Archive for 'Holidays'
German Christmas Song: O Tannenbaum Posted by Constanze on Dec 14, 2014
Recently I wrote a post about Der Weihnachtsbaum and its origins in German history. This post was originally a part of it, but it became so large that I thought it only fitting to give it its own post. So, to continue on the Weihnachtsbaum theme, here’s a popular song you might know as ‘O…
Der Weihnachtsbaum: The Christmas Tree in German History Posted by Constanze on Dec 12, 2014
Every December we put up Christmas trees in our homes because it’s a tradition. But how many people know where this tradition comes from? There are many stories about the origin of the Christmas tree – some of them dating back as far as ancient Rome and ancient Egypt, and some associated with Paganism. But…
Forget Santa – Meet the Christkind! Posted by Constanze on Dec 7, 2014
Today I’m going to tell you about a German Christmas tradition that I remember very fondly from my childhood. It’s not something celebrated in the UK, but it’s popular in Germany, and I think it makes Christmas really magical for children (even moreso than Santa does). I’m going to tell you about the Christkind. The…
Festive Germany: Munich’s Marienplatz in December Posted by Constanze on Dec 5, 2014
Happy December! December is the month that Germany comes alive with Weihnachtsmarkten, Glühwein, and festive spirit. Exactly one year ago, I took my husband to see München for the first time. I thought this would be the perfect time to show you the cosy, Christmassy atmosphere that you can find in Marienplatz – the centre…
What is Halloween like in Germany? Posted by Constanze on Oct 26, 2014
In some ways, Hallowe’en is the same in Germany as it is in the UK or the USA. You can expect nightclubs offering Halloween themed nights for adults, horror movies shown on TV, children dressing up and going trick or treating (although this aspect of Hallowe’en is not as common in Germany as it is…
Holiday Destination: The Unspoilt Islands of Germany. Posted by Constanze on Sep 2, 2014
As I am going on holiday this week I am in great spirits, and so I felt inspired to write this holiday-themed post for all of you who want to escape the cold weather (remember: It’s still summer somewhere in the world!). When people think of beach holidays in Europe, they think of places like…
Ballermann! The German way to celebrate life (for some)! Posted by Sten on May 30, 2014
The summer can be a party! In Germany, this Feiern (partying) can take very special, interesting forms. A very well-known form is Ballermann, a word combination of the words ballern, which is only used colloquially for drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, and the word Mann, which just means man. Probably this combination was chosen because ballern can rather be ascribed to men. This…