I spent Christmas 1972 in a small West German town. Even on Christmas Eve, some neighbors were clearing brush in a nearby forest. Germans are seldom lazy. The benefits are quite generous, but mostly very well deserved.
I have driven from Malaga to Madrid in February ( years ago). You will learn more about the two countries if you drive.
Also very glad I drove from Amsterdam to Frankfurt. I saw much more of Germany than flying in. So I was prepared for Frankfurt in a way I would not have been otherwise.