German Culture

All about Germany

Bauhaus School

The beginning and the goals of Bauhaus Bauhaus: [Ger., lit. "architecture house", from Bau = building (bauen=to build) + Haus = house.] Contemporary German architecture set its main trends in the first thirty years of the 20th century. The strongest influences came from Weimar and Dessau, where the Bauhaus school was founded in 1919. Under the … [Read more...]

Architecture in Germany

Architecture in Germany has been greatly influenced by the styles in architecture and art of European countries. These styles were born and developed during ancient period of Charlemagne’s Empire to the modern history after the World War II. The most ancient architectural designs appeared since 800 AD when German architecture was featured by the … [Read more...]

Aachen Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral was included into UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978 and got one of the top sites of the list due its unique history enriched by legends and myths and luxurious treasures kept in the cathedral. Construction of this palatine chapel, with its octagonal basilica and cupola, began c. 790–800 under the Emperor Charlemagne. Originally … [Read more...]

The Fall of the Wall and Reunification

In the middle of the 1980s the Cold War started to melt, especially due to the changes in the Soviet government. Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and the only President of the USSR, started a new political wave called Perestroika, and made a friendly step towards the West acknowledging the dependence of the Soviet Union on the high technologies and … [Read more...]

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 better understanding of what actually happened in … [Read more...]

Tradition of Sylvester, or New Year’s Eve

The night of the Holy Sylvester, the last night of the year, has always been the night of fun. Every year Berlin hosts one of the largest New Year's Eve celebrations in all of Europe, attended by over a million people. The focal point is the Brandenburg Gate, where midnight fireworks are centered. Germans toast the New Year with a glass of Sekt … [Read more...]

German Maiwein

May Wine is a traditional May Day beverage Maiwein (May Wine) is a German drink, dedicated to springtime and flavored with fresh Waldmeister (sweet woodruff). Maiwein, a white wine, imported from Germany, can be found in stores. Waldmeister is a fragrant herb, a small plant with white blossoms. In Germany it grows in the forests. However, the … [Read more...]

May Day in Germany

May 1st is an international holiday in Germany known as May Day The first of May is Labor Day (Tag der Arbeit). The International Workers' Congress in Paris designated May Day as a public holiday in 1889, and in 1919 the National Assembly in Weimar declared it a public holiday in Germany. It is observed by holding meetings, marches and giving … [Read more...]

December 21 in German History

December 21, 1597 Death of St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597) Peter de Hondt (St. Peter Canisius) was born in Nimwegen (Germany at that time, now the Netherlands). In 1536 he began his studies at the University of Cologne. In 1543 he became the first German to enter the order of Jesuits. He founded the first Jesuit house in Germany in Cologne. … [Read more...]

Valentine’s Day in Germany – Valentinstag

February 14th is Valentine's Day, and though celebrating Valentine’s Day has only become popular within the last few decades in Germany, there are several traditions Germans have taken on wholeheartedly. This includes giving cards, sweet treats and flowers to their loved ones on this special day. As the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day is quite … [Read more...]