Archive for 'Culture'
The German Staycation Posted by Constanze on May 27, 2020
Guten Tag! I hope you’re all well and staying safe during the pandemic (die Pandemie). Here in the UK, restrictions are gradually being eased and, as a result, people have been flocking to the beaches to enjoy the sunny weather. But many are uncomfortable with the amount of people in those public places and are…
Time in Germany: How Did We Get Here? Posted by Sten on May 21, 2020
We’ve written many posts on how to tell time in German. However, we’ve never discussed how we got there! How is it that in the United States, you say 4 pm, and in Germany, you’d say sechzehn Uhr (sixteen hours)? Why is this referred to as military time in the US and just… time in German? It…
The 7 Best Communities to Meet Germans Posted by Sten on May 14, 2020
We’re in a time where perhaps more than ever you crave Sozialkontakt (social contact). And while online Communitys (communities) aren’t the same as actually meeting people in person, it can provide at least some relief this nagging feeling of loneliness. And while you’re at it, why not find Communitys that help you learn German? Here’s a few online Communitys that you can…
Berlin: One-Time Holiday for VE-Day Posted by Sten on May 8, 2020
Today is VE-Day, or Victory in Europe Day. May 8, 1945 marks the day that the Nazis capitulated. With the Nazi regime gone, it was Stunde Null (Zero Hour), as it was called, for Germany: The opportunity for a new Germany, starting over. In Berlin, its 75. Jahrestag (anniversary), the day is a einmaliger (one-time) Feiertag (holiday). What happens today? Kapitulation am 8…
German Lucky Numbers Posted by Constanze on May 6, 2020
Guten Tag! Every culture has different ‘lucky numbers’, for different reasons. Today we’ll look at which numbers are considered lucky in Germany, and how this plays out in the German language. In Germany, there are two main numbers that are considered lucky. These are the numbers 4 and 7. One might call these Glückszahlen. The…
Maypoles: A Summery German Tradition! Posted by Sten on Apr 30, 2020
Tomorrow is a big day in the German-speaking world. On May 1, it is time to put up a Maibaum (May tree, or maypoles). But what is a Maibaum, and why are they aufgestellt (put up)? And what will this tradition look like with the Coronavirus going around? What is a Maibaum? The Maibaum is a pole or a Baumstamm (tree trunk)…
Baby Naming Laws In Germany Posted by Constanze on Apr 29, 2020
Guten Tag! Today I thought we’d look at Germany’s baby naming laws. Firstly, what is a naming law? A naming law places restrictions upon what parents can call their children. These differ from country to country, with some countries having more relaxed laws than others. For that reason, I thought it would be interesting to…