In 1783, in his final letter as Commander of the American forces, George Washington thanked General von Steuben for his “faithful and meritorious Services.” Who was Baron von Steuben? And how did a Prussian Baron end up crossing the ocean and essentially turning around the American forces to help them win the Revolutionary War? Von Steuben was a talented military…
Category: Celebrating German Culture in America
German Clubs in North America- Find a German club Near You!
There is an old joke: “If you get three Germans in a room, and they will come out with five Clubs.” Seriously, Germans love to gather, which means one of the best ways to connect with other Germans is by joining German Clubs. But you ask yourself, “How do I find a German Club near me?” I went looking and…
German Shop 24 Product Reviews- German Shopping Online
Recently Germanshop24 approached me, and asked if I would like to do regular reviews of some of their products. Since I do much of my German Shopping online… and already order many of my favorite items from them… I am MORE than happy to share German Shop 24 Product Reviews. GermanShop24 carries HUNDREDS of items… from food to cleaning…
German Towns in America- Where to Get Your Deutsch on in the US!
One in five Americans identifies as having German heritage, for a while, it was one in FOUR, so it’s no wonder there are so many German Towns in America. And since travel to Germany can be expensive, I thought I’d try to list a few worth visiting here in the US. Now, “German Towns” run from the simple, with a…
Silesian Poppy Seed Roll with Streusel (Other Fillings Too!!)
In my mom’s German Friend Group, she is famous for her Silesian Poppy Seed Roll with Streusel. (Although, to her, it’s just called “Mohnkuchen.”) Made with enriched yeast dough, a filling of Poppy Seed and raisins, and topped with a crunchy, flavorful Streusel, it’s usually the first to disappear from the table! Since I was a child, I didn’t want…
Cuckoo Clock Shop Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Giveaway!
I’m Excited to Announce!! The Cuckoo Clock Shop is Giving Away ANOTHER Fabulous CUCKOO CLOCK! Enter to win an Authentic Swiss Chalet Style Cuckoo Clock from the Cuckoo Clock Shop! Bring a little Black Forest Magic into your World! The Cuckoo Clock Shop has an amazing selection of Black Forest Cuckoo Clocks From Classic Vintage Styles to…
German False Friends List- German words that SOUND like English
Sometimes, you hear a word in German, and you are certain that you know the meaning, even if you’ve never heard the word before. It makes perfect sense that the word Banane means Banana. And then, sometimes, you hear a German word that sounds English, but the meaning couldn’t be more different. The most obvious of these “False Friends” is…
What is the Vogelhochzeit? It’s a song to Welcome Spring!
Germans love to sing, and they especially love their folk songs. One of my favorite German Folk Songs is the Vogelhochzeit. In German School, I loved singing the fi-de-ralala part over and over. And with so many verses, the song can go on longer than the Twelve Days of Christmas! (I have a feeling that’s why my German School teacher…
German Girl in America Book Corner- Books about Germany
The first printed book was in German, and Germany publishes about 94,000 titles per year. It’s no wonder I love to read! It’s in the genes! And I love recommending books. (I should have become a librarian.) Since getting all of you in my house for Book Club could be tricky, I created the German Girl in America Book Corner.…
German Easter Nest Tradition- From Germany to Texas
My friend Chuck grew up in Yorktown, Texas, about an 1 ½ hours south of New Braunfels (the heart of German Texas), where his great great grandfather Johann Jost settled in 1848 after leaving Womelsdorf, Germany. Much of his family is still there. Because of the pandemic stay-at-home order, his sister is sorting through Afflerbach family history, and recently came…