My daughter just came out of her room and says “the house smells like Christmas, how long have I been studying?” It’s true, even though red cabbage doesn’t take much time to make, and fits with a lot of different meats… in our house, I usually make it for the holidays. My German red cabbage recipe is actually my mother’s…
Category: German Holidays and Festivals
Super Easy German Fanta Cake or Fantakuchen Recipe
You probably won’t find Fanta Cake in a fancy German Cafe, but don’t scoff at this super easy and quick to make Fantakuchen Recipe. When my kids were young, I loved having what I called “afterschool cake” recipes. Snack cakes, that could be whipped up without too much fuss. And this one is done in well under an hour (perfect…
Frau Perchta? Goddess or Belly-Slitter?
Deep in the Alpine region of Germany, two frightening beings bookend the Christmas Season. Krampus roams on December 5th, and Frau Perchta is associated with Berchentag, the Feast of the Epiphany, on January 6th. But Who is Frau Perchta? Or WHAT is Frau Perchta? Is she an evil hag who kills lazy women and children? Or is she a beautiful…
German New Year’s Eve Traditions to Enjoy with Family and Friends
German New Year’s Eve traditions are a nice mix between staying in with family and friends, and sending the old year out with a BANG and Fireworks! How you celebrate depends on you. Personally, I’m a big fan of stay in… but ever since I was a child, we’ve made noise fireworks and cheers when the clock strikes 12. (Mostly…
A Visit to the Silent Night Chapel Oberndorf Austria
We’ve all sung it hundreds of times, in German, Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, or in English, Silent Night. It’s THE Christmas song in most German households. It is the last song before the end of the Christmas Eve church service and the last song before the Bescherung. Silent Night is a song we all know the words to in German…
What is the Weihnachtsmann? A German Christmas Gift- Giver
This is the time of year when things can get confusing for some people; in Germany, there is St Nicholas, the Christkind, AND the Weihnachtsmann… but Who is bringing the presents? What is the Weihachtsmann? To make the ‘gift-giver’ issue even more confusing, there are mixed families here in the US where one parent grew up with Santa Claus! How…
Traditions from Germany- Traditional German Christmas Decorations
Scrolling through the Traditions from Germany website is a bit like wandering through an authentic German Christmas market from the comfort of your own home. The charming wood and glass ornaments, handcrafted Pyramids, chubby Smokers, and even brightly lit Herrnhutter Sterne, bring joy and smiles to people who display them during the holiday season. You could say that Sheri and Jochen…
Weihnachtspunsch Recipe -German Christmas Punch
On my Christmas Market tour, I discovered that there are MANY more hot drink choices than just Glühwein and Feuerzangenbowle. I saw Kinderpunsch (punch for kids), Eierlikorpunsch (a warm Eggnoggy Punsch), Weihnachtspunsch, or Christmas Punch. This hot and rich Punch came loaded with holiday flavors, but until I found this Weihnachtspunsch Recipe, I couldn’t quite put my taste buds on…