The Legend of the Wolpertinger – Bavaria’s Horned Hare

Suppose you’re a young Bavarian man in the 1800s. You see a beautiful young woman, and you want to get to know her a little better. How do you get her to take a walk in the woods with you? You could tell her, “Let me show you my Wolpertinger.” I admit, it’s a poor pick-up line. So, what is…

Who was Till Eulenspiegel-Stories & Legends of Till Eulenspiegel

“Do you see that figure on the unicycle?” Our guide in Erfurt asked, “Do you know who that is?” Of course, I do! The man in the jester hat is Till Eulenspiegel, a figure of German storytelling for over 700 years. But who was Till Eulenspiegel? A Jester, a prankster… someone who spoke truth to power. Over the years, the…

Why is the German Chimney Sweep so Lucky?

You see him down the way, and your heart skips a beat with excitement… the man in black. He turns and gives you a smile,  touching his top hat with a little salute, his gold buttons shining bright in the sunshine. You feel lucky; do you dare push it? Why not? You approach him, this German Chimney Sweep, and ask…

The Wild Hunt- An old Germanic Story of Ghost Riders in the Sky

Cover image- Johann Wilhelm Cordes, Wilde Jagd Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons A ferocious storm hit my corner of California in December. The wind howled as it battered the house, moaning sounds came down the chimney, doors rattled, and we could hear branches cracking outside. There was a sudden popping sound, and we were plunged into darkness. Thankfully, the extra…

Eisheiligen in Germany – The German Ice Saints of May

There’s a good reason why all Germans carry an Allwetterjacke (all weather jacket), German weather can fool you. One moment you bask under a warm sun in the local Biergarten, and the next you need to pull on your sweater. Especially in May, when after a long Winter of cold dreary weather everyone seeks the sun. But, just because the…

Ostara and Easter- A Legend that May be Younger than You Think

While digging into stories about Easter in Germany, I frequently encountered references to the Germanic pagan goddess Ostara. Ostara and Easter appear to be so entwined that even the word Ostern (Easter) comes from this goddess of Spring. Sources attribute many non-religious Easter symbols, like eggs and rabbits, directly to her. So, I thought, HA! The perfect thing to write…

Schutzengel- Guardian Angels in Germany

A few years ago when I learned to drive, my cousin gave me a sticker that said, “Fahr nicht schneller als dein Schutzengel fliegen kann!” (Don’t drive faster than your guardian angel can fly). She firmly believes in Schutzengel, and as someone who tends to be a little clumsy, I really like the idea of a celestial being keeping an…

Frau Holle- Grimm Fairy Tale, Legend, and Goddess

, Frau Holle Cover Image- Nickge4, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons When it snows in Hessen, people say Frau Holle shakes out her feather beds. Thanks to Grimm’s Fairy Tales, we all have a mental image of an old woman airing her bedding out the window. But the story of Frau Holle goes further back in German history; she…

Rauhnächte- In Germany, it’s the Time Between the Years

My mother’s Oma refused to do laundry during the Twelve Days of Christmas. To me, this makes perfect sense. The Christmas Season is just so busy; who wants to do laundry? But the reason goes deeper, to the legends of the Rauhnacht.  The Rauhnächte is the time between the years when old memories carry out traditions from pagan times in…

The Linden tree in Germany – The Tree at the Heart of Germany

A friend sent me a clip from a news story out of West Virginia about the removal of a Linden Tree. What made him curious was not the toys found under the tree; it was the tree itself. This particular tree was the last survivor of three Linden trees brought to the United States by German immigrants. Why, he asked,…

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