The first day of May in Germany is a public holiday, and is often celebrated as a day for dancing, or protesting, depending on your preference. Here’s what is closed for the holiday, and what’s happening.
What began in the 1960s as a call for nuclear disarmament has since become a time-honoured Easter tradition in Germany. Though interest has ebbed and flowed over the years, the marches always swell in times of political crisis.
Less than half of Germans are Christian, but dancing bans still apply on Good Friday - varying in severity between the country's 16 states. What are the rules, and how strictly are they followed?
Spring has been far too dry so far, sparking the first round of forest fires and wildfires in Germany. If the trend continues, some regions look set to cancel their traditional Easter bonfires this year.
With temperatures warming and the clocks set to go back this weekend, spring appears to have finally sprung. Besides the weather, here are some unmistakeable signs that 'Frühling' has arrived in Germany.
The end of Germany's famous carnival season was marked by public celebrations on Monday. The Rhineland cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne are especially well known for vibrant parades featuring floats with biting satirical themes.
One of Germany’s biggest and most beloved festivals, carnival, has been celebrated for hundreds of years. With the first big parties of the year kicking off on Thursday, February 27th, we take a look at this colourful cultural phenomenon.
New Year's Eve is a time of pure chaos when Germans everywhere embrace their love of pyrotechnics - but if you want to contribute to the mayhem, there are some rules you'll need to follow.
Why do Germans call New Year's Eve Silvester? And what's with all the mustard-filled doughnuts, firecrackers, and melted lead? The Local has the lowdown.
As the holidays rapidly approach, there are plenty of strange German Christmas traditions that exist in local regions harking back to pagan days. From Santa's henchman to festive prune-sculptures, here's a look at four you may not know.
There's nothing worse than finding yourself tongue-tied as you sit around the table with German friends and relatives over Christmas. To make sure the festive season goes off without a hitch, here are some words and phrases that may come in handy.
Winter is upon us, and in Germany that means sub-zero temperatures, short days and not a lot of sunshine. But fear not: while the Danes may have cornered the market on Hygge, the Germans are old hands at cultivating a sense of Gemütlichkeit.
As the German island of Borkum prepares for its annual ‘Klaasohm’ festival, police say they will step up patrols to stop the now outlawed tradition of men beating women's bottoms with cow horns.
The tradition of 'Klaasohm', which involves men restraining and smacking women's bottoms, is set to be outlawed on the German island of Borkum this year. Here's what you need to know about the controversial custom.
It's that time of year again when the delicious German drink Glühwein will be on sale at Christmas Markets and in bars all over the country. Here's what you need to know about the traditional winter beverage.
Totensonntag (Sunday of the Dead), also referred to as Ewigkeitssonntag (Eternity Sunday), holds a significant place among the various holidays observed in the German calendar.
As Germany readies to mark 35 years since the Berlin Wall fell, one symbol of the former communist East has become an icon of reunification, seen by millions every time they cross a street.
Halloween is extremely different from the Catholic tradition of All Saints Day. But more and more Germans are choosing to celebrate both, instead of choosing between the two. So what’s the difference?
When you think of October 31st, you may automatically think of spooky costumes and Halloween parties - but for many in Germany this date has a rather different connotation.
One German state has a public holiday on Friday for Weltkindertag or World Children's Day. We explain how it's marked - and the unusual history behind it in Germany.
The 189th edition of the world's biggest folk festival kicks off two weeks of beer-drinking, rousing oompah music and partying this Saturday. Want to do it properly? From knowing your limits to learning songs, here's how to Oktoberfest like a German.
