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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” is a rare card of the German Memes pack, number 107 of the collection, and the 39th best-known meme of its 300 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” meme mean?
The phrase mixes an almost childish plea with a genuine grievance: in spring 2020, shisha bars stayed closed in Germany while other venues gradually reopened, fueling a sense of unfairness among their regulars. The meme captures that gap with humor, addressing the chancellor directly as if she alone held the key to one specific pastime. It is used to jokingly demand permission to resume an activity seen as harmlessly sidelined.
Where does the “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” meme come from?
In spring 2020, as part of the health restrictions imposed in Germany to slow the Covid-19 pandemic, shisha bars were explicitly excluded from the first phases of reopening, unlike other businesses and food venues. This targeted ban, seen by some as disproportionate, gave rise to the mocking plea “Merkel, mach Shisha auf,” addressed to chancellor Angela Merkel, who was then coordinating health measures at the federal level. The phrase spread online as a light-hearted slogan, blending a genuine grievance with comic exaggeration, without ever really being meant for the chancellor herself.
- 2020Shisha bars stay closed in Germany during the first health restrictions, giving rise to the meme.
How to use the “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” meme
- A shisha bar regular shares a photo of the closed venue captioned “Merkel, mach Shisha auf.”
- In a discussion about health restrictions, someone quotes the phrase to sum up the frustrated wait for certain pastimes.
- An ironic comment revives the meme to jokingly demand the reopening of a closed venue.
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The “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 107 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Collection | German Memes pack |
| Fame | 65/100 · #39 of 300 |
| Recycle value | 10 MemeCoins (30 in Shiny) |
How to get the “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; Merkel, mach Shisha auf comes out of the German Memes pack as a rare card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 10 MemeCoins.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “Merkel, mach Shisha auf”
More cards of the German Memes pack
Frequently asked questions
What does “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” mean?
Literally “Merkel, open the shisha bars,” it is a mocking plea to the German chancellor to allow these venues, closed in 2020, to reopen.
Where does the “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” meme come from?
It comes from Germany's 2020 health restrictions, where shisha bars stayed closed longer than other businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Why does this meme target Angela Merkel?
She was then coordinating federal health measures, making her the symbolic target of the plea, even though the phrase is mostly a joke.
How do I get the Merkel, mach Shisha auf meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “Merkel, mach Shisha auf” is a rare card of the German Memes pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the Merkel, mach Shisha auf card?
It is a Rare card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland (Wikipédia) · checked on October 30, 2026.
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Open your free pack: 5 meme cards, no account needed.