Rumkugeln, or German Rum Balls, have always been my favorites. Just the smell makes me weak in the knees! When I was a child, my mother only made them at Christmas—just one batch. And I would watch and wait for the chance to lick the bowl and the spoon. (I think part of the appeal was the Rum… we all…
Author: karenanne
What is the Christkind- The Golden Haired Gift Giver in Germany
Even though I grew up in the United States, where Santa Claus dominated Christmas, my sister and I got presents from the Christkind (or Christkindl) on Christmas Eve. It was magical! We would hide in our bedroom, peering out the window, wondering when she would arrive. The Christkind coming was a special delivery just for us since we weren’t in…
German Slippers and House Shoes for Kids and Babies
In every German household across the world, there are several common rallying cries from Moms and Omas….”es ZIEHT” (there’s a draft), “iss mal was” (eat something), and most important….”Du kriegst kalte Füße! Zie dir deine Hausschuhe an!!” It’s my understanding that Germans just don’t do bare feet, at least not in Winter. Thankfully, because of this, there is an AMAZING…
The Rauschgoldengel- The legend of the Golden Angel
High above the Plobenhofstraße entrance of the Nuremberg Christkindelmarkt hangs the Rauschgoldengel. This large gold foil angel welcomes all the guests and is a symbol of the market. And all over the market, you will find stalls selling smaller versions of this Golden Angel. But what is a Rauschgoldengel? And how did a foil angel become the symbol for Nuremberg…
Where to buy Lebkuchen Online- Order German Lebkuchen for Christmas
Every year, I bake a lot, but I still place an order for the delicious German Lebkuchen that my family craves at Christmastime. Baking isn’t difficult, but honestly, the most challenging thing about buying Lebkuchen is choosing which varieties to order. (We hold long discussions about it in our family) The selection of types and flavors is almost overwhelming! So,…
German Meals at Oma’s by Gerhild Fulson- My Favorite German Foods!
German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook Recently Gerhild Fulson, who is the force behind Just Like Oma (aka Quick German Recipes) and one of my favorite German Recipe Bloggers sent me a copy of her new cookbook German Meals at Oma’s: Traditional Dishes for the Home Cook to preview. It immediately jumped onto my list of favorite…
Countdown to Christmas With a Playmobil Advent Calendar
When my kids were young, their Oma gave them a Playmobil Advent Calendar. This had to be the exciting HIT of the Season. Imagine, every day, a box containing a little Playmobil part would be opened (they took turns… ) and the piece would be added to the scene that was developing on the side table in the family…
Start a Family Tradition- Ravensburger Christmas Puzzles
Every year we bring out a new Ravensburger Christmas Puzzle to work on during the days and nights leading up to Christmas. A table is set up, and the pieces are sorted (edge verses middle)… and off we go. Ravensburger …the German company based in Ravensburg… makes high quality puzzles with beautiful Christmas images. They hold up well to lots…
What is a Stutenkerl? Is it the same as a Weckmann?
On November 11, children in Germany celebrate St Martin’s Day by parading with Lanterns, and munching on a Stutenkerl, also known as Weckmann or Kiepenkerl. But… What IS a Stutenkerl? What is a Weckmann? Are they the same thing? It turns out, these baked men… like a sweetened yeast dough version of a Gingerbread man… date back to the Middle…