We have spent the last 2 hours watching fireworks:  first just a few set off from this house or that parking lot, increasing in intensity til about 11:45, then the professional displays from the Schloss and down at Kindsbach.  The church bells rang in the new year at midnight, and still the rockets went off.  They are being shot from almost every ( Read more... )

Germany celebrates Silvester with fireworks, champagne, special foods, and boisterous social gatherings. Making noise is key: the ruckus of fireworks, firecrackers, drums, whip-cracking and banging kitchen utensils has been driving away evil winter spirits since the days of the Teutons. One of the most famous firework displays can be found at the ( Read more... )

When the old year ends and a new one dawns, Germany celebrates. Parties and fireworks are the norm, although some people choose to spend Silvester quietly at home watching "Dinner for One" on TV.

"Silvester" - How the day got its name: There was a Saint Sylvester, der heilige Silvester. He was pope (Papst) from 314 until he died in Rome on December ( Read more... )

..hello ( Read more... )

'Abwrackprämie' Named Word of the Year

The GERMAN WORDS OF THE YEAR are:

1. Abwrackprämie - "wrecking premium"
2. kriegsähnliche Zustände - "war-like conditions"
3. Schweinegrippe - "swine flu"
4. Bad Bank - "schlechte Bank" in German
5. Weltklimagipfel - "world climate conference"
6. Deutschland ist Europameisterin - "Germany is the [feminine] ( Read more... )

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Speaking of food...

What's on your Christmas menu this year? (And where are you from?)

WORT DES TAGES
aufbauschen - to exaggerate, blow up (fig.), hype; billow (sail), billow out, puff up; magnifyDen Berichten zufolge habe der President die Gründe für den Irak-Krieg aufgebauscht. [Zeitungsartikel] - According to the reports, the President exaggerated the reasons for the war in Iraq. [news article ( Read more... )

WORT DES TAGES
auf Anhieb (idiom) - right away, straight away, straight off, right off the bat; offhand, first goHollywood war nicht auf Anhieb ein goldenes Pflaster ( Read more... )