On August 13, 1961, construction began on the Berlin Wall. For too many years East and West were divided by a Wall that surrounded East Berlin. The Wall separated families and friends, and kept people essentially locked up. Granted, not everyone hated being in the East, but many wanted to escape what they considered to be a prison. The…
Author: karenanne
10,000 Facebook Fans Contest Results!
We did it! We now have 10,000 Facebook fans… and counting! Thanks to all of you who entered our drawing. And an extra big thank you to those who shared our contest on your Facebook page. To make this as fair as possible, I let my daughter choose the winner. All the names went into a computer program at random,…
What is Playmobil? 50 Years of German Toys for the Imagination
In 2017 a little Playmobil Martin Luther, complete with quill and German Bible became the fastest selling Playmobil toy in the history of Brandstätter Toys. 34,000 of these “little Luthers” sold in under 72 hours! Created to honor the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, the sales figures astonished everyone in the company known for its imaginative toy sets, and…
Windstärke 8 or Wind Force 8 TV Series
Windstärke 8 [Import allemand] Windstärke 8 or Wind Force 8 is a multi part documentary/ reality series from Germany on ARD that attempts to show conditions on emigrant ships headed to America in the 1800s. Although over 5000 people tried out to be on the program, only 14 passengers, 5 children and 18 sailors were chosen to take part in this…
German Genealogy Databases Online -Find your German Family
For many German-Americans, tracing their history is not so easy. Records were lost or destroyed, and the old script can be difficult to read. While I am by no means an expert, I have found some German Genealogy Databases online that can help you find a little more about your German Ancestry. If you know of any websites or pages that…
How to Make Quark- Make Creamy German Quark with a Yogurt Maker
Quark is a delicious and very versatile creamy dairy product from Germany. For those of you not familiar with it, it’s almost like a very thick yogurt, or a looser whipped cream cheese. It doesn’t have the tang of a yogurt though. Because it’s not sweet or salt, quark can be used in a number of ways; spread on bread,…
The History of the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band
What I enjoy the most about German Girl in America is meeting new people and learning about all the ways they maintain their German Heritage here in America. Dale Blank has been sharing wonderful information about a great band he plays with, the Freistadt Alte Kamaraden. Since 1942 the band performed for festivals and events both here in the US,…
What Does a German Look Like? Dealing with Stereotypes
I’ve been thinking about stereotypes a lot lately, and what does a German look like? Whenever Germans are portrayed in advertising or festival invitations, they always seem to be wearing Lederhosen or Dirndls. But, as I’m reminded, EVERY TIME I post such a photo, that is not how the typical German looks or dresses. So, the question is, how should…
German Fairy Tale Wall Art -Colorful Wandfiguren for Children
See what I found while clearing out the closet? Like many German kids in the 1970s, my room was decorated with colorful wooden Fairy Tail wall art, Wandfigur, that depicted some of my favorite Fairy Tales. Made by companies like Mertens Kunst and Ravi Kunst, these bright and cheery wall hangings have become collectible today. Designs all came from fairy…
German Festivals in America, Events and Celebrations
Looking for German Festivals in America? Events and Celebrations? Take a look at our list! There’s something for everyone! Maifests, Sommerfests, Oktoberfests, Christkindlmarkt, Concerts, and More!! We also have a special page set aside for Christmas Markets in the United States and Canada–> German Christmas Markets Do you know of any Events or GermaFestival that’s not on the list? Send…