The German American Heritage Museum may be one of the smaller museums in Washington, DC. Still, their efforts to preserve the history of Germans in America make up for its tiny footprint. (Plus, I firmly believe that small museums are the best.) Since 2010, the museum has been located in Hockemeyer Hall on 6th Street NW, in the Penn Quarter,…
Author: karenanne
Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC
On May 21, 2024, I was honored to represent the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance at the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The event took place in the shadow of the imposing towers of the US Air Force Memorial in Washington DC. Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift Washington DC The Ambassador of the…
Haribo Gummi Bears- Yes! German And American Gummi Bears are Different
I was lucky. When I was a child, my Opa sent brown-wrapped parcels filled with sweets to America. And inside, there were always packets of German Haribo Gummi Bears. When my kids were young, we started seeing Gummi bears in American stores. But they weren’t quite the same, and I wondered: Are German and American Gummi Bears different? April 27th…
Friedenssaal and the Peace of Westphalia – Münster Germany
Through the Arches, up the front steps, and inside the Historic Rathaus along Münster’s Prinzipalmarkt, you’ll find the Friedenssaal, Hall of Peace. The room has remained essentially unchanged for the past 375 years, from the time when envoys across Central Europe arrived to debate and hammer out details for the Treaty of Westphalia and Peace of Münster, which ended the…
Red Cabbage Salad Recipe – Rotkohlsalat
Warm and comforting Rotkohl or Blaukraut, flavored with cloves, is a standard side dish for so many German wintertime meals, but I crave something cold and crisp in the summertime. Something for my Salatteller (salad plate). This Red Cabbage Salad Recipe, or Rotkohlsalat, not only tastes delicious, but the jewel-like color of the cabbage looks beautiful on a plate. This…
Work, Live, Explore: Comparing Life in Germany and the UK
Moving overseas is a big decision. Thanks to Dan for this sponsored post on Comparing Life in Germany and the UK. Some interesting food for thought for anyone considering making the move to Europe to study or live, but can’t decide which direction to go. Finding a place in the world that suits your personality and lifestyle isn’t that easy,…
Why is the Thursday before Easter called Grünerdonnerstag in Germany?
The Thursday before Easter is called Heiliger Donnerstag (Holy Thursday) in the Church Calendar. So, why is the Thursday before Easter called Grünerdonnerstag in Germany? The word “Heilige” or “Holy” makes sense; after all, the day is an important part of the Karwoche (Holy Week). The Thursday before Easter is associated with the Last Supper and the end of Lent.…
Burning Easter Wheel In Germany- UNESCO Heritage in Lüdge
Cover image by Nifoto, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsIn 784, Charlemagne visited the town of Lügde and, according to his chronicler Einhard, witnessed large oak wheels stuffed with straw set on fire and sent rolling down the Osterberg to greet the Spring. What an impressive sight! Burning wheels of fire careening down the hill with sparks flying all around. Although…
Remembering the Poesiealbum – A Book of Friendship and Verse
On one of my childhood trips to Germany, my cousin showed me her Poesiealblum. I remember it had a horse on the cover, and short verses and pictures covered the pages inside. Some were hand-drawn, but Glanzbilder, shiny pictures, decorated most of the pages. All of the girls in her school owned one. Only your closest friends would be allowed…