Most people picture Oktoberfest as one giant tent full of lederhosen, oompah bands, and liters of … (More)
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Oktoberfest…The Fest Of Times
Oktoberfest was started long ago, it dates back to 1810, when a royal wedding of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen took place on Theresienwiese (“Theresa’s fields”). As time passed by, Oktoberfest lost its original meaning, but preserved and even more acquired the spirit of overall joy and happiness. Nowadays this is the […]
May 8 in German History
May 8, 1521 Birth of St. Peter Canisius, the first German Jesuit. Sometimes called the “Second Apostle of Germany” (St. Boniface is the first), he was the first German to enter the Jesuit order and founded numerous Jesuit centers in Germany. May 8, 1909 Death of Friedrich Holstein in Berlin, Germany. Holstein was a member […]
Germany Under Hitler and the Nazi
Nationalism is an infantile idea. It is a measles of mankind. —Albert Einstein The stars must have been in a special position above the Austrian town Braunau on April 20, 1889, when Adolf Hitler was born. Neither his father Alois Schickelgruber Hitler whom Adolf hated, nor his mother Klara Poelzl whom he, to the contrary, […]
Heinrich Hertz – German Scientist and Physicist
Heinrich Hertz (born on February 22, 1857 in Hamburg – died on January 1, 1894 in Bonn) was a German scientist and physicist who became the first scientist to prove that electromagnetic waves did indeed have an existence and in so doing he proved what had only been a theory first put forwards by the […]
May 15 in German History
May 15, 719 St. Boniface receives the pope’s permission to undertake a mission to christianize the area now known as Germany. Winfried (675-754) (church name Bonifatius or Boniface) was probably born in England in about 672 (though some think Ireland). He became a Benedictine monk and at age 30 was ordained a priest. He felt […]
August 13 in German History
August 13, 1655 Birth of Johann Christoph Denner in Leipzig, Germany. Denner was a musical instrument maker who invented the clarinet. Denner was born in Leipzig to a family of horn-tuners. With his father, Heinrich Denner, a maker of game whistles and hunting horns, he moved to Nuremberg in 1666. J. C. Denner went into […]
February 27 in German History
February 27, 272 Birth of Constantine. Constantine the Great was the emperor of the Roman Empire. He had started his political career as one of the four Roman Emperors at the time of the division of power. He ruled the Western Empire from the city of Trier (now in Germany). He later waged battle against […]
Why Germans Still Pay Church Tax
For many newcomers and even lifelong residents, the church tax in Germany is one of the most surprising parts of everyday life. Known as Kirchensteuer, it is a surcharge on the income tax of registered members of the Catholic Church and the Protestant Church in Germany. In a country where weekly church attendance is modest […]
How Did Halloween Come to Germany?
Until the late 20th century, Halloween was virtually unknown in Germany. Ask an older German about October 31st, and they would likely mention Reformationstag or preparations for Allerheiligen (All Saints’ Day), not costumes, pumpkins, or trick-or-treating. Yet today, Halloween in Germany is impossible to ignore. Children ring doorbells calling “Süßes oder Saures!”, nightclubs host elaborate […]
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German Minimalism: Why Less is Often More in Daily Life
Germany may not be the birthplace of minimalism, but it has certainly made the concept its own. From uncluttered homes and capsule wardrobes to understated architecture and simple yet functional … [Read More...]
Schwäbische Käsespätzle – Swabian Cheese Spätzle
Schwäbische Käsespätzle is a quintessential Swabian comfort food dish. Homemade Spätzle are layered with shredded Emmentaler and caramelized onions and then baked in the oven. Ingredients: 1 batch … [Read More...]
Culture of German Management
German management, as it has evolved over the centuries and has established itself since World War II, has a distinct style and culture. Like so many things German, it goes back to the medieval guild … [Read More...]
May 30 in German History
May 30, 1527 The University of Marburg is founded. Philipps-Universität Marburg is not only a German university steeped in tradition, it is also the oldest university in the world that was … [Read More...]
Tomatensalat – Traditional German Tomato Salad Recipe
Juicy, bright, and full of summer flavor – Tomatensalat, or German tomato salad, is a staple of warm-weather dining in Germany. Simple in preparation yet rich in flavor, it features ripe tomatoes … [Read More...]
Original Laugenbrot Recipe: A Taste of Bavarian Tradition
Laugenbrot, also known as pretzel bread, is a delicious and beloved traditional Bavarian specialty. With its rich, golden crust and soft, chewy interior, Laugenbrot offers a unique flavor experience … [Read More...]
Happy Birthday, Beetle!
In the middle of the 1930s Adolf Hitler - leader of the Nazi Germany - ordered Ferdinand Porsche to create a new "car for the people". Thus the history of Volkswagen started. Porsche began to … [Read More...]
September 3 in German History
September 3, 1757 Birth of Karl August, Archduke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. He made an intellectual center of Weimar through his invitation and patronage of Goethe, Herder, Schelling, Hegel and … [Read More...]
Winter Walks and Waldspaziergang: The German Art of Forest Wandering Through Winter’s Embrace
When the first frost settles over the German landscape and bare branches etch intricate patterns against pale winter skies, millions of Germans lace up their boots and head into the forest. This is … [Read More...]
October 31 in German History
October 31, 994 Death of St. Wolfgang (924 – 994) St. Wolfgang was born in Pfullingen, Germany (in the modern state of Baden-Württemberg) in 924 to a noble family. He studied at the monastic school … [Read More...]