Traditions and everyday life in GermanyFestivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in Germany. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.
403 keepsakes from Germany (206 traditions and culture, 197 personal) · page 5 of 14
This is a dish Germans traditionally eat on Sunday. It’s called “Knödel” and is made out of a potato. You normally eat it with some kind of meat and sauce. Another fact about Germany is that most shops in the country are closed…
Shared by Ord1nary
The theater and museum include more than 20,000 exhibits. It is located in the street Kolk in Lübeck. The street Kolk is actually already worth the trip. Very narrow, a lot of brick gothic, feels like you actually are in the…
Shared by Lynx of the harz mountains
Bread is very important in Germany and it isn't uncommon to bake it yourself. I started baking with sourdough (which replaces yeast) and on the photos you can see two loafs of freshly baked sourdough bread and my active sourdough…
Shared by S0nn3nKind
In my hometown four different groups cut a tree right before Easter. The, compete which one has cut down the biggest and longest stem and then they pull the stems up manually. We burn them up as a sign that Jesus Christ is still…
Shared by Atrementum
Zeche Zollverein is a former Coal Mine Industrial Complex. The mine - once largest colliery in Europe - was closed in 1986 and was redesigned to home a museum, restaurants, event halls and a lot of what is called industrial…
Shared by Midnightflyer
Schloss Neuschwanstein is our fairy-tale castle in the region build by the mad King Ludwig II. It was also the inspiration for the famous Walt Disney Castle. Engulfed in the Alps, the area is also a great place for hiking or…
Shared by Bavaria12
Every year we have a smaller version of the Oktoberfest in Munich. Ours is called Wasen because it's on the Cannstatter Wasen. It's way smaller but way more fun. You can ride rides and have a good time in the Bierzelt (beer tent)
Shared by Kitt_y
Fasnacht is celebrated in the south of Germany. Basically, you dress up and get candy from groups of dressed-up people as shown in the image. This tradition is celebrated in February and we do it to kind of "evict" the winter.
Shared by Strawberryfrog673
Fasching (also known as Karneval) is a time of festivity and merry making - a time to break the rules, poke fun at those who make them and then to make your own new rules. In Germany, particularly in the Rhineland area.
Shared by Moonchildcelli
Berlinerisch is the Berlin dialect, but it's also spoken in some parts of Brandenburg. I would say it's relatively easy to understand also if you are not from the Region, so almost every German should understand a Berliner.
Shared by Sunkiss
The Black Forest is near where I live and it's the most beautiful place to hike through. There is also a famous dessert named after it, a Black Forest Cherry cake. It's made with cherry liquor and is my absolute favourite.
Shared by Eden
the world's largest Volksfest, featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival, and is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, from mid- or late-September to the first Sunday in October, with more than six million visitors
Shared by Lilia3
Every year in November there is a St. Martin's parade. In the evening Children walk through the streets with colorfull lamps and sing St. Martin's Songs. At the top of the Parade there is St. Martin riding on his horse.
Shared by Luzie.m.02
The Christmas markets here in Germany are truly magical, a tradition I look forward to every single year. The Würzburg Christmas market, with its lights and gentle winter charm, has become one of my absolute favorites.
Shared by Cofresi 16
Around the end of February we have a Holiday where everyone dresses up, drinks beer, and children catch kamelle(candies) from parades, it’s typical for the city of cologne, although other cities try to copy it (iykyk)
Shared by Libelle.193
Arnsberg is a city with a lot of houses and places from medieval times. A lot of houses are around 500 years old and still some special places from that times exist, for example some castle remains and old city walls.
Shared by Soldout66
In advent, before christmas our extended family (30-50 people) gets together, we each chose our favourite Christmas song and then we sing 30-50 songs, eat lunch together and have some afternoon tea/coffee and cake.
Shared by FioWild
It's somewhat like a carnival with many different rides and food stands. It takes place for one week in July and the whole region comes to visit! Besides traditional food and music there are fireworks and parades.
Shared by Marceline Vampirequeen
The "Ruhrgebiet" (en. Ruhrarea) is a metropolitan area in the state of Northrhine-Westfalia. It is known for its steel and coal industry as well as the cultural heritage that stemmed from said industries.
Shared by noodlesoup
One of the things I do nearly everyday is going out for a stroll or a run in nature. In Germany you can find beautiful nature everywhere. These shots are from my area and some of my fav places to go for a run.
Shared by Chanterelle00
I'm always walking through the market with my family or friends. It's a calm place, with a nice atmosphere. Some Christmas markets already begin in November, which helps with the excitement for Christmas !!
Shared by heyimnastja
At the end of our annual wine fest to celebrate the grape harvesting all the towns, take part in a parade. All the different wine princesses, and the wine queen are presented! Many local clubs also join.
Shared by tatumcantspell
Once a year people, usually kids, walk around their area with little lanterns of different Designs, and sing different kids Songs. There sometimes even are marching Bands playing those Songs.
Shared by Cha.shadows
The Hamburger Dom is a public festival in Hamburg Germany, coming up three times a year since the 11th century. There you have different types of carusel, fairground stalls and snack stands.
Shared by GER1985
This is a picnic I did in Lustgarten Berlin. It's such an iconic place in Berlin and I loved that we came together to learn about our cultures, life and most important ... Language exchange.
Shared by Alessaletters
Once a year, some towns recreate how charcoal was made in the old days to educate the following generations. By piling up a mountain of dry dirt over burning wood, charcoal can be made.
Shared by RenZiep02
In Flensburg we have an artist who paints cats on houses and different walls, that you can spot all over the city. Often when I go out, I find a new one and they are just really cute! :)
Shared by Fidelia13
The Abisturm is a party like event where the whole school celebrates that the 12th class finished. The guys in the 12th class just make everything and everyone dirty but it is funny!
Shared by Paule123Want to hear about life in Germany first-hand? Write to a penpal who lives there.
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