Germany is proof that fathers in Germany have it figured out. Think about it. On Mother’s Day, you get a card, a messy kitchen, and some flowers. In Germany, Fathers spend the day walking around in groups, drinking while pulling a Bollerwagon full of beer, wine, Schnapps, and grillable snacks. And! Since Father’s Day (Herrentag or Männertag) always falls on…
Category: German Holidays and Festivals
Oma’s Münsterländer Struwen Recipe for Good Friday
In the Münsterland, a Good Friday without Struwen is unimaginable. Thanks to my Tante Anne, I have Oma’s recipe for Münsterländer Struwen. These yeast dough pancakes satisfy hunger in a time of Fasting without appearing, as my aunt said, “üppig” (extravagant). Struwen are sweet, but not too sweet, topped with a sprinkle of sugar or cinnamon sugar, filled with raisins,…
German Easter Breakfast- The BEST German Breakfast of the Year
German weekend breakfasts have a reputation for being delightful, drawn-out meals with loads of delicious things on the table… Aufschnitt, Brötchen, soft-boiled eggs and fruit. But German EASTER Breakfast takes it up a notch. I’m not much of a morning person, but I was always happy to hop out of bed to enjoy this special meal with my family. Even…
Die Häschenschule A Day At Bunny School -A German Easter Classic
If you are of a certain age, you probably had a storybook about a Rabbit School on your bookshelves as a child. In 1924 Albert Sixtus published a book about a bunnies going school called Die Häschenschule. 95 years later, this classic book is still charming children all over Germany. For Easter in 2019, the Esslinger Verlag (Esslinger Publishing company)…
Make this Fairly Easy Berliner Recipe for Karneval or Silvester
Fasching! Karneval! Even NEW YEAR! or maybe you just LOVE them, it’s a good time for Berliner! Honestly, I seldom make them, because fried foods are not really great for the waistline, and we live down the street from one of the world’s great Donut places (shout out to SloDoCo!). BUT it’s Karneval season, and Berliner, which aren’t really donuts,…
Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika- Bringing Tyrol to Milwaukee
It turns out the best time to see witches in Milwaukee is NOT at Halloween… it’s between January 6th and Ash Wednesday, during Fasching/Karneval Season. But, the witches play a supporting role in this performance, which goes back 500 years to the Alps of Austria. The 70-member strong Muller Fasching Verein of Nordamerika carries the Tyrolean tradition of chasing the…
German Rum Balls Recipe- a Holiday Indulgence
Rumkugeln, or German Rum Balls, have always been my favorites. Just the smell makes me weak in the knees! When I was a child, my mother only made them at Christmas—just one batch. And I would watch and wait for the chance to lick the bowl and the spoon. (I think part of the appeal was the Rum… we all…
What is the Christkind- The Golden Haired Gift Giver in Germany
Even though I grew up in the United States, where Santa Claus dominated Christmas, my sister and I got presents from the Christkind (or Christkindl) on Christmas Eve. It was magical! We would hide in our bedroom, peering out the window, wondering when she would arrive. The Christkind coming was a special delivery just for us since we weren’t in…
The Rauschgoldengel- The legend of the Golden Angel
High above the Plobenhofstraße entrance of the Nuremberg Christkindelmarkt hangs the Rauschgoldengel. This large gold foil angel welcomes all the guests and is a symbol of the market. And all over the market, you will find stalls selling smaller versions of this Golden Angel. But what is a Rauschgoldengel? And how did a foil angel become the symbol for Nuremberg…
Where to buy Lebkuchen Online- Order German Lebkuchen for Christmas
Every year, I bake a lot, but I still place an order for the delicious German Lebkuchen that my family craves at Christmastime. Baking isn’t difficult, but honestly, the most challenging thing about buying Lebkuchen is choosing which varieties to order. (We hold long discussions about it in our family) The selection of types and flavors is almost overwhelming! So,…