Evi Rauscher on 28/12/2020
German Silvester Traditions
In Germany, the turn of the year is associated with many customs and traditions which have been passed on for centuries. Many of them even go back to Germanic roots.
Jutta Thielen-del Pozo on 24/12/2020
The Christmas Tree
The tradition of the Christmas tree at the heart of our Christmas celebration started in Germany in the 16th century and has since conquered the world.
German Semester on 22/12/2020
How to make a Gingerbread-house
Building a gingerbread house around Christmas time is an old and loved German tradition.
and compiled by Vera Thiemig on 10/12/2020
"Dear Christkind" : A German post office answers Christmas letters
In the small town of Engelskirchen, thousands of letters from around the world arrive at a seasonal Christmas post office, all addressed to one person.
Berta Duane on 16/11/2020
Under the Christmas Tree: Puzzles and Games from Ravensburg
No other German city has as many ambassadors as Ravensburg, “The city of towers and gates”, also referred to as “Stadt der Spiele” (town of games), between Lake Constance and Allgaeu.
Annette Borowiak & Jürgen Sokull on 05/11/2020
Tatort - 50 years on German television
Try not to disturb a German on a Sunday evening between 20:15 and 21:45 – it is TATORT time!
Heidrun Strobl on 29/10/2020
Germany's Dream Team: Socks and Sandals
When we talk about “Germanness” we also have to talk about stereotypes. I would claim that the ultimate stereotypical German is the one who wears white socks with sandals (I won’t even mention the unshaved hairy legs).
Jutta Triebe on 15/10/2020
German words you wont find in English
Compound words are typical of the German language. This creates creative combinations that can hardly be translated. Here are some expressions and my attempt at explaining them:
Jutta Triebe on 05/10/2020
The Germans' craze for certification
Who does not know the aphorism "What you own in black and white you can confidently carry home." from Goethe’s Faust?
Candice Gärtner on 24/09/2020
Kaffee und Kuchen
In Italy you call it merenda, in France it’s quatre-heures and in Germany it’s Kaffee und Kuchen.
Heidrun Strobl on 17/09/2020
Schrebergarten - home of gnomes
The traditional German Schrebergarten (allotment garden) is a leased property, which is confined by fences or hedges and managed by clubs.
Ulrike Winter on 03/09/2020
No school without the “Schultüte”
Most of us remember well our first day at school. In Germany, when the so-called “Schultüte”, or “school cone” played an important role:
Tim Jacobi on 27/08/2020
Abendbrot - German evening customs
When Germans have dinner, they usually call it either “Abendbrot” (literally = evening bread) or “Abendessen” (= evening food). The main difference between the two terms is the formality of the meal.
Jutta Triebe on 13/08/2020
Still kicking...?
Having lived most of my adult life outside Germany, it is a challenge for me to write about German stereotypes. But let me have a go.
Evi Rauscher on 30/07/2020
Summertime - Beer Garden Time!
The German “Biergarten” is well known all over the world but where does it come from and when did it start? Of course everything started in Bavaria …
Jan Loeschner on 23/07/2020
Leipzig's dark side
Since 1991 the city of Leipzig has been turning ‘dark’ every year over the four days of Whitsuntide. This is the time when the Wave-Gotik-Treffen (WGT) takes place (Treffen means meeting) with over 150 bands and artists from all over the world.
Tim Jacobi on 16/07/2020
"Ich bin ein Berliner" - Sure but what does it mean?
When Kennedy said those famous words, every German knew what he meant. Nonetheless, there might have been some confusion in the Rhineland; there, “Berliner” also refers to a type of pastry similar to a Donut.
Jutta Triebe on 09/07/2020
A potato success story
It is known that the Germans have a mind of their own, but even so, the following is an anecdote of a special kind. The potato is a staple of traditional German food these days, but it was not always so.
Jutta Triebe on 01/07/2020
8 facts about the German language
Lately the German government published a fact list about German language.