“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 martial law. How much…
Category: German Products I Love
Products that remind me of “home”
What is Maggikraut : All about Liebstöckel or Lovage
When my friend Edie told me about Maggikraut, I didn’t believe her. In my world, Maggi exists in liquid form to add flavor to soups and stews. Didn’t I just visit Spicey’s Spice Museum in Hamburg and see the Maggi exhibit (yes, I do realize that the previous sentence makes me sound like a nerd, but we all know how…
Ostalgie or Ostalgia for East German Products
What is Ostalgie? Ostalgie or Ostalgia, words that combines the German words for East and Nostalgia, describe a feeling of longing or desire for bits and pieces of the now wiped-away DDR (GDR). Now, while very few people can look you square in the face and say how wonderful the East German government was, or how fantastic it felt to…
Cute Animal House Slippers from Germany
We wear slippers and house shoes all the time in our house. I like to have warm feet, and I hate dragging dirt from the garden or street into our home. Since we seem to be home all the time, I like a slipper that holds up well, AND looks cute. Fortunately, GermanSlippers has a fun selection of SUPER CUTE…
A Visit to the Nuremberg Toy Museum- Spielzeugmuseum Nuremberg
The Nuremberg Spielzeugmuseum is considered be among the best Toy Museums in the world. This makes sense, since Nuremberg has been a hub of toy making since the Middle Ages. HUNDREDS of toy makers had their workshops along the cobblestoned streets and ways. Not only that, Nuremberg is the home of the first mass produced toys… and the first Tin…
Glanzbilder – Scrap Pictures to Collect, Trade and Decorate
Ernst Freihoff may not be a familiar name to many, but to many girls who grew up in, or spent time in Germany in the 60s, 70s and 80s, his company’s Glanzbilder were an essential part of childhood. What are Glanzbilder? You may know them as Scrapbilder, Poesiebilder, Albumbilder, Rosenbilder or even Oblaten. These colorful sets of pictures were printed…
Traditions from Germany- Traditional German Christmas Decorations
Scrolling through the Traditions from Germany website is a bit like wandering through an authentic German Christmas market from the comfort of your own home. The charming wood and glass ornaments, handcrafted Pyramids, chubby Smokers, and even brightly lit Herrnhutter Sterne, bring joy and smiles to people who display them during the holiday season. You could say that Sheri and Jochen…
Great Gifts for People Who Miss Germany
This is the time of year I get a lot of emails and messages looking for gift ideas. They go something like this “My husband is German, and misses home”… “My daughter was an exchange student in Heidelberg, and I want to get her something to remind her”… “my wife’s Oma passed away, so the packages aren’t coming anymore”. We…
Brotzeit- The delicious Bavarian Snack and Meal
In Bavaria, as in the rest of Germany, food is important. You need fuel to put in a hard day’s work. And you need something to soak up the alcohol in the beer (which is legally a bread in Germany… but that’s another story). Grabbing a slice of toast on your way out the door is not going to cut…
What to do with Red Currants! Recipes and Growing Tips
A few years ago I was in Germany with my kids, staying with my Aunt and Uncle. My littlest one was 4, and was absolutely enchanted by my Tante Anne’s kitchen garden. She was especially enamored with Red Currants. Every day she went to the kitchen to ask for “her” little clear plastic bowl, and she’s go into the garden…