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.…
Category: German History
Edelweiss! All about this Legendary Alpine Flower
When I was a little girl, my Opa sent me a card that had a dried pressed edelweiss flower and a miniature hiker’s axe on it. I loved pulling back the protective cover and petting the soft fuzzy petals. For years that card sat on my bookshelf, and I would imagine the mysterious far-off mountain it came from. You see,…
What is Gemuetlichkeit? All About this Cozy German Concept
When I arrive on my Aunt’s doorstep in Germany, she greets me with “Kommt ‘rein… mach’s euch Gemütlich!” (come in, make yourself gemütlich). And on family evenings, instead of making plans, my mother might say, “Wir machen uns Heute Abend Gemütlich” (tonight we will make ourselves gemütlich). A small, well-appointed room is described as “Gemuetlich,” and a noisy, drafty restaurant…
What is Reifendrehen- Making Toys at the Seiffen Freilicht Museum
Before our trip to Seiffen, my friend Richard told me, “Do NOT MISS the Reifendrehen.” I was confused; what is Reifendrehen? Wheel turning? Do people in Seiffen watch wheels spinning? Reifendrehen is a special technique for making toys and other small objects known mainly to Seiffen and the surrounding area of the Erzgebirge. When the local mountains no longer produced…
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……
Stolen Treasure of Quedlinburg- An International Treasure Hunt
These days, the treasure room of the Collegiate Church of St Servatius in Quedlinburg is kept dark, with low lights mainly reflecting off of the gold and jewel-encrusted books and containers. (It’s the kind of room where people whisper.) But it wasn’t so long ago when the rooms were empty, and the stolen treasure of Quedlinburg left a gaping hole.…
What is German Unity Day – Tag der Deutschen Einheit
What is German Unity Day or the Tag der Deutschen Einheit? This National Holiday is the celebration of when Germany unified into ONE whole country. For 41 years, Germany was split between the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany). They existed as two separate nations. On November 9, 1989, the checkpoints at…
The Biergarten- A Bavarian Cultural Essential!
With the rise in popularity of craft beers, there has been a notable increase in the number of Biergarten around the world. But are they Biergarten? Or Beer Gardens? Is it just a spot next to a brewery with tables? Is it a patio carved out next to a bar? What is a Biergarten? And what makes them so special?…
St Paulus Dom in Münster- A Small Cathedral with an AMAZING Clock
Unfortunately, the St Paulus Dom Münster seldom makes it onto anyone’s must-see bucket list. It’s just not very big (compared to the Cologne Cathedral, it’s downright small). And, it has a lot of competition in Münster! As churches go, it takes second place to the much more famous Lamberti Kirche. (Face it, cages hanging off of the spire will lure…
Why does America call Football ‘Soccer’?
Sometimes, it seems like soccer in America gets treated as a “lesser” sport. Then it feels like an insult to injury when we don’t even call it by the correct name. It’s called Football or Fußball everywhere else on our planet. And why is that? Why does America call Football Soccer? Why would we have a different name for a…