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?
Category: Holidays
Palmsonntag or Palm Sunday starts the Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday. Some (German) customs around Palm Sunday include processions and Palmbuschen.
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.
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.
Father’s Day in Germany looks a lot different from Father’s Day in the US. First, it’s on Ascension Day in May, second, men go on hiking and/or drinking tours.
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.
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.
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.
What do Germans do for New Year’s Eve (Silvester) and New Year’s Day (Neujahr)? Read here about German New Year’s traditions, from Dinner for One to eating Berliner.
