Germany Blog

Stories, tips, and reflections about life, travel, and culture in Germany.

  • Commemorate The Birth Of A Famous German Writer

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    On January 4, 1785, one of Germany’s most famous writers was born. His name was Jakob Ludwig Carl Grimm, better known as one half of the Brothers Grimm. Jakob was the eldest brother, just one year older than Wilhelm.

    While their stories are well-known throughout the world, the life of these intriguing men is still a mystery to many.

    Born in the small town of Hanau, the brothers lived an “idyllic” childhood in the glorious countryside. Their father worked for the Prince of Hesse and the boys enjoyed many luxuries, like proximity to the local magistrate’s estate.

    Grimm lost his father at the age of 15. The boys and their mother were soon forced to abandon their perfect life in the country for a cramped, unpleasant one in the city. Many scholars speculate that this is the reason why the Grimm’s tales feature so many stories of wicked mothers and abandoned children!

    Although he began his career as a lawyer, Jakob realized his love for the old tales of history after becoming acquainted with Friedrich Karl von Savigny and his lectures on Roman law. Grimm moved to Paris at von Savigny’s invitation and was soon perusing medieval literature rather than giving legal advice.

    In 1808, following his mother’s death, Jakob Grimm received a job from Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte, the youngest brother of General Napoleon Bonaparte himself, who was the King of Westphalia. Jakob began his work as the superintendent of the king’s private library.

    The eldest Grimm brother enjoyed the fair winds of good political fortune for some time, getting promoted and obtaining other enviable positions. However, his good luck came to an end when he, along with brother Wilhelm, signed a protest letter against the King of Hanover, who had annulled their constitution. The Grimm brothers were unceremoniously banished from the kingdom.

    Before this unfortunate event in 1837, the Grimms had been ensuring their place in the history books through more than just their famous collection of fairy tales. Jakob wrote about what is now known as “Grimm’s Law” in his book, Deutsche Grammatik. This theory explained the linguistic phenomenon of the sound shifts in modern language.

    After their banishment, both Jakob and Wilhelm returned to Kassel, which presently is the home of the Brothers Grimm Museum, until the King of Prussia invited them to Berlin. They received professorships and together, the brothers also published a dictionary.

    Of course, the Brothers Grimm are best known for their amazing fairy tales, which have survived the test of time and reached all corners of the globe. The daring fans of the Brothers Grimm can embark on the German Fairy Tale Road and experience the hometowns of the brothers first-hand, like the town of Hanau or Kassel.

    They can also see the real-life inspiration behind many of their darkest and weirdest stories. Visit Schwalmstadt with its red-hooded little girls, or venture to the Rapunzel tower in Trendelburg. And of course, don’t leave out those most famous cities of Hamelin (of Pied Piper fame) and the musical town of Bremen!

    —Marcus

  • The Protestant Reformation And The Luther Trail

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    In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his paper, 95 Theses, to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church and unknowingly, began a revolution. This was the spark of the Protestant Revolution which quickly spread throughout Europe.

    During his life, Luther spent much time researching, translating and moving about while trying to avoid the wrath of the Catholic Church. You can easily find Martin Luther-themed tours online that will take you to some of these most historic and significant places.

    Begin your journey here with us today as we discover the highlights of the Martin Luther Trail. :-)

    Eisleben, 1483

    We begin in the Saxon-Anhalt city of Eisleben, which is Luther’s birthplace, as well as the site of his death in 1546. You can visit the reformer’s childhood home and learn about what life was like in those old times. Or, for those who prefer a more macabre tour, take a look at where he drew his final breath and where his death mask is on display.

    While in Eisleben, you can also view the churches connected to Luther. Peter and Paul Church was the site of his baptism and Andreas Church was where he delivered his last sermon. And finally, snap a picture of the Lutherdenkmal (Luther Monument) in Old Town.

    Erfurt, 1501

    Our next stop brings us to Erfurt in Thuringia. Much of Luther’s religious beginnings can be traced to this city. Erfurt is where he entered an Augustinian monastery and also where he became an ordained priest at the famed Cathedral in 1507.

    Wittenberg, 1512

    If you can only visit one Lutheran city during your time here, then Wittenberg should be at the top of the list. The town is officially named Lutherstadt Wittenberg because of its strong ties with Luther. This is the birthplace of the Reformation, where Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Church, as you know.

    When you’ve finished your tour of the Castle Church and its famous door, you can check out the Luther Museum and take your picture with one of the several statues of Luther.

    Augsburg, 1518

    Augsburg is important in the life of Luther because it is where he was confronted by the Cardinal who demanded that he submit to the Catholic Pope and recant his new theories. Luther’s famous refusal set the stage for his life as a religious outlaw.

    Worms, 1521

    Luther further refuted the will of the Catholic Church here during the Imperial Diet of Worms. He spoke those immortal words, “Here I stand, I can do no other.” After this, he was officially proclaimed a heretic and an outlaw. His immediate arrest and/or assassination was ordered. It became a crime to offer him any food, shelter or other assistance.

    Wartburg Castle, 1522

    Wartburg Castle defied the Catholic Church by providing sanctuary for Luther for about one year. He spent his time in solitude, translating the Bible into German for the first time, and living under the assumed identity of “Knight George.”

    The castle still showcases its Luther Room with its large hole behind the stove. This is, according to legend, where Luther threw an ink pot at the devil.

    Veste Coburg, 1530

    Luther remained here under the protection of Elector John the Steadfast while his emissary Melanchthon attended the Diet of Augsburg. The document he brought with him, known as the Augsburg Confession, was denied by the Catholic diet, but has become the statement of faith for Lutheran Christians all over the world.

    —Marcus

  • Silvester Is A Modern Day Party Of Ancient New Year’s Traditions

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    If you’re lucky enough to ring in the New Year while visiting Germany, you’ll probably want to know all about the traditional New Year’s celebrations here.

    Firstly, New Year’s Eve is called Silvester here, as the feast day of Saint Silvester. Silvester was a legendary character, who served as pope and reputedly baptized the famous Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great. He is also said to have cured lepers and have met with members of Jesus Christ’s family — the only pope to have done so.

    Silvester gets the honor of having the New Year’s celebrations named after him because his feast day was always marked on December 31. When the calendar was modified all the way back in 1582, this date became fixed as the final day of the year. And so, the holiday of Silvester — New Year’s Eve — took its name from this ancient saint.

    Bleigießen is one of the more traditional German New Year’s customs. Bleigießen is fortune-telling with cold water and molten lead. The lead is poured into the liquid, and whatever shape it forms gives an idea of what your future holds.

    For example, a ring shape could mean a wedding, or a pig meant a plentiful amount of food in the coming year. A ball means good luck in the coming year, while an anchor means help is needed. A cross can signify death. (Of course, be careful if you choose to celebrate this custom on your own. Lead can be poisonous and you won’t need a molten lead shape to tell you you are in danger if you have too much exposure to this toxic substance!)

    There are alternative forms of divination on this holiday as well. You can try out the Bibelstechen, where you open the Bible at random and close your eyes as you point to the words on the page. Whatever verse your finger landed on is said to have some worthwhile advise for the next year.

    Then there is the pendulum game. You use some type of pendulous device, a necklace or a chain for example, then ask a yes-or-no question. If the pendulum swings in a circle, the answer is yes. Vertical swings mean no, while a horizontal one signifies uncertainty.

    Noise is also an essential part of the Silvester celebrations. While it is a natural by-product of large gatherings of people and fireworks, there is a reason why we Germans have embraced the cacophony of this holiday. Loud sounds were believed to frighten away any evil spirits. And fireworks not only added sound but also an alternative light. The ancients believed that this was the day when the sun stopped moving and so created their own forms of light with wheels and cudgels set ablaze with fire. These were the precursors to our modern-day pyrotechnics.

    Warm wishes for luck in the New Year are shared among friends with the cry of Guten Rutsch! (spelled Goo-ten Rootsh!). It is traditional to give your loved ones small good luck charms on this day, like horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, pigs and ladybugs.

    If you’re visiting at this time, be sure to have some of the typical holiday fare. It is considered lucky to eat carp or herring on this day, washed down with a glass of champagne. If you’re hoping for more money in the new year, then it’s traditional to eat cabbage or carrots. Lentil and pea soup are also very popular at the holiday.

    It’s also customary to share meat or a cheese fondue with your closest family and friends. But watch out for the doughnuts! You may find yourself the victim of a holiday prank if you don’t look inside before you bite into a jelly doughnut. Sometimes you will find them filled with mustard as a fun holiday joke.

    But what New Year’s is mostly about these days is the party! Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate hosts one of Germany’s biggest events, but Germans all over the country partake in the festivities. Fireworks, alcohol, kissing and shouts of Frohes Neues Jahr! are all ways of celebrating once the clock strikes midnight. :-)

    —Marcus

  • German Christmas Pickle — The Truth Behind The Tradition

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    It is well-known that we Germans helped to popularize the now-beloved symbol of Christmas, the Tannenbaum, or Christmas Tree. But there is another less-famous and somewhat misunderstood tradition of the Christmas pickle.

    The legend goes that on Christmas Eve, the German custom was to place a pickle (or a pickle-shaped ornament) in the branches of the Christmas Tree. The parents “hide” the pickle after all the other ornaments have been placed and the first child who finds it is rewarded with an extra gift. If it is an adult who discovers the pickle, they are the recipient of a year’s worth of good luck.

    However, the whole legend is a complete myth! If you ask any German about it, most of us have never even heard of this silly tradition! There were some West Germans during the Cold War who believed it must be the practice of East Germans, who had nothing more than pickles with which to decorate their tree. But most East Germans knew nothing more about it than the Westerners did.

    So where did this odd story come from?

    There are at least two popular versions of the origin of the German Christmas Pickle. Both come to us from the United States.

    In the first tale, a Bavarian immigrant was fighting in the American Civil War. As a prisoner of war, he was injured and dying. He begged his guard for just one pickle before his death. The guard was sympathetic and granted the dying soldier’s request. However, this pickle apparently had miraculous restorative powers, and the Bavarian survived.

    The second story originates in Berrien Springs, MI, the town which calls itself “The Christmas Pickle Capital of the World.” Their story takes place in medieval Spain.

    Two young schoolboys were traveling home for the holidays and stopped at an inn for the night. The innkeeper was a cruel and evil man who imprisoned the boys in a pickle barrel. Lucky for them, St. Nicholas himself was also staying at this inn on the same night. He found the boys and freed them from their pickled prison by using his magic staff.

    The town of Berrien Springs has capitalized on this unusual tradition with an annual Christmas Pickle Festival. The festival features a “Dillmeister” who distributes fresh pickles during their parade. And of course, you can buy the famous pickle ornaments all over the town.

    So, while the origins of this holiday “tradition” remain clouded in mystery, you can still enjoy your German Christmas Pickles, regardless of whether they actually came from Germany! ;-)

    —Marcus

  • Celebrate The Memory Of Beloved Poet Heinrich Heine On December 13th

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    On December 13, 1797, one of Germany’s most important and beloved poets was born. Two-hundred-and-thirteen years later, we can still celebrate the life of this extraordinary artist.

    Düsseldorf is the city that lays claim to Heinrich Heine. You can begin an exploration of the life of this German poet by visiting his house, the Heine-Haus on Bolker Straße. The former birthplace and home of Heine is now a bookstore set amongst a series of noisy nightclubs. The bricks of the original structure can be seen at the pedestal of Heine’s bust here. As you view his statue, you can contemplate what the poet would think about how much his former childhood home has changed in just over two centuries!

    Heine is most famous for his lyrical poetry and captured the imagination of his own countrymen, as well as those abroad. The great German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote in his book Ecce Homo that “The highest conception of the lyric poet was given to me by Heinrich Heine. I seek in vain in all the realms of millennia for an equally sweet and passionate music. He possessed that divine malice without which I cannot imagine perfection!”

    Born into a secular Jewish family, Heine later converted to Christianity in order to obtain a civil service job, from which Jews were barred at the time. His life has stirred up much debate among Jewish scholars, particularly in Israel. Some consider him an important and great figure of Jewish descent, while others consider him a traitor to his faith.

    Heine was among those whose books were burned during the Nazi regime. Rather prophetically, Heine once wrote in his play, Almansor, that “…where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people.” (“…dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.“)

    And Heine even has connections to that other hated “ism” of the 20th century, Communism. He was a friend of Karl Marx, the very man who penned “The Communist Manifesto.” They met in Paris where Heine had emigrated and lived as a foreign correspondent. Although the two were quite close friends at first, gradually, Heine’s growing distaste for his friend’s political philosophy — and Marx’s expulsion from Paris — led to their growing apart.

    These days, it is still possible to appreciate the life and works of Heinrich Heine. Many of his poems have been put to music by some of the world’s greatest composers, including Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Strauss and Wagner. One of his most famous poems, Die Lorelai, was adapted to song by Friedrich Silcher in 1847.

    “I do not know what haunts me,
    What saddened my mind all day;
    An age-old tale confounds me,
    A spell I cannot allay.”

    —Marcus