Only in Germany

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

September 3, 2021

karenanne

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German History

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 special tree was the last survivor of three Linden trees brought to the United States by […]

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The History of the Brandenburg Gate- A Berlin Icon

German Basic Law – A short explanation of the Grundgesetz

May 20, 2021

karenanne

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German History

“The state is there for the sake of people, not people for the sake of the state.” Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the Constitution, and how it compares to German Basic Law. Until the Grundgesetz (Basic Law) went into effect on May 23rd , 1949 Germany was still a divided occupied country under […]

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The History of the Brandenburg Gate- A Berlin Icon

East Frisian Tea and the Famous Ostfriesentee Ceremony

July 16, 2020

karenanne

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German Foods and Recipes

While my American friends grew up drinking Milk or Water with their dinner, we drank Tea. Germans do drink a lot of tea, Black Tea, Hagebutte (Rose Hip), Chamomile, Fenchel (fennel)… But NO Germans drink quite as much tea as the Ostfriesen or East Frisians. If you can imagine it, they drink an average of […]

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Streuseltaler Recipe- Tasty Pastries with Fruit and Streusel

What is German Baumkuchen? And Where Can You Get Some?

June 11, 2020

karenanne

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German Foods and Recipes

Baumkuchen? Tree Cake? That can’t be right! What is German Baumkuchen? This special cake didn’t get its name from the ingredients, the name came from the resemblance to the rings in a tree when you cut into it. And once you bite into this soft and flavorful cake, you will understand why everyone who tries […]

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Streuseltaler Recipe- Tasty Pastries with Fruit and Streusel

What is the Vogelhochzeit? It’s a song to Welcome Spring!

April 16, 2020

karenanne

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Celebrating German Culture in America

Germans do love to sing, and they especially love their Folk songs. One of my favorite German Folk Songs is the Vogelhochzeit. In German School I loved singing the fi-de-ralala part over and over. And with so many verses, the song can go on longer than the Twelve days of Christmas! (I have a feeling […]

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Why is the German Chimney Sweep so Lucky?

What is Gemuetlichkeit? Trying to define an indefineable German Concept

January 30, 2020

karenanne

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Celebrating German Culture in America

When I arrive on my Aunt’s doorstep in Germany, she greets me with “Kommt ‘rein… mach’s euch Gemütlich!”(come in, make yourself gemütlich) and on family evenings instead of making plans my mother might say, “Wir machen uns Heute Abend Gemütlich” (tonight we will make ourselves gemütlich). A small well appointed room is described as “Gemuetlich”, […]

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The History of the Brandenburg Gate- A Berlin Icon

What is a Strandkorb? And where can You BUY a Strandkorb?

January 14, 2020

karenanne

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German Products I Love

I still remember the first time I saw a Strandkorb (a “Beach Basket”) on the beach. Since I grew up in California, it was wildly confusing… I mean, when we went to the beach, we just needed a few towels, a cooler with drinks and snacks, MAYBE a folding chair (if you felt like schlepping […]

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

What is German Unity Day – Tag der Deutschen Einheit

October 2, 2019

karenanne

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German History

What is German Unity Day or the Tag der Deutschen Einheit? This National Holiday is the celebration of when Germany unified into ONE whole country. For 41 years, Germany was split between the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the Democratic Republic of Germany (East Germany). They existed as two separate nations. On November […]

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The History of the Brandenburg Gate- A Berlin Icon

What is the Sandmaennchen? A little Man who Sent German Kids to Dream

January 18, 2019

karenanne

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German Products I Love

When the Wall separating East Germany from West Germany fell, many of the icons produced by the East vanished. There is one BIG exception. The Sandmännchen. What is the Sandmaennchen? And how did he continue to thrive despite his East German origins? This little figure with a long goatee and pointed cap captured the hearts […]

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

What is a Schrebergarten or Kleingarten? Germany’s Little Gardens

May 18, 2018

karenanne

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Only in Germany

You are traveling along in Germany, and suddenly on the side of the railroad tracks, there is a cluster of fenced in tiny houses surrounded by small gardens. Are these actual homes? Are they campground for seasonal workers? Is this where the Garden Gnomes live when they aren’t in your garden?? Actually, these little plots […]

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The Gäubodenmuseum- 7000 years of History in Straubing, Germany