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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is this German!? A patchwork of dialects mirrors Germany’s colourful history
When we moved to England, one of our first experiences with local dialects was Liverpudlian. Our life in Britain has been an exploration of local lingo ever since, with various […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]