Archive for 'Traditions'
7 German Wedding Milestones Posted by Sten on Feb 2, 2018
Many people dream of it: Eine Traumhochzeit (a dream wedding). It is a huge Ereignis (event) in anyone’s life, and it is celebrated accordingly! To celebrate the Hochzeit year after year, the Hochzeitstag (wedding anniversary) is given meaning every year! This is known in other parts of the world as well as in Germany. Here are 7 of the most common Hochzeitstage and what they…
An Extraordinary Tradition – Das Bloch Posted by Sten on Jan 26, 2018
Yesterday, a new film premiered. The documentary shows a more than 200 years old tradition in the Appenzellerland, a region in Switzerland. It is quite useless – a Bloch (Swiss word for “log”, a tree trunk) is hauled from one place through the villages, and finally back to the starting place. So it did not really go…
Sayings + Expressions 15 – Die Sau! Posted by Sten on Jan 22, 2018
Sayings and expressions! It’s been quite some time, so let’s have some fun with two today – related to the Sau (sow). The Schwein (pig) and the Sau (sow) in particular have widespread meaning in the German language. So this post might get a follow up! Let’s start today – beginning with the expression! Check here for previous posts in this series…
The Swiss Silvesterklaus Posted by Constanze on Jan 3, 2018
Guten Tag und Prosit Neujahr! Hope you’ve all had a good rest and had a fantastic start to 2018! In my last post I talked about the origins of the German word for New Year’s Eve: Silvester. I also mentioned the Swiss character known as Silvesterklaus. Today I’d like to tell you a little more…
Why do Germans call New Year’s Eve ‘Silvester’? Posted by Constanze on Dec 29, 2017
Guten Tag! I hope you all had Frohe Weihnachten (Merry Christmas), that you got to spend time with your Familie (family) and open lots of wonderful Geschenke (presents)! Now there are only a few days left until New Year’s Eve and 2018. If you want to learn about German Christmas and New Year’s customs then…
Heiligabend – Christmas Eve in Germany Posted by Sten on Dec 25, 2017
It is Christmas morning! Frohe Weihnachten (Merry Christmas)! Today is the day that Jesus Christ was born. And it means waking up to presents, because Santa was there, too! But not so in Germany. Kids and adults wake up on December 25 without presents to unwrap. Do they not receive and give presents during Christmas? Oh…
A Strange Tradition: Soester Wippen Posted by Sten on Dec 14, 2017
Every country has its traditions, whether that is Krampus, Oktoberfest, Richtfest, or Maibäume. Some regions also have their very own traditions. And one of these, I want to discuss today: The Soester Wippen. Rocking stairs of punishment The Soester Wippe is a rocker with stair steps in the city of Soest. It was used as a means of humiliating punishment from the 14th up…