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The Most Important Day in the Year for Germany: Tag der deutschen Einheit Posted by Sten on Oct 3, 2016
Many countries have a national day, on which they celebrate or remember an important day in the history of the country. This can be an independence day, for example. The Germans do not have an independence day. Instead, they have a Day of German Unity. And it is celebrated today, October 3rd! What is meant…
A Few German Words You Can’t Go Without Posted by Sten on Sep 24, 2016
Who doesn’t like travelling? I think we all do! And we all want to make a good impression on the natives. A good way to do that is by speaking some of their words! If you are a beginner in German, and you just want to have some short, but important words, then look no…
4 Times Germans Took Their Sense Of Order Hilariously Far Posted by Sten on Sep 15, 2016
My father has told me many times a proverb that also he grew up with: Ordnung ist das halbe Leben (order is half your life). Yes, Germans cherish tidiness and order, which can go into the absurd. Sometimes, Germans just take their Ordnungssinn (sense of order) too far! Enjoy! 4. Maschendrahtzaun Back in the 1990s, one particular woman became…
German Nationalparks – Part 14: Hunsrück-Hochwald Posted by Sten on Sep 10, 2016
In previous months, we have already explored a large part of the geschützte Schönheit (protected beauty) of German nature. We went to the windige Küsten (windy shores) of the Wattenmeer, the eindrucksvolle Felsen (impressive rocks) of the Sächsische Schweiz, the Jahrhunderte alten Wälder (centuries old forests) of the Bayerischer Wald, the Erzminen (ore mines) in the Harz, the Tiger (tigers) roaming around in the Eifel, the Tausend Seen (thousand lakes) of Müritz, the hohe Gebirge (high mountain…
How My Brother Became an Old Sock Posted by Sten on Jul 30, 2016
A few days ago, my brother turned 25. Socks were hung up everywhere to make it clear: He is now an Alte Socke (“old sock”)! The Alte Socke receives a Sockenkranz (sock wreath), which is hung up outside the house, so everyone can see that a member of the household has turned 25. Old Socken are filled with Stroh (straw) or something else like…
You Won’t Expect The Thing Germans Say If Somebody Burps! Posted by Sten on Jul 27, 2016
Rülpsen (burping). It is a thing we all do, to save our Magen (stomachs) from having to deal with all the air we swallow with food and drinks. For Niesen (sneezing), people of many cultures tell the sneezing person something like Gesundheit! (literally: “health!”, meaning “bless you!”). It is usually some way to wish that person good health, as Niesen is often associated with an Erkältung (cold)…
German Nationalparks – Part 13: Unteres Odertal Posted by Sten on Jul 21, 2016
In previous months, we have already explored a large part of the geschützte Schönheit (protected beauty) of German nature. We went to the windige Küsten (windy shores) of the Wattenmeer, the eindrucksvolle Felsen (impressive rocks) of the Sächsische Schweiz, the Jahrhunderte alten Wälder (centuries old forests) of the Bayerischer Wald, the Erzminen (ore mines) in the Harz, the Tiger (tigers) roaming around in the Eifel, the Tausend Seen (thousand lakes) of Müritz, the hohe Gebirge (high mountain…