In recent years, the Irish holiday St. Patrick’s Day has gained popularity in Germany (and other countries).
Author: Anika Rieper
Germerican (Schleswig-Holstein, Pennsylvania)
Master's in German Literature and Social Psychology
Avid Reader and Bookseller
German Teacher
The early bloomer Märzenbecher (spring snowflake) is not that common in Germany and is actually endangered. The meadows and areas where you can find them are most often part of a nature reserve. Explore some regions where every early spring, the bell-shaped flowers turn a forest floor or meadow into a white carpet.
Early bloomers like crocuses (Krokusse) are popular in Germany, in private gardens and yards as well as in parks in many cities. Take a closer look at crocus meadows in Husum, Drebach, Zavelstein, and Düsseldorf.
The Kiebitz (northern lapwing) was voted “Bird of the Year” (Vogel des Jahres) in Germany in 1996 and in 2024. The event is sponsered by NABU and LBV to draw attention of endangered birds.
“Morgen, Kinder, wird’s was geben” (Tomorrow, Children, There Will Be Something) is a popular German Christmas song, based on a poem by Splittegarb from 1795. The melody we know today was written by C. G. Hering in 1809. The focus of the song is the excitement of the children.
Lighthouses (Leuchttürme) and other sea marks have guided seafarers through treacherous waters, during the day and especially in the night. Here is a list of lighthouses in North Frisia in Germany.
June 24 is St. John’s Day or Johannistag. Overlapping with summer solstice celebrations (midsummer, Sonnenwende), people in Germany and Austria light fires and pick herbs and flowers, like St. John’s wort, which are especially potent around Mittsommer.
Depending on the year, the Maikäfer (May bug or cockchafer) in Germany is called a pest or endangered. But it is also prevalent in German culture, from literature to art, from the military to festivals and cars.
Donauwelle is a German and Austrian cake, or rather Torte, that resembles the waves of the Danube river, hence the name.
A popular spring song in Germany is “Alle Vögel sind schon da” (All the birds are already here). It was written by Hoffmann von Fallersleben in 1835 and is sung to a melody by an unkown composer.
