It looks like a rose and blooms around Pentecost: the Pfingstrose or peony. The flower was used for medicinal (and magical) purposes but also as an ornamental flower.
Author: Anika Rieper
Germerican (Schleswig-Holstein, Pennsylvania)
Master's in German Literature and Social Psychology
Avid Reader and Bookseller
German Teacher
The Ice Saints or Eisheiligen in Germany are the days of May 11 (12)-15, ending with the Cold Sophie (Kalte Sophie). These days might see low temperature and night frost which is why you shouldn’t plant before those dates.
The Thursday before Easter is called Maundy Thursday or Gründonnerstag (Green Thursday) in German. What’s so green about that day and what customs are celebrated?
Palmsonntag or Palm Sunday starts the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday. Some (German) customs around Palm Sunday include processions and Palmbuschen.
The Litfaßsäule – the cylindrical cement pillar placed in cities advertising cultural and sporting events. It was named after its inventor Ernst Litfaß.
Epiphany (Dreikönigstag) is celebrated on January 6th. In many regions, “Sternsinger” go from door to door, singing and marking the houses with the CMB blessing.
The Christmas song that wasn’t. “Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen” is a children’s winter song written by Hedwig Haberkern in 1869. But over time it became a song that we sing during the Christmas season.
Take a look at how Germans celebrate Christmas with these German Christmas traditions; from Advent Wreaths to Christmas trees, from St. Nicholas Day to opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Here is a collection of German books and authors that have been translated into English. Ideal for your Germanophile book lovers among your friends and family.
Coffee wouldn’t be what it is today without Melitta Bentz. In 1908, the housewife from Dresden invented the coffee filter … and the rest is history!
