German Culture

All about Germany

German Wedding Tips

Here are some more wedding tips prompted by an American of German descent: Wedding Attire (Bride) - as in America, the bride usually wears white with one difference: the gowns usually do not have any trains, and if they do, they are very short, and just a little sweep. Most brides prefer the good old ballroom style gowns, some of them have … [Read more...]

German Wedding Traditions

...Walking Down the Aisle Wedding traditions from Germany Never-ceasing and still growing number of emails with questions on German wedding traditions prompted this article's uprise. Indeed, Germans respect and love their traditions and maintain them through time and distances. Foreigners travel to Germany and marry there, Germans living abroad … [Read more...]

Getting Married in Germany (legal issues)

If a couple plans to get married in Germany, it is recommended to start with the legal formalities as soon as possible (for example, in some regions - 6 months early), because a number of legal issues, such as previous marriages, can create a hassle. There will be local requirements depending on where in Germany you are getting married. Some … [Read more...]

German Wedding

Champagne, Bridal Soup and a Saw! A traditional wedding day in Germany could actually last three days. First, German couples who are getting married must have a civil ceremony at the city center, which only family and close friends attend. After that a religious procedure is available. There is a large difference between a civil and a religious … [Read more...]

Nazi and Bauhaus School

The end of Bauhaus The Nazi majority of Dessau suspended the seat of learning. Paul Schultze-Naumburg was the architect that they sent into the school to re-establish pure German art instead of the "cosmopolitan rubbish" the Bauhaus artists were doing. He described Bauhaus furniture as Kisten, or boxes. Bauhaus was even as private institution so … [Read more...]

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 Tradition of Sylvester in Germany

In Germany, New Year’s Eve is not simply the closing of a calendar. It is Sylvester, a night filled with traditions that reflect centuries of history, layers of folklore, and a cultural instinct for marking transitions with intentional ritual. Germans view Sylvester not only as a time for celebration, but also as a symbolic threshold between old … [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...]