Germany Blog

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

  • How To Observe The Fun And Spooky Halloween Holiday In Germany

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    What was once a holiday for American kids begging for candy while dressed as their favorite superhero (or heroine) has evolved into a global celebration.

    Halloween may have its origins with the ancient Celts’ celebration of Samhain, the harvest festival. Because this time of year was half in the light (summer) and half in the dark (winter), the border between the real world and the spirit world was at its thinnest. So, the spirits could move freely between the two worlds.

    Costumes and masks were worn by the Celts as a way to protect themselves from evil spirits. They also made lanterns of hollowed-out turnips to keep away these harmful ghosts.

    A variation of Samhain celebrations were brought to America in the early 1900s with Irish and Scottish immigrants. The popularization of the holiday may have been spread by American culture and movies, but the idea was not totally foreign for Germany.

    Although Halloween is not as popular and as much celebrated as in other countries, there is already a very Halloween-y German holiday called Walpurgisnacht, or Walpurgis Night — the Night of the Witches. From April 30 to May 1, the witches are said to gather on the Brocken, the highest mountain peak of the Harz Mountains, and wait for the arrival of spring.

    Goethe wrote about this night in his famous story of Faust. So the idea of an American holiday of witches, werewolves and monsters wasn’t all that strange. ;-)

    But the time around Halloween is a real holiday for Germans. The days from October 30 to November 9 are called Seelenwoche, or All Souls Week. This is the holiday for remembering family and friends who have died, with visits to their grave sited and lighting candles. During the week of All Souls, it is a custom to keep all the knives in the house out of sight. With so many spirits in the air, the danger is that one of them may be cut with a knife that is left out carelessly.

    There is also an Austrian holiday that also recalls some of the traditional Halloween activities. Some Germans may have been familiar with this day. The town of Retz outside of Vienna held a pumpkin festival called Kürbisfest. Of course, for Halloween, the custom of the Jack O’Lantern, carving a face in a pumpkin and placing a candle within, is an ever-popular activity.

    We Germans have embraced Halloween and all its fun traditions. There are costume parties and parades for the “cool” kids, teenagers and maybe a few adults at the nightclubs. Others will watch horror movies or visit a local graveyard. Some kids will even partake in that much beloved Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating. Children dress in costumes and visit their neighbors with the call of “trick-or-treat!” If their neighbor gives them candy (the “treat”), then there is no need for a “trick,” which is when the children can get into trouble.

    Germany has many places that are perfect for celebrating Halloween. One of the most famous is Frankenstein Castle. This old mansion in Darmstadt is one of the most famous haunted houses in the country. However, these haunted parties are not just fun Halloween celebrations.

    Some other German castles may hold Halloween parties during the season, notably the Satzvey Castle. Burg Satzvey, its German name, will host a nighttime event called the Haunted Castle. The grounds are decorated in a creepy fashion with ghosts and other monsters. Then there is a labyrinth of terror and other scary events to get your heart pounding for this spooky holiday. ;-)

    —Marcus

  • Relive German History With An Authentic Medieval Fair

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    History comes alive for any visitor to Germany, but if you really want to revel in the old, perhaps you should check out one of the many Renaissance or Medieval Fairs. You’ll feel transported back in time as you learn about life in the old days and have a bit of fun as well. :-)

    Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament

    The Kaltenberg Castle in the municipality of Geltendorf (Landsberg District, Upper Bavaria) has been holding its Knights’ Tournament for close to four decades now! The event is hosted by Prince Luitpold and Princess Beatrix of Bavaria, as they invite you to witness a rousing, thrilling jousting tournament.

    While the jousting is the main draw, the Castle also boasts a vibrant medieval market as well as a fun-filled parade. The 13th century Kaltenberg Castle is located in the tiny village of the same name, which is just about 45 km (30 mi) west of Munich.

    The fun begins every year in July. Get all the pertinent info here.

    Medieval Knight Market, Angelbachtal

    The venue for this next medieval fair is Eichtersheim Castle in charming Angelbachtal (Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg). Its Mittelalterlicher Rittermarkt, or Medieval Knight Market, is one of Germany’s largest medieval fairs and takes place each year in August (plus, there are a variety of events that occur throughout the year). The festival has expanded and improved each year since its inception in 1994. One of the newer features is an exotic Arab-Jewish section that offers camel rides.

    Knights’ Festival at Satzvey Castle

    Satzvey Castle is well-known for its special events throughout the year. One of the highlights is their yearly Knights’ Festival. In the town of Mechernich-Satzvey in the Euskirchen District (North Rhine-Westphalia), the Count and Countess Beissel von Gymnich are happy to invite you to their 14th-century home, Burg Satzvey, for a fun, historical festival. The Knights’ Festival features jousting tournaments and a medieval market. If you’re visiting Cologne, Satzvey is an easy 30-45 minute journey.

    Visit the castle web site to further plan your trip here.

    Medieval Market Ebernburg

    This German medieval fair proclaims itself one of the largest, most beautiful and oldest festivals around. With over one hundred booths filled with handicrafts, lively taverns and an assortment of motley medieval characters wandering the grounds, you’re sure to find something to keep you interested at the Medieval Market Ebernburg.

    There’s a bath house where you can pamper yourself with the finest, ancient remedies as you await the knights’ tournaments. Other entertainment includes juggling performances, javelin throws, archery competition and historical puppets.

    The medieval fun takes place on the third weekend in September. And Bad Münster am Stein-Ebernburg is located in the Bad Kreuznach district in Rhineland-Palatinate.

    Tucher Knight Games, Nuremberg

    For those seeking to discover the city of Nuremberg’s medieval history, come in August to attend the Tucher Knight Games (Tucher Ritterspiele). This large medieval fair features — of course — knight tournaments. You’ll also see entertainers dressed in costume as traveling minstrels, witches, merchants, handmaidens and other assorted medieval characters during the three-day extravaganza.

    See Tucher Spectaculum (German) for more info.

    —Marcus

  • Germany’s Open Air And Flea Markets Offer Bargains

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    Stretching your euros may seem to be an impossible task in a world where things only seem to get more expensive.

    However, there are still many good deals and bargains to be found in Germany. And while shopping along Stuttgart’s high-end Königstrasse may be out of reach, there are plenty of open-air flea markets throughout the country where you just may find a treasure.

    Here’s a big-city-by-big-city breakdown.

    Berlin

    One of Berlin’s greatest shopping pleasures is its flea markets.

    Die Nolle at Nollendorfplatz and Straße des 17. Juni are two of the most famous ones. Straße des 17. Juni is a must as you’re likely to find less junk and more treasures, including antiques and handicrafts. There’s furniture, clothes and music as well.

    The Flea Market on Arkonaplatz offers a fun assortment of retro stuff from the 1960s and 1970s.

    Hallentrödelmarkt Treptow in Kreuzberg is housed within an old bus depot that has bargains aplenty on sale.

    Trödelmarkt am Rathaus Schöneberg is best-known as the venue for President Kennedy’s famous speech but these days is the site of a thriving market with a little bit of everything.

    Düsseldorf

    What would a German town be without its marketplaces?

    The most famous one in Düsseldorf is held each Saturday at the Aachener Platz. If the high prices of the more luxurious shopping streets are above budget, you may find a good bargain here on Aachener Platz. Apart from the professional and amateur sellers’ merchandise, it’s also a good place to come for a nice snack or a cappuccino. Sometimes there’s even live music.

    Mannheim

    Its biggest attraction is the regular open-air markets on the Marktplatz that occur every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, generally. Here you’ll find the freshest produce in the city and some tasty local treats. (Added to the opportunities for shopping is the picture-perfect location of the Marktplatz. Both the Old Town Hall and a lovely church sit in the square. It’s a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon!)

    And if you’re visiting in May, you’ll be just in time for the huge Maimarkt, or May Market. It is currently one of the largest markets of its kind and shows off some local innovative products and other town achievements.

    Munich

    Flea markets can be found all over Munich, if you know where (and when) to look! Most are held on the weekends, usually Saturday, but that is always subject to change. Most of the flea markets here take place on Saturday morning.

    Theresienwiese, the huge lot where the annual Oktoberfest takes place, is reputedly also the largest annual flea market on the continent, and offers all kinds of second-hand goods (nothing new is allowed!) and some antiques every April.

    If you can’t make it in April, try one of the weekly markets at Olympiapark (near the Olympic Stadium) or Messegelände Riem on the edge of town.

    Stuttgart

    Another unique Stuttgart shopping experience, the flea market on Karlsplatz is a great place for bargains. There are about 100 stalls here every week offering the latest in second-hand items. Collectibles, Christmas ornaments, old books, vintage clothes and other antiques are just a few gems that you may find here.

    —Marcus

  • Take A Factory Tour Of Germany’s Famous Automobiles

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    If there’s something that Germany is famous for — apart from its delectable sausage and excellent beer — it’s cars! And when you visit Germany, even if it’s not to buy a new Mercedes or BMW, you can still take in the car culture with a factory tour at one of the famous manufacturers.

    BMW

    Visit the BMW factory in the city of Regensburg, which is in the Upper Palatinate. About 10,000 people work at this plant where they have produced 3 million of some of the finest series of BMW, since 1986, like the Series 1, 3, M3 and even some specialized cars for police use.

    There’s a two-hour tour for visitors and car-enthusiasts to see the inner workings of the BMW plant. The tour will take you along the assembly lines, as you watch the different pieces of the car be melded by the robots on the conveyor belts.

    And, if this isn’t enough BMW action for you, then be sure to visit the official BMW Museum in Munich. The building is shaped like a huge bowl and features interesting facts about the past, present and future of this famous machine.

    Mercedes-Benz

    The Mercedes-Benz factory can be found near Stuttgart, in the lesser-known town of Sindelfingen. The plant offers a two-hour tour of its facilities where you can see the making of a Mercedes with a front-row view. There’s more robots and assembly lines here, building incredible machines at an unbelievable rate of speed.

    This factory has a reputation as one of the world’s most reliable auto plants. Whereas most factories report 118 errors per 100 cars, Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen had just 33 errors.

    Like BMW, there is also a museum dedicated to everything Mercedes. The Mercedes museum in Stuttgart houses some of the world’s oldest cars, including (naturally!) the first-ever Mercedes. Race cars, limousines and sports cars from throughout the 20th century are all on display here.

    Volkswagen

    This other world-famous car company has two factories that can be visited on your tour to Germany. And both are certain to leave you not only better-informed but also impressed. Volkswagen has one of its factories, the Autostadt, in Wolfsburg. This auto plant is the largest of its kind in the whole world (according to VW)! With 23,000 employees, 75 km (46 mi) of road, 4,000 cars produced a day and well over 1,000 robots, their claims seem to be well-founded. Volkswagen says that the entire country of Monaco could fit within its borders.

    In addition to size, it also boasts some excellent amenities, including a large butcher shop that reputedly produces over one million currywurst every year. You can take a 50-minute tour via panorama train to learn more.

    Not to be outdone by the behemoth Autostadt, Dresden’s Transparent Factory is equally impressive but in an entirely different way. The Transparent Factory aims to be elegant and beautiful as the plant where the VW Phaeton is produced. With glass walls and a location right next to the Botanical Gardens, the Transparent Factory combines aesthetics with quality vehicles.

    Both this factory and the Autostadt were designed by the same architect, Dr. Gunter Henn.

    Porsche

    Porsche’s web site offers virtual tours of its manufacturing plants on its Web site. You can visit the real factory in Leipzig as well but you must make an advanced booking in order to go.

    If you don’t have the foresight to make a reservation, you can still get the fast-paced experience with a visit to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. There are over eighty different interesting cars on display here, including the world’s first hybrid car produced in 1900. You can catch a glimpse of the Porsche production line here with a visit to the museum’s workshop.

    Audi

    Head to the city of Ingolstadt to visit the headquarters of Audi. This Audi plant has the distinction of being their biggest facility, as well as the corporate HQ.

    The tours here are given in German as well as English and are about two hours long. You’ll get a great idea of the behind the scenes workings of a car manufacturing plant and you can choose which part of the plant you’d like to tour. Decide among the body shop, paint shop or the production line when you book your tour.

    —Marcus

  • 2010 Marks 20 Years Of German Unity

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    Today, October 3rd, 2010, is a unique day in German history. October 3rd is honored as German Unity Day, Tag der Deutschen Einheit. This is the only nationally designated public holiday, and it commemorates the formal reunification of Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

    In other countries, national unity and independence days are massive holidays. In Germany, our Unity Day is a quieter affair. Berlin usually has some small celebrations, of course, as a part of its duty as our capital. A rotating list of regional capitals also take turns hosting annual celebrations.

    Why no big deal over the holiday, you say? Some of the quietness comes from mixed emotions around unification. If this seems shocking to you — after all, who could really want to go back to the Berlin Wall? — remember that unification was a life-changing event for millions of people (me included).

    If you lived in East Germany, the unification meant more opportunities for work and travel, but it also marked an end to the established ways of life. Citizens of West Germany rejoiced at the Wall coming down, but resented the monies that were spent on economic stimulus for East Germany and all the new competitors for open jobs. Both sides also associate unification with a new 5.5% solidarity tax (due in West Germany) which was levied to fund the economic development efforts in the East.

    Still, I don’t want to give the impression that the majority would be wandering around complaining about the unification of Germany. Quite the opposite! Most people, unless they are deep into ostalgie, consider the German reunification to be a wonderful moment in German history (me included). We just don’t spend the holiday in loud celebrations. With the day off from work and shops closed, we use the day to spend time with family and friends.

    This year, however, due to the 20th anniversary, the celebrations will be a tad louder. :-)

    As a visitor in Germany on Unity Day, to see celebrations you will want to be in Berlin or in this year’s regional host, Bremen. Berlin’s festivities will be centered around the Brandenburg Gate and the Straße des 17. Juni with a parade, some live music, and numerous ceremonies here and there. In Bremen, there will be a city-wide festival or Bürgerfest, with ceremonial moments happening throughout the city.

    If you stay in, note that the television program schedules are full of retrospectives, and many German media outlets are in a reflective mode for this 20th anniversary. Though it is a quieter event than in other parts of the world, Germany’s Unity Day is still being observed on many fronts. Plus, this year’s round of celebrations are going to be larger than most, so take the time to enjoy them! :-)

    And of course, if you can’t make it this time, simply enjoy the quadlingual live stream television broadcast DW-TV over at DW World, my preferred TV program for when I’m not in my beloved home country.

    —Marcus