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.
Category: Nature
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.
There are seven snakes species living in Germany, all of which are protected, two of them are venomous. And then there is the “Blindschleiche”, a lizard often mistaken for a snake.
Unseasonably warm weather in fall along with colorful foliage is called “Altweibersommer” (old women’s summer) in German. Find out where the term comes from and the many other expressions this meteorological singularity goes by.
The hottest days of summer are called “dog days” in English and “Hundstage” in German. But it has nothing to do with dogs.
June 27 is “Siebenschläfertag” in Germany. This has nothing to do with the “Siebenschläfer” (edible dormouse) but with the “Seven Sleepers” who were Christian martyrs. Find out how this is all connected to weather lore.
Groundhog Day is an American and Canadian holiday on February 2, but the custom of predicting the arrival of spring has German origins. It also has a connection to Candlemas, a religious holiday with roots dating back to Celts.
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.
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.
