On the eve of April 30th, the “Walpurgisnacht”, witches meet on the Brocken mountain to celebrate and mate with the devil. But the night is named after a Saint. Read here about Saint Walburga and her connection to the witches’ night.
Author: Anika Rieper
Germerican (Schleswig-Holstein, Pennsylvania)
Master's in German Literature and Social Psychology
Avid Reader and Bookseller
German Teacher
Clara Immerwahr (1870-1915) was the first German woman to earn a doctorate in chemistry; during a time when it was near impossible for girls and women to receive a university degree.
Glücksbringer are good luck charms, and Germany has plenty of them: the lucky penny, horseshoe, toadstool, ladybug, chimney sweep, clover, and of course the Glücksschwein, a lucky pig.
The first Sunday after Ash Wednesday is the Funkensonntag. On that day, so-called Funkenfeuer (bonfires) are lit in the Swabian-Alemannic Alpine regions.
Louise Otto-Peters was a journalist and writer, an early women’s rights activist of the 19th century, and co-founder of the General German Women’s Association.
On February 21st, North Frisians gather at the beaches to observe the traditional Biikebrennen – a giant bonfire to mark the beginning of whale hunting and fishing season, and the end of winter.
The Internationale Grüne Woche Berlin (IGW) or Green Week has been an important agricultural convention since 1926. Read more about the history and why it’s called “green”.
Die Polente is an older term for police but also describes a Citroën 2CV police car. Find out here why it’s called “Polente”.
Bratwurst, brats, sausage – however you call it, it’s a popular dish in Germany and the world. Take a look at three popular Bratwurst in Germany: Nürnberger, Thüringer, and Currywurst.
French Toast is food that you can find in almost any culture. No surprise then that Germany also sports different versions of this fried bread. They call it Arme Ritter which means ‘poor knights’. But there are more names and more variations.
