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.

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 Christmas season calls for Poinsettias or as Germans call them Weihnachtsstern. Imported from Mexico by Joel Roberts Poinsett it became popular through clever marketing by the German immigrant Ecke family.

December 4th is Saint Barbara’s Feast Day. She converted to Christianity and died as a martyr. Find out here why we cut cherry tree branches on Saint Barbara Day, and how it relates to the patron of artillerymen and miners.

Fliegenpilz, toadstool, fly agaric – that’s just some of the names the poisonous mushroom goes by. Where the name comes from and why it’s also a good luck symbol, you’ll find out here.

Maiglöckchen or Lily of the Valley are pretty flowers you’ll see especially in May, hence the name. But be careful those bell shaped flowers are poisonous.

Erntedankfest in Germany is a harvest festival where people give thanks for the harvest. It normally takes place on the first Sunday in October. Find out more about the customs around this holiday.