I grew up in a suburb east of Los Angeles where my dad owned Nursery. Eighty-degree sunshine and palm trees are vastly different from Germany in December. Sure, the weather was great for plants, but I know my parents were homesick for snow and family. In the 1970s, travel was expensive, German Products exotic, and International phone calls were a…
Category: Celebrating German Culture in America
German American Day- A Celebration of German Contributions to America
October 6 is German American Day in the United States. But what is German American Day? Why do we celebrate it? What is the history of this celebration? And what is the significance of October 6? German American Day has been officially part of the National Calendar since 1987, when Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5719, declaring October 6 to be…
The Gingerbread for Liberty Book- The Story of a German American Hero during the Revolution
Gingerbread for Liberty!: How a German Baker Helped Win the American Revolution Gingerbread for Liberty, a beautifully illustrated children’s book by Mara Rockliff, is based on the true story of Christopher Ludwich, a German Baker who arrived in America as a young man. Ludwich was known for his delicious Gingerbread and his motto, “No one goes hungry if I can…
German School Cones- Schultüte for the First Day of School
The Schultüte, German School cone, tradition goes back to the early 1800s in Germany. Leaving the childhood comforts of Kindergarten and moving on to “real school” can be a tough transition. So, on their first day of school when entering the first grade, children traditionally receive a cone-shaped bag, sometimes called a “Zuckertüte” (sugar bag), filled with treats and…
The Freistadt Alte Kameraden- A “Glorious” Display of Generosity
Proving their amazing generosity once again… the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band raised $2400 for charity in one weekend of GermanFest… that’s $1000 more than last year! And it all goes to kids who need it. I’m proud to know these guys! Permission for all photos from Dale Blank The Freistadt Alte Kameraden and “Gloria” The Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band…
Is Wienerschnitzel German Chicken Fried Steak? Read the “Texas Wienerschnitzel Incident” and Decide for Yourself!
I love origin stories, especially when German culture mixes with American, and you get a whole new legend! So the question came up, “Is Wienerschnitzel just German Chicken Fried Steak?” They are relatively similar, but what is the story behind it? And then, I came across this tale… the Legend of the Texas Wienerschnitzel Incident. Now, I KNOW! Wienerschnitzel is…
Tips for Germans Moving to America
I often publish articles with tips or helps for people who are moving from America to Germany… but this time, we will flip the situation. Hans Goldstein from The Student Movers in Costa Mesa, CA has been involved in quite a few International moves, and he offers some tips for Germans Moving to America. It’s true… people do drive…
German Star Wars Quotes for May the 4th Krieg der Sterne Day!
“May the Force be with you”… what does that have to do with Germany? not a whole lot. Still, love for Star Wars or Krieg der Sterne, is pretty universal (literally UNIVERSAL), and as we celebrate Star Wars Day, May the Fourth (get it?) I thought it would be fun to share some German Star Wars Quotes, because everyone is…
Biergarten Cookbook Traditional Bavarian Recipes with a Modern Twist
Biergarten Cookbook Visit any Bavarian Biergarten during the Summer, and you will see people enjoying the mild weather with a Maß of beer and food. But this isn’t an ordinary picnic… you won’t find plain old ham sandwiches and potato chips… Out of baskets and coolers come fresh Salads, grilled Sausages, a variety of dips, pickled veggies and sliced…