[no_toc] I pull my German wooden Easter decorations out every year. Wooden Bunnies and hanging eggs from the Osterbaum (Easter Tree) makes the house feel more festive in the Springtime. And although Nutcrackers and other German Christmas Ornaments have taken off here in the US… it’s still more difficult to find German Easter Ornaments. This year, the German Christmas Shop…
Author: karenanne
Thinking about Muttersprache – Tag der Muttersprache
Deutschland.de reached out to me to do a piece for the Tag der Muttersprache (Day of Native Language), which falls on February 21. So I was thinking about Muttersprache and its LITERAL meaning… Mother Speech. Although I grew up in California, German was my first language—the language of my mother. And after THIS MANY years of living in California (imagine…
Things to see in Munich Germany – Just a Few of my Favorite Places
There are so many things to see in Munich, Germany, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’m always surprised to find out that people show up in a place, and then ask, “What should we do?” It’s best to go in with a plan, especially if your time is short! There is much more to Munich than the Marienplatz and…
Sweet Valentine’s Day Angels- Beautiful Gifts from the Erzgebirge
[no_toc] One of the nicest ways to show someone you love them is with a charming Valentine’s Day Angel from The German Christmas Shop. These adorable guardian angels are hand crafted in Germany by the Günther Reichel workshop. I fell in love with them when we visited Seiffen. Süß!!! (SWEET!!) Lovely little angel figures holding flowers, balloons, or of course,…
What to do in Lüneburg Germany- Visit to this Beautiful Town
The beautiful Medieval town of Lüneburg should be on your “to visit” list. Lüneburg’s charm comes from its well-preserved Altstadt. Since it’s off the tourist trail, you won’t be mobbed by massive busloads of tourists. A calming effect comes from being a Kur-Ort (Spa Town), so it’s easy to lose yourself in the joy of wandering around enjoying the buildings,…
What is Gemuetlichkeit? All About this Cozy German Concept
When I arrive on my Aunt’s doorstep in Germany, she greets me with “Kommt ‘rein… mach’s euch Gemütlich!” (Come in, make yourself gemütlich). And on family evenings, instead of making plans, my mother might say, “Wir machen uns Heute Abend Gemütlich” (tonight we will make ourselves gemütlich). A small, well-appointed room is described as “Gemütlich,” and a noisy, drafty restaurant…
WoolFit Slippers for a Perfect Fit
In our house we wear House Shoes. Why? I like warm feet, clean floors, and I hate slipping on stairs. A few months ago German Slippers sent me a new pair… something different this time. WoolFit Slippers are boiled wool slippers, like I usually get, but these are different than my normal slippers. Woolfit slippers have a felted wool foot…
A Visit to Miniature Wonderland, Hamburg
I arrived in Hamburg on a Tuesday evening around 6 pm after a long day of flights, delayed trains, and a harrowing drive before I could check into my hotel. It was too early for bed, and I needed to do something to offset jet lag and sleepiness. I headed off to explore Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg (in German, Miniature Wonderland…
Was the US Official Language Almost German? The Muhlenberg Legend
One of my FAVORITE urban legends is one I even believed for a long time: The official Language of the United States was almost German. It gets better! The legend claims that in a Congressional vote, German lost by only one vote, and that’s why we speak English in America. I hate to bust this very exciting bubble, but it’s…
German Flammkuchen Recipe – How to Make Flammkuchen at Home
I still remember my first Flammkuchen. We were visiting my cousin and her family at their Hotel. They served it to us for dinner (my kids even got to help make them), and we were all hooked. Fast forward a few years, and I want to make it at home. After some trial and error and testing a few different…