With over 3050 registered varieties, Germany is a "Bread Paradise". Almost all available types of grain are used from wheat, rye, barley and oats to millet, corn, rice and potato starch, while bread rolls go under so many different names in the regions it is easier to just point.

Life without Currywurst is unthinkable for many Germans. Grilled sausage with curry sauce, the iconic fast food snack enjoyed everywhere from tourist spots to city streets, as well as a favorite photo opportunity for Presidents and Film Stars. Authentic recipe for the special sauce.

Oktoberfest in Munich: Super sized version of a traditional Bavarian harvest festival, where many of the heart shaped gingerbread cookies have mottoes in Bairisch, the local dialect. Here are some traditions, mottoes and "translations" for those unmissable accompaniments to Oktoberfest beer.

German Lebkuchen, the special German gingerbread, and whatever you create with this recipe it will be delicious. Anything from spicy ginger cookies, Oktoberfest or Valentine's Day Hearts, Witches' Cottages and Gingerbread Men, to Halloween Ghosts, Christmas decorations or aromatic Lanterns.

First graders in Germany begin their first school day with large, colorful, gift and candy filled School Cones. A custom that began in the early 19th century, these Schultüten are as popular as ever and could be a fun idea and new tradition for your own family and friends.

Rinderrouladen, "Beef Rouladen"; thin slices of beef rolled up around a seasoned onion and bacon filling, served in a wine sauce. A delicious German classic, once it was saved for celebrations or Sundays but now it's a traditional "cold weather" dinner choice.

It's "Oktoberfest" although most of it takes place in September, an "Angel" on a hiatus from heaven attends every year, and one Munich Mayor opened it shouting "I'zapt os" instead of "O'zapft is", (it's tapped)...before any beer was consumed.

German Beer Gardens and Oktoberfest would not be the same without "Steckerlfisch". A Bavarian specialty for anyone who likes fish and has hunger pangs, it's a well seasoned grilled fish, complete with head, tail and a stick running through it. And ideal for a BBQ.

Germany's reputation as one of the world's best kept countries is well earned, the universal and regular cleaning of everything in sight even having a name, Putzanfall. So much a passion it's "enjoyable", and can lead to anxiety attacks when everything doesn't "sparkle" as it should.

The first day of school means a big celebration for Germany's first graders, and when possible the entire family accompany new pupils for welcoming speeches, songs, photo calls. Schultüte/School Cone held close, it's time for their new "Lebensphase" to begin. With link to Schultüte "How To".