At around eight o'clock on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, a train arriving in Cologne looks like … (More)
Featured Stories
Obatzda – German Cheese Dip
A classic biergarten food, Obatzda, also spelled obatzter and obazda, combines a few simple ingredients to create a brightly colored cheese spread with surprisingly complex flavor. Typical accompaniments for Obatzda are Bavarian pretzels, rye bread, rounds of red radish or spiral-cut white radish. Perfect for the Oktoberfest party! Ingredients: 500 g ripe Camembert 40 g […]
How to Play Mau-Mau
Mau-Mau is one of Germany’s most beloved and accessible card games, often passed down through generations. Simple to learn but endlessly replayable, it is a favorite at family gatherings, schoolyards, and casual pub nights. Its influence is so significant that Mau-Mau even inspired international hits like UNO. If you are looking for a fast-paced, fun, […]
The Autobahn: Facts and Myths of Germany’s High-Speed Highways
The Autobahn stands as an emblem of German engineering prowess and efficiency, famous worldwide for sections without speed limits and a reputation for safety and precision. However, numerous myths surround this extensive network. This article seeks to clarify these myths, presenting a clear view of the Autobahn’s real character and its impact on German and […]
Zwiebelrostbraten – Swabian Roast Beef with Fried Onions
Zwiebelrostbraten is a dish from the Swabian and Austrian cuisine. Slices of sirloin sautéed in some fat are put warm and served with fried onions and a sauce from the drippings. Ingredients: 4 sirloin steaks, 8 mm thick, about 200 g each 2 large onions 1 cup flour 2 cups oil, plus 2 tsp oil […]
Oskar Schindler
We all know the story of Oskar Schindler from Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List. Oskar Schindler was a remarkable man who miraculously saved more than 1,200 Jews from the gas chambers. He did what nobody else did in those scary times of death camps and mass murder. He was all that stood between his […]
German Reunification: Bored or Happy?
On October 3, Germany celebrates its Unification Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit). This day back in 1990 brought a happy and a very significant event on the world political scene. The symbol of the Cold War – the Berlin Wall – was torn down, and East Germans could freely face the world. To have a […]
Weiberfastnacht, or Kiss for Your Tie!
Weiberfastnacht is a holiday celebrated mostly in the Rhineland on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday. Originally a special day for women’s carnival, but now celebrated by both sexes as the beginning of the six-day peak of the carnival season. Women take charge of men on Carnival Thursday by cutting off their ties and giving them […]
Grünkohl mit Pinkel (Kale with Sausage)
Cooked kale and sausage is a delicious winter comfort food. Germans celebrate winter with a “Grünkohlfahrt”, which is a brisk hike accompanied by schnapps and a warm kale dinner afterward. Cooked kale is mixed with mustard, bacon, and sausage for a nutritious dinner. Ingredients: 1 lb. (450 g) kale, cleaned and chopped 2 pieces of […]
January 9 in German History
January 9, 1674 Birth of Reinhard Keiser (1674-1739) in Weissenfels, Germany. An early composer of operas, his style starts with Baroque and ends with Rococo. He studied music in Leipzig but then went to Hamburg where he wrote 120 operas. January 9, 1803 Birth of Christopher Memminger in Nayhingen, Germany. As a young man he […]
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Lost German Kingdoms: Forgotten States and Their Cultural Influence
Germany, as we know it today, is a product of centuries of political fragmentation, shifting borders, and unification efforts. Before Germany became a single nation-state in 1871, it was home to … [Read More...]
Schweineschnitzel (German Pork Schnitzel)
Schnitzel is the quintessential German dish. Every tourist to Germany has had Schnitzel and most fall in love with it. Some people associate Schnitzel with Wienerschnitzel. “Wienerschnitzel” is … [Read More...]
The High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier – the Cradle of the Holy Roman Empire and the oldest German Heritage
The High Cathedral of Saint Peter in Trier (German: Hohe Domkirche St. Peter zu Trier), or Cathedral of Trier (German: Trierer Dom), is a Roman Catholic church in Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. … [Read More...]
How to Saw a Log
This is the first thing a newly-wed couple in Germany has to do immediately after they have gone out of the church. Difficulty Level: Hard Time Required: varies Here's How: Step out of the … [Read More...]
July 8 in German History
July 8 Feast Day of St. Kilian. St. Kilian was born in about 640, possibly in Ireland. He undertook missionary work to Germany. He began his work near Würzburg. He was killed by the pagans in the … [Read More...]
Nuremberg Lebkuchen: A Traditional German Treat
The city of Nuremberg, nestled in the heart of Bavaria, Germany, is renowned for many things, but perhaps none so delightful as its Lebkuchen. These traditional German gingerbread cookies, known for … [Read More...]
Germany’s Quietest Holiday: What’s So Special About Allerheiligen?
As the autumn leaves turn to shades of amber and gold, and a gentle chill settles over the landscape, Germany pauses for one of its most understated yet profoundly moving holidays: Allerheiligen. … [Read More...]
April 4 in German History
April 4, 397 Death of St. Ambrose (ca. 340 - 397) St. Ambrose was born in about 340, most likely in Trier (modern Germany). He was the son of a Roman nobleman who was serving in the northern … [Read More...]
The Napoleonic Wars and the Confederation of the Rhine
In the early 19th century, Europe was upended by the ambitions of one man: Napoleon Bonaparte. While his empire rose and fell in just over a decade, his influence reverberated for generations. No … [Read More...]
German Shepherd – The Ultimate Service Dog
"The most striking features of the correctly bred German Shepherd are firmness of nerves, attentiveness, unshockability, tractability, watchfulness, reliability and incorruptibility together with … [Read More...]