THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Christmas is one of the most magical times in Germany. Especially during the advent time (the four Sundays leading up to Christmas). Unlike here in the US, nothing is open on Sundays in Germany. Sunday is the day of rest and so all shops, stores... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.Towards the end of November, the smell of roasted almonds and hot, spiced mulled wine fills the air around Germany. Brightly-colored string lights and evergreen boughs hang in rows from wooden stands offering everything from gingerbread hearts to handmade and handcrafted decoration. Even in the middle... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. With December just a few days away, children in Germany are not only getting ready to open their Adventskalender or advent calendars but are also counting down the days until St. Nicholas Day! St. Nicholas Day or Nikolaus sometimes also spelled Nikolas is the Patron Saint of Children... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Every year nutcrackers come out of their boxes during Christmas time. But did you know that the Nussknacker or nutcracker didn't start out as a Christmas tradition? And that they are actually part of a fairy tale? And are associated with being a protector and a... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Before there were glass ornaments and string lights, Christmas trees were decorated in a much simpler way. The concept of the Christmas tree was first introduced in Germany long back in the 16th century. The tree along with its evergreen branches was used to decorated... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Weihnachten or Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Bunter Teller! Every year, households around Germany are filled with these plates that feature delicious sweets for the entire family. Bunter Teller quite literally means 'colorful plate,' but this tradition is so much more than  that. These... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. You know that Christmas is on its way when the Weihnachtspyramiden come out of their boxes. Every year, the spinning Christmas pyramid carousels delight both children and adults alike in Germany. And my family is no exception. It is one of my favorite memories as a... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Every year during the Christmas season, windows throughout Germany are lit with the soft lights of Schwibbogen. The Schwibbogen, or candle Christmas arches, reach back over 270 years to the silver mines of the Erzgebirge in Germany and they weren't actually directly connected to Christmas... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. On November 11th, children throughout Germany celebrate St Martin's Day by parading with Lanterns, and enjoying a Stutenkerl. But what is a Stutenkerl? In the northern and western parts of Germany, you can find these little guys throughout every bakery in November. "Stuten" is a soft, slightly... Continue Reading →

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. Growing up, counting down the days until Christmas with a traditional German Advent Calendar was as natural as brushing teeth before going to bed. It was just part of it. Something we always had in our home and in many ways it was the highlight... Continue Reading →