Flammkuchen is literally "Flaming Cake", a wafer thin pizza type crust topped by a delicious combination of classic ingredients. A year-round German favorite it originated in Alsace, an area of Europe which has spent much of the last centuries belonging to either France or Germany.

It is not a good idea to wish a German "Geburtstagkind", Birthday Child, "Happy Birthday" until the actual day, one minute after midnight but not before, while someone celebrating their 90th needs a very large cake, perhaps even a fire extinguisher. Why? It's "Birthdays" the German way.

Thursday before Easter is 'Green Thursday' in Germany. Gruendonnerstag when traditionally meals for the day are 'Green' with 'Green Bean Soup' and 'Seven Herb Soup' among the most popular recipes, while any herbs left are used in 'Eggs with Frankfurter Green Sauce' on Easter Sunday.

With each season's arrival it's "makeover time" for Germany's window boxes. From spring bulbs and flowers throughout the year, colorful plant and flower filled containers are everywhere, from door stoops and window ledges in narrow shaded streets to trailing down from apartment block balconies.

An Easter without eggs is hard to imagine, and in Germany from Easter Trees and Easter Fountains to Easter Sunday's Egg Hunts and Breakfast Table, eggs of one type or another still play a starring role in the country's Easter celebrations.

Palm Bouquets are a 10th century German Easter tradition. Good Luck charms kept until Ash Wednesday or added to Easter Sunday Easter Fires, the colorfully decorated twigs, herbs and flowers are carried in Palm Sunday processions to be blessed in church, but make great decorations. With a 'How To'.

Coloring eggs for Easter has been tradition in German speaking countries for centuries, and they are used to decorate everything from houses and gardens to wells and fountains. Found ready decorated at all Easter Markets, Ostermaerkte, it is still the custom, and much more fun, to color your own.

Kaeseigel, the Cheese Hedgehog, a "Retro" party snack from Germany. Now enjoying a popular and widespread renaissance, it was the ultimate cold buffet food during the 1960's and 1970's.

German Spaetzle, little egg rich pasta noodles or dumplings, have been one of Southern Germany's "Comfort Foods" for centuries, and have not only spread all over the country but across the world. A treasured memory from home for German emigrants. Short history and authentic recipe.

Germany's different regions follow many of their own traditional, sometimes unusual, wedding customs, but throughout the country May is the most popular month to get married. Age old traditions begin weeks before the ceremony and celebrations can last for days.