Last year I was lucky… I was not only able to get to the Christmas Markets in Germany, I was also able to get to the workshops and stores in Seiffen to buy authentic Wooden German Christmas decorations. You see, I love the real deal, not the cheap knockoffs from wherever. I want to be able to keep woodcarving traditions…
Category: German Holidays and Festivals
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…
Kinder for Easter- Fill the Easter Basket with Kinder Chocolate
Kinder for Easter… that’s how I grew up. So, I know how terribly disappointed many of you are that Kinder Surprise Eggs aren’t available in the United States (I cover that issue in depth here–> Kinder Eggs). Still, there are many other WONDERFUL Kinder Treats that will be more than welcome in ANY child’s Easter Basket. Kinder chocolate is always …
German Wooden Easter Decorations – The German Christmas Shop at Easter
[no_toc] I pull my German wooden Easter decorations out every year. Wooden Bunnies and hanging eggs from the Osterbaum (Easter Tree) makes the house feel more festive in the Springtime. And although Nutcrackers and other German Christmas Ornaments have taken off here in the US… it’s still more difficult to find German Easter Ornaments. This year, the German Christmas Shop…
Sweet Valentine’s Day Angels- Beautiful Gifts from the Erzgebirge
[no_toc] One of the nicest ways to show someone you love them is with a charming Valentine’s Day Angel from The German Christmas Shop. These adorable guardian angels are hand crafted in Germany by the Günther Reichel workshop. I fell in love with them when we visited Seiffen. Süß!!! (SWEET!!) Lovely little angel figures holding flowers, balloons, or of course,…
Tanzmariechen- Those Fabulous Karneval Dancers!
Ever wonder about those beautiful dancing girls in “military uniforms” at Karneval/Fasching celebrations? They march and move in perfect synchronicity and even tumble through the air without landing on their head. But did you know that these “Tanzmariechen” or “Funkenmariechen” are more than just a pretty face and fun dance moves? Their history reaches back almost 200 years to early…
Why is New Year’s Eve called Silvester in Germany?
In Germany, New Year’s Eve is called Silvester, but WHY? My parents always celebrated New Year’s Eve with a party, but a Silvester Party? (I mean, “Who is this Sylvester, and why does he get a party?“) The whole thing is confusing. Fortunately, there is an easy explanation! And it all dates back to a pope and a change in…
What is Raclette Cheese? Cheesy German New Year’s Eve Tradition
Whenever anyone asks me, “What’s your favorite kind of Cheese?” I automatically answer, “The melted kind.” And yes, I have the kind of family that loves cheese, eats loads of cheese, and spends a lot of time talking about cheese. No wonder there were loud CHEERS when I brought the Raclette Grill home. Where has this lovely dish been my…
A German Christmas Market Tour – Magic, Food and lots of Glühwein
I spend more time regretting the things I didn’t do than I regret the mistakes I may have made. That’s why when I got an email about taking a German Christmas Market Tour only days before it started, I only hesitated long enough to clear it with my family. After all, a week away in December (well, 10 days with travel),…