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…
Category: German Holidays and Festivals
Haba For Easter- German Toys and Games for the Easter Basket!
HABA Animal Upon Animal – Classic Wooden Stacking Game Fun for the Whole Family (Made in Germany) While I never say no to a nice Chocolate Bunny, I love tucking things into the Easter Basket that last a little longer. A stuffed toy, book or game last a lot longer than colored eggs… and will keep the kids happy and…
Celebrating Palm Sunday in Germany with Palmbuschen
Easter week begins with Palm Sunday, the 6th Sunday of Lent, the Sunday before Easter. The name comes from the Palms laid at Jesus’s donkey’s feet as he and his followers made their way into Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday in Germany, especially in Bavaria, this procession is recreated by clergy and others walking through the town, singing hymns, praying, and carrying…
German Easter Markets – Easter Shopping In Germany
We all know about German Christmas Markets… but did you know that every Spring there are German EASTER Markets?!? These sweet little markets pop up on weekends during Lent, and leading right up until Easter. Germans do love to decorate their homes to celebrate Easter, and the Markets give them a chance to find that perfect something new to welcome…
What is Weiberfastnacht? Women Kick off Karneval!
One special event sticks out in the excitement of Karneval or Fasching Season‘s parties, parades, and fun events, especially for women- Weiberfastnacht. What is Weiberfastnacht? It’s the start of street Karneval Celebrations, the day when Karneval kicks into high gear! It’s the day when women take over the party. I once arrived in Köln on Weiberfastnacht. As I emerged from…
Maibowle Recipes- Enjoy this Refreshing Wine Punch from Germany!
My mother often made a Bowle for parties. These wine punches were refreshing on warm summer afternoons in Southern California. Usually, they were made with wine, a bit of sugar, maybe some brandy, and fruit or herbal ingredients to give them more flavor. And in May, a green Maibowle is a tasty way to celebrate the season. But what…
History and Tradition of Karneval Orden
During Karneval Season, you will see people wearing military-like medals called Orden around their necks. These colorful medals, dating to the 1800s, were initially designed to mock the establishment. Today, people consider them a prestigious honor reflecting status and importance. What is the history of Karneval Orden? And how do Karneval groups carry on the traditions today? History of Karneval…
What is a Lumpenball? The End of the Karneval Party!
While adding events to the Fasching Celebration pages and the German Girl in America Events Pages, I keep coming across something called a Lumpenball… but, What IS a Lumpenball?? A ball of lumps? (that can’t be right!… although one website had an article about painting a ball of rags…). A Lumpenball that final Karneval party. The clearing out celebrations. This…
The Dinner for One Film- A German New Year’s Eve Tradition
Some German Traditions are completely baffling to me, like the German love of the Dinner For One Film on New Year’s Eve. How on earth did this British Comedy sketch become a nationwide phenomenon? So, of course, I had to start digging to find the origins. Why is an English-language movie about an elderly woman’s 90th Birthday party so…