location, date and time: @Bridgehead at Sparks & Metcalfe, Monday, Feb. 26, 8-9am. (*up to 50 ☕️, first come first served) https://t.co/L3Ftd19AwL
— @GermanyInCanada
'We know how it must feel'
The gesture was meant to show empathy and goodwill between the two countries, said Eugen Wollfarth, the acting ambassador.
"We know how it must feel when you almost make it ... but you [don't] get the final touch in luck," Wollfarth said.
"We have good feelings for Canada, outside hockey. Canada has a good reputation. Many people like to travel to Canada."
The Germans would be just as upset if Canada defeated them at their dominant sport, said Eva-Ricarda Willems, the embassy's head of communications and culture.
"We would just like to comfort the Canadians with a little hot chocolate, because we know how this would feel if it happened in soccer."
Germany went on to claim silver in the weekend final — the country's best finish in Olympic hockey — while Canada took the bronze. The Olympic Athletes from Russia took the gold.
That both Germany and Canada won medals is uniting in itself, Wollfarth said.
"It's just wonderful sports, great results," he said. "And also hopefully contributing to a mutual understanding."
As embassy representatives handed out hot chocolate and hockey pucks, gleeful Canadians seemed to forget all about the hockey loss as they cheerily sipped their sweet beverage.
Eva-Ricard Willems said meeting Canadians like Maryanna Guillet was meant to foster further friendship between the two countries. (Darren Major/CBC)
"When people say, 'So what was your favourite Olympic moment?' I can say, 'That time the German Embassy bought me hot chocolate,'" said Maryanna Guillet.
Several recipients took selfies with their new German friends and chatted about the Olympic Games as a whole.
"This is a possibility, in a very informal way, to have more people-to-people meetings — and help both sides in a happy way," Wollfarth said.
It was a small effort to emphasize the good relations between the two countries, Willems agreed.
"What we're doing here is being good friends."
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