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,…
Author: karenanne
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 Tale wall art (Wandfigur) that depicted some of my favorite Fairy Tales. Made by companies like Mertens Kunst and Ravi Kunst, these bright, cheery wall hangings have become collectibles today. Designs all came from fairy tales…
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…
Tante Annemarie’s Bavarian Cream of Mushroom Soup
The wonder of the Internet is that it allows us to connect with friends that we ordinarily might never have met. I got to know Nadia, the author of Spoonfuls of Germany. It’s easy to imagine the two of us enjoying a coffee together and talking about life and family, even though we live on opposite sides of the country.…
My Oma’s German Lemon Cake Recipe
Winter is citrus season, so the produce bins are overflowing with lemons. I love baking with citrus since the tart flavor adds a zip to recipes, creating a nice balance with the sweetness. The best way to show it off? My Oma’s German Lemon Cake Recipe. I inherited the recipe from my mom, who got it from her mom. It’s…
The Tale of Kunigunde von Kynast- a Silesian Folk Tale
Love this story I got from Paul Von Stache. It’s a fairy tale or folk story from Silesia (Schelsien). I had never heard it before. It sounds like an original Grimm tale, and definitely not a Disney-Happy-Ending-with-singing-Animals Story. The tale is about Kunigunde von Kynast. It took place in Kynast Castle (a/k/a Burg Kynast) in Schlesien. Here’s the story- …
The Black Forest Lodge- A Slice of Germany in America
In the 1970s travel to Germany was expensive, but my parents still wanted that German Vacation experience. So, instead of hopping on a cheap flight to Germany on Condor, they packed up the family’s green 1970 Monte Carlo with supplies and headed north to Chester, California near Lassen National Park where we would stay at a German run hotel…
German House Windows – The Finest Example of German Engineering
For the finest example of German Engineering, look no further than German House Windows. Truly, what other innovation so closely embodies German love for form, function, and cultural norms than those shiny clean windows? Think about it. German windows are designed to open inward, which means you can clean them without a ladder. This also gives you a great spot…
What is Maifest? What is a Maibaum? Germany Celebrates May Day!
Maifest celebrates the end of the long, dark winter and the beginning of warm weather and light. It’s a time of reawakening and joy! Celebrating the end of winter dates back to the Pagan times, and while the celebrations have changed a bit, there is still dancing. Cities and small villages across Germany, but primarily in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, set…