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 of German children with his…
Category: Only in Germany
What is a Schrebergarten or Kleingarten? Germany’s Little Gardens
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? Is it a campground for seasonal workers? Is this where the Garden Gnomes live when they aren’t in your garden?? These little plots of land are called Schrebergarten or…
Shopping for German School Supplies in Germany
My daughter, Katy, spent a Semester studying in Berlin. I’m delighted that she sent us a few posts about life as a California Girl in Germany. This week… shopping for German School supplies. Apparently, it’s not the same as it is here in California… All photos taken by Katy used with permission. There were many things I expected to be…
The Mainzelmännchen… Guud’n Aamd!
Cover image of Mainzelmännchen Michael Kramer, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Isn’t it nice how the little things can make you so happy? One distinctly German cartoon that brought me endless delight was the Mainzelmännchen! These little animated men on German TV would come on during the commercials in quick animated spots that just made us LAUGH. Over…
What is a Tante Emma Laden? A Corner Store with a Special History
Cover photo- My mom behind the counter of her father’s Laden. That’s me, the Daumenlutscher, on the right A Tante Emma Laden holds a very important place in my life since my first memory is of tumbling down the steps leading to my Opa’s Tante Emma Laden. (This had nothing to do with the store and everything to do with…
How is the German Chancellor Elected?
The German election system may be confusing for people who live outside Germany. Just how is the German Chancellor elected? I will do my best to explain concisely and help you understand how their system works. For the record, I am not endorsing any German political party; this is just an informational article to help people get a handle on a…
Federweisser- All you Need to Know About this VERY Young Wine
When people think about traveling to Germany in the Fall, they often think Oktoberfest. BUT, the country has so much more to offer besides this well-known attractions! For example, Federweisser. What is Federweisser? It’s an alcoholic drink only available during the months of September and October. This is a real autumnal tradition for many Germans, particularly in the wine-growing regions…
German School Cones- Schultüte for the First Day of School
The Schultüte, filled German School cones, tradition goes back to the early 1800s in Germany. Leaving the childhood comforts of Kindergarten, and moving on to “real school” can be a tough transition. So, on their first day of school when entering the first grade, children traditionally receive a cone shaped bag, sometimes called a “Zuckertüte” (sugar bag), filled with…
The German President- What do they do? How are they elected?
On March 19, 2022, Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected President of Germany. Many people in the United States who are unfamiliar with the German political system are probably wondering if Germany has a Chancellor, what the German President does, and how the German President is Elected. The system is much different from the presidential election in the USA, but the job…