Christmas is a special time of year but especially magical for children. I’m not talking about heaps of presents under the tree! There are so many German Christmas Traditions for kids that will bring joy and happiness to the little ones in your world. My parents didn’t have much money when I was growing up, but my mother made the…
Author: karenanne
Krampus in German Folklore – Who IS Krampus?
I grew up with Northern German parents, so I learned about Krampus when I was much older. In my world, Knecht Ruprecht was St Nicholas’s sidekick, and Krampus lived in Bavaria and Austria. But now, because of movies and popular culture, as well as annual Krampus Runs, the myth of Krampus is becoming synonymous with German Christmas. But who is…
Story Book Advent Calendar – Count Down to Christmas with Stories
While this idea is not “Typisch Deutsch” (typical German), it’s something I did for years while my kids were small, and I thought it might be nice to pass along my idea for a Story book Advent Calendar. Years ago, I devised an idea for all the Christmas storybooks in our house! I realized my children had enough Christmas or winter-themed…
History of German Nutcrackers- Get a Nutcracker for Your Home!
I love how the History of German Nutcrackers is tied up in a Fairy Tale…. Once upon a time, a farmer offered a reward for anyone who could help him easily open the Walnuts from his tree. A Carpenter said he should saw them open. A Soldier told him he should SHOOT the nuts (I can’t imagine what he thought…
Traditional Couture; Folkloric High Fashion in Germany
A few years ago, I shared the story of how I bought my first “Dirndl.” Since my family is not from Bavaria, I wanted something different from a traditional Dirndl. Instead, I hoped to find something that would reflect the region my family came from in Germany, while still maintaining a recognizable German style. I looked at a LOT of…
German Smoker Witch- Fun Decoration for Halloween and Walpurgisnacht!
A German Smoker Witch is a fantastic decoration for Halloween, Christmas, or even Walpurgisnacht! I know we associate Räuchermannchen with Christmas. But, since smokers are just decorative incense burners you can display different styles all year. What child wouldn’t love watching a smoking witch? Or a witch with a bubbly cauldron? Incense comes in many different scents, you can easily…
A Generous Germanfest Milwaukee Community Donates to Kids
In a tremendous display of generosity, the Germanfest Milwaukee community and the Freistadt Alte Kameraden donated over $10,000 to children’s charities this week. It just goes to show you that a little effort, combined with a big heart adds up to some amazing things. Germanfest Milwaukee Community Donates $10,000 to Kids Eric Radue, the Germanfest President, members of the Germanfest…
German Cakes Quiz- How well do YOU know your Traditional German Cakes?
One of my favorite German Traditions is the Sunday afternoon Kaffee and Kuchen. You sit down with family and friends at a beautifully set table and enjoy a selection of cakes! It’s a wonderful way to slow down and catch up with those you love. Plus, there’s cake…. But, how well do you know your German cakes? Would you…