German Culture

All about Germany

German Women and 3 K’s

German women in the past and Kaiser's neat definition of the women's role in a society Back in the 19th century, Kaiser Wilhelm II defined a role for women (later taken over by the Nazis) as "Kirche, Küche, Kinder" (church, kitchen, children.) This definition could only appear in such a country as Germany where the women's movement has always been … [Read more...]

German Mysteries – the Mirror of German Culture and History

Lots of mysterious legends and myths have sprung up throughout the centuries on German lands. All of these fairy-tales and true stories have influenced German culture - art and literature - and enriched German history by portraying German streets, cities, castles and palaces as magical and mysterious buildings and places. One of the mysterious … [Read more...]

German Minnesingers

Like in many other European cultures German poetry and music were derived from medieval ages of single performers whose life has enriched the pool of national legends and myths: it is not doubt that everyone has heard about minstrels and minnesingers who inspired their audience with romantic world of never-ending love and devotion, patriotism and … [Read more...]

East Germany

What is 'East Germany'? This question arises not just from political background of the country, but historical, too. Postwar society used to name Soviet GDR as 'East Germany': lands of Prussia, Silesia and Pomerania belonged to former GDR and located in the east of the Oder. Historically these lands were inhabited by Germans, but after the World … [Read more...]

December 23 in German History

December 23, 1597 Birth of Martin Opitz in Bunzlau, Silesia (now Poland). The poet and theoretician, Opitz was a member of an important literary society of his times, the "Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft". In his most important theoretical work Buch von der deutschen Poeterey (1624) he established standards for German poetry. For his … [Read more...]

December 22 in German History

December 22, 1694 Birth of Hermann Samuel Reimarus in Hamburg, Germany. Reimarus was a Deist who taught at a Gymnasium in Hamburg. Though he published theological works during his lifetime, his lifetime work, Apologie oder Schutzschrift die vernunftigen Verehrer Gottes, was yet unpublished at the time of his death. Gotthold Lessing was the … [Read more...]

Dating Germans: Exercising Your Sense of Humor

Laughter is known to be one of the best ways of making friends. No good dating is possible without it either. Joking, horsing around, laughing make people more open, break any cultural barriers, and - yes! - help them fall in love. There are some peculiarities of exercising your sense of humor with a German. Help yourself to some more advice … [Read more...]

Dating Etiquette in Germany

Dating in itself is a very personal and sophisticated matter. Any advice can hardly be appropriate here. According to Lynne P., an American living in Germany, " ... if there's any genuine connection between two people, it'll survive whatever differences may arise in the early stages of dating, and if those differences seem too overwhelming and/or … [Read more...]

Complex World Of Germany: Cultural Heritage

Switch on Deutschland - complexity and exactness are reflected in its name as well as in its sound like in the mirror. Complexity is a peculiarity of German Culture, too. This country has given a number of prominent people to the world: Goethe and Hitler, Dietrich and Bismarck, Einstein and Honecker. Militancy and arrogance are mingled with fine … [Read more...]

Circus Krone from Germany

Greatest, best, most popular... Truly, Circus Krone deserves to live in its own world consisting of the superlatives. Raised by the legendary Circus King Carl Krone and respecting the old family traditions, this circus institution has been functioning ever since the premiere in Bremen in 1905. It has long ago become the largest circus in Europe, … [Read more...]