A few years ago I started making these cute little Baiser Geister or Meringue Ghosts for Halloween. The kids love them… and since meringues are favorites of mine, I love them too. I can hear it now… but Halloween isn’t a GERMAN THING. Well, no. Germany isn’t Halloween crazy like here in the US. But… the celebration is taking off…
Category: German Halloween
German Beer Brewing Witches? The Dark History of Women Brewers
Did our current image of witches (pointy hat, broom, cat, cauldron) come from Medieval female Beer Brewers? Did German Witches Brew Beer?? Were female brewers WITCHES? Or were they victims of worldwide hysteria? There has been some interesting speculation lately, so I wanted to share the bits and pieces I found. After all, Germany does have plenty of witch stories……
Castle Frankenstein in Germany- A Castle Swirled in Mystery and Legend
In 2019, my partner joined my daughter and me in Germany. Since he had never been to Germany before, and because I have a strange sense of humor, AND because Frankenstein was my daughter’s favorite book when she was younger, we decided to take him straight from Frankfurt Airport to the Frankenstein Castle. It was a beautiful Summer’s day (still…
A German Kitchen Witch Brings Good Luck to Your Kitchen!
When I was growing up, my mother always had a flying Kitchen Witch hanging in the kitchen window. And naturally, as an adult with my own kitchen, I have one too. Now, the legend says that a German Kitchen Witch will protect your food as you cook it… no more pots boiling over, no more burnt cakes…. just delicious foods that…
Do they Celebrate Halloween in Germany? Yes and No
Traditionalists have argued for years about whether or not they should celebrate Halloween in Germany. In fact, a recent poll shows that 48% of Germans over the age of 35 feel that it displaces German Culture, and many more Germans feel that it is too commercial. But most Germans under 35 have embraced the celebration with open arms, which means…
What Is Walpurgisnacht? And How did An English Nun Become Associated with Witches?
Legends, stories, and traditions featuring witches have long been part of German culture. Think about all the Fairy Tales you heard as a child cautioning you about witches. Witches in Germany date back to the pagan times, before Christianity, and some celebrations and customs still appear in the modern world. Walpurgisnacht or Hexennacht (Witches’ Night) mixes Pagan tradition with a…
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…