Changes ahead: Germany makes a historic decision at the next election
On September 26th 2021, Germans will go to the polls to elect a new Chancellor for one of Europe’s largest countries. Huge changes are ahead, since this is not totally […]
Hanseatic nobility and civic freedoms
The medieval trade association that shaped Germany and modern Europe Welcome to a journey back into history and up to the very North of Germany, the realm of the “Hanseat”, […]
Could you pass me my Handy, please? How Denglish influences modern German language
Let’s jump right in: The term „Handy“ causes plenty of confusion between Germans and native English speakers. The German word for mobile phone sounds so very English that it’s hard […]
Back to nature: German’s national parks and the return of the wolves
Nature might not be the first idea when thinking about Germany. Engineering, industry, car manufacturing, the Autobahn, densely populated cities spring to mind. But then there are, of course, other […]
The country of poets and thinkers (and maybe engineers and inventors)
Sometimes back in the philosophical revolutions of the early 19th century, German intellectuals coined the phrase of the “Land der Dichter und Denker”, the country of poets and thinkers, to […]
Skilled trades have “golden foundations” in Germany
The benefits and setbacks of a dual education system “Handwerk hat goldenen Boden”: When choosing your career as a young person in Germany, this sentence will be thrown at you […]
Why it always rains in England: Your food defines the weather ;-)
“Iss auf. Sonst regnet es morgen.” German kids know this sentence when growing up: Empty your plate, or it will rain the next day. Quite a few of my German […]
The German gardener
“My home is my castle” – it might be surprising, but this English term can be found on the wall of many German households, often in handmade stitching. It fits […]
Home entertainment, old style: German parlour games, survival in Corona times
Being in lockdown with a small kid brought back something that we neglected due to all the offers of the electronic age: Family and group entertainment via parlour games, a […]
Verflucht und zugenäht – The art of swearing in German
Trigger warning: Bad words and naughty language ahead. Admittedly the author enjoys swearing quite a lot (probably even more since moving to England 10 years ago), so there is literally […]
Can you say „Schnuckiputzi“? (Or maybe try “Mausibärchi”)
Tongue twisted? Not for Germans. When it comes to pet names, Germans are amazingly creative – as opposed to given names, where the authorities still apply strict rules in comparison […]
Ore Mountains – legends of toys
Many of the stereotypical German qualities are born from a certain level of conservatism and a love for the status quo. Yet innovative ideas are just as German, embracing change […]
Don’t slip, but slide: Getting into the New Year, German style
Already made up your New Year’s resolutions? Do you actually believe in them? Let me go out on a limb: Probably not. And neither do Germans. Despite their reputation as […]
Treats without tricks: St Martin in Germany
Every November brings a challenge for German parents: The candy collection. If you now think of Halloween, you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. The very American habit of “trick or treating” […]
Everything goes… especially the passenger – Public transport in Germany
“Well, in Germany buses are on time.” This was the famous answer of politician Gregor Gysi, asked about outstanding German qualities. Punctuality, reliability, quality are stereotypical German traits, and who […]
Per aspera ad astra: Germany’s dream of Outer Space
On 21st of September this year a pioneer of space travel died – after a long and exciting life full of adventures, always on the bleeding edge of history. Sigmund […]
German Illness – Beware the draught
“Tür zu! Es zieht!” – A sentence you might hear quite often when entering German houses. And no, this is not a special greeting, and there is no friendly answer […]
Celebration of unity: October 3rd, the German National Day
„East or West?“ – this dreaded question followed Germans around the globe whenever they were traveling until 1989, when the political status as “front state of the Cold War” finally […]
The Volksfest tradition: Party, German style
Being German, one can’t avoid the biggest of clichés (if we leave out “Don’t mention the war!”): Lederhosen, beer, pretzel, Oktoberfest. The most German thing of all seems to be […]
The forest nation: Why trees are at the heart of the German soul
The English language doesn’t know a word with the same meaning as the German “Heimat”. The translation as “homeland” doesn’t remotely touch the emotional charge of its German counterpart, which […]
The learning society: Schools in Germany
Two decades ago Germany lived through a shellshock. The world famous PISA study classed the country’s schools as merely average, while Finland took the pole position. This was an attack […]
Organized Germany: Nonprofit associations are a backbone of society
Legend has it that there is nothing more German than proper “order”, well sorted administration and neat bureaucracy. That might be true in some ways, especially when it comes to […]
Life is a highway – Germany’s love for cars
There’s magic in the air when it comes to German motorways – “die Autobahn” is famous among motor enthusiasts around the world. Legend has it that Germany does not have […]
The 5 most important things you need to know about driving in Germany
Driving abroad can be a challenging venture and requires a bit of courage. But with some idea of what to expect and where rules and local driving behaviour differ from […]
The Cult of Purity: German beer and why it is the best in the world.
Legend has it that beer was popular in ancient Egypt. The Babylonian Code of Hammurabi mentions beer in 1754 B.C. and lays down explicit rules regarding brewing and serving of […]
Car(e) free Sundays and ecological conscience: Green Germany
The third Sunday of June traditionally marks the “Mobile without a car” day in Germany – a tradition going back to the car-free Sundays of the Suez crisis in the […]
“You’re welcome” – How to enjoy your time as an overnight guest in a German home
Back in the days when I was a pupil, I spent some weeks as an exchange student in Cambridge, like many other German kids who stay in host families around […]
Celebrating adolescence: Jugendweihe German youth ceremonies in and outside of church
Growing up in West Germany in a Catholic surrounding with just a few protestant sprinkles, it was normal for me to witness plenty of church rituals. Many of my friends […]
Bridge days and Christian tradition: What Father’s Day and the Ascension of Jesus have in common
Thursday, May 30th is Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension of Jesus) and a national holiday in Germany. What would be a “bank holiday” in England, demonstrating the historical power of banks and […]
May Day in Germany: Worker’s movement tradition and folkloristic entertainment
I remember the term “May Day” being confusing to me when I heard it the first time. As a non-native speaker, it was a little too close to the “Mayday” […]
The fifth season: How German carnival takes over and splits the nation for days of folly
A few years back I found myself in hospital for surgery on a more or less auspicious date: Outside the gates (and a little bit also inside), carnival had taken […]
Colourful worlds of education and fun: German Children’s books
Believing the teachers of my six year old daughter and my own intuition, reading is the most important skill for young children. Schools in England put huge effort in motivating […]
Don’t call me Kraut – … the proper term should probably be “potato”
No, don’t worry, this article won’t complain about insults thrown at Germans. Rather the opposite: We want to correct an inaccurate stereotype and replace it with something far better. Yes, […]
The football nation: Germany’s heritage of sport
The last football world cup reinstated a huge chunk of England’s pride regarding this national sport, even though it was not “coming home” at the end of the day. Germans, […]
Your fork is female, your spoon is male: Gender is a big issue in German language and culture
When the news broke that Germany now officially recognizes a third gender in official documents, many people were surprised to see this kind of breakthrough in a country as focused […]
Saint Nicholas, Baby Jesus and Santa Claus: Three iconic figures compete about bringing gifts to Ger
Looking into German Christmas traditions, it’s a big surprise how many of the well-known icons of English Christmas celebrations have their roots in Germany – the Christmas tree, for example, […]
The cyclist is always right (when the car driver isn’t)
Riding a bike in Germany means being on the bleeding edge of social change Does this headline sound a bit extreme to start a fun topic like cycling? Yes and […]
Remember, remember the 9th of November – The German Day of Fate
While the UK celebrates Remembrance Day on November 11th, for many parts of Germany the date (and the time 11:11am) marks the start of carnival celebrations, with red noses, clowns […]
Food, kitsch, gifts and sweet alcohol: Germans love Christmas markets – as do Mancunians
Long before the actual season starts, Christmas markets make their appearance in Manchester’s streets and squares – from November 9th to December 22nd it’s nearly two months in which foodies […]
Know your Knigge: What to avoid during German Mealtimes
“When you’re at home, behave as if you were on the king’s table. This way, when you’re at the kings table, you can behave just like home.” Many German kids […]
Magic dwells in each beginning: The start of school is a special moment for German families
Many things can be said about the English education system. Being surrounded by home-educating parents, I hear a lot of criticism. One of them is the early start: It is […]
The big outdoor splash: German Freibad culture is every summer’s trend
Come summer time, beaches are a favourite destination all around the globe. Germans have taken the love for outdoor swimming, sunbathing and picnic to an all new level by introducing […]
You can say you to me: Formal language is serious business in Germany
„You can say you to me“ – legend has it that German chancellor Helmut Kohl made this generous offer to US president Ronald Reagan during the negotiations of Germany’s reunification. […]
Bread and Butter – The core of German nutrition
Legend has it that beer and Bratwurst are the cornerstones of German food, and Brits like to call Germans “Krauts” for their love of Sauerkraut, but both is not quite […]
The ball is round: German football is pure wisdom… and en route to win a fifth star
“The ball is round, and a game lasts 90 minutes” – famous words of German football legend Sepp Herberger, and a common proverb even among people usually not very interested […]
Up and away: Going on holiday, German style
„Wenn einer eine Reise tut… dann kann er was erleben.“ The German proverb, in old-fashioned language, simply translates to: “He who travels will live through adventures”. Adventures and experiences, much […]
Homemade Meat Feast: Germany’s traditional barbecue
Visiting Germany in summer, it is hard to avoid the scents of a longstanding German tradition, celebrated whenever the sun is out: Homemade barbecue, grilled over searing charcoal in gardens, […]
It’s Carnival time!
For many Germans, February is carnival time. Since medieval times a period of merriment has been a precursor to the Lenten fast for Christians across the world. Germany explodes in […]
The German Day of Unity
October 3rd marks the anniversary of Germany’s unification. Across the country, people remember the date in 1990 when East and West Germany united to become one federal Germany. Why was […]
Der Hund – The Top 5 German Dog Breeds
German people love their dogs. They take them everywhere including to work on ‘Take Your Dog to Work day’. The pampered pooches can travel on trains, buses, and trams. In […]
Why Kids should Learn a Second Language
We teach our children to count and to read from an early age. Today many parents even conduct explosive kitchen experiments with their pre schoolers as they attempt to give […]
Music to Mein Ears
There exists a stereotype about the German people which suggests that they are a stoically unromantic race. That the collective desire for perfection and precision overrides any sentimental inklings or […]