German Culture Top Ten

Top Ten germanculture Articles

Here are the top ten articles for the German Culture Site! These rankings are live and get reset at the beginning of each month, so check back often to see what your fellow visitors are most interested in!

1. Authentic German Lebkuchen Recipe

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.

2. German Summer Drink Recipes

Summer in a glass. Cool drinks for the hot days of German summers range from all types of Fruit Bowle and Radler, to Apfelschorle and Cola-Schoppen. Ideal for sunless as well as sun filled days, there's something for everyone.

3. German American Heritage

German immigrants to the USA made a huge contribution to its culture, economy and technology. From introducing Santa Claus, founding breweries, popularizing ketchup, producing Presidents to establishing banking, industrial and philanthropic dynasties and designing the Brooklyn Bridge.

4. Oktoberfest Hearts - Gingerbread Cookie Hearts

Lebkuchen Hearts can be found at most spring and summer festivals, as well as Weihnachtsmärkte, but at Munich's Oktoberfest the mottoes on many heart shaped gingerbread cookies are in Bairisch, dialect. Traditions, mottoes and translations for those unmissable accompaniments to Oktoberfest beer.

5. Schultüten and the First Day of School

First day of school is a big celebration for first graders in Germany. Accompanied by the whole family for welcoming speeches, singing and photo calls, Schultüte/School Cone held close, it's time for their new "Lebensphase" to begin. Link to instructions to make your own Schultüte.

6. Federweisser, Zwiebelkuchen and Treberwurst

Federweisser looks like grape soda but is a delicious young wine with a powerful KICK, and short end of summer season. Traditional harvest time accompaniments are Zwiebelkuchen and Treberwurst, a rich onion pie and sausages marinated with grapes then fried, enjoyed at any time of the year.

7. German Specialty, Roast Goose Recipe

"Kölner Martinsgans" is a delicious St. Martin's Goose specialty from Cologne. Roast Goose, Red Cabbage, Dumplings and Chestnuts. Enjoyed from autumn onward, not only for the Christmas, New Year's Eve and St. Martin's Day festivities, here is a recipe with the traditional side dishes.

8. Germany's House Cleaning Culture

Washing windows in the rain is not unusual, and Germany's universal custom of cleaning and tidying everything in sight, necessary or not, has earned its own name, Putzanfall. So much a passion that it's a thoroughly "enjoyable", even compulsive, pastime...one with rules and traditions of course.

9. German Bread - Fast Facts

Germany is a "Bread Paradise". With over 3050 registered varieties, 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 various regions it is easier simply to point.

10. Make A First Grader's Schultüte, School Cone

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