https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed April marks a particularly joyful time in every German's calendar: the start of asparagus season. But how did this humble vegetable become a beloved cultural symbol? Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.de/20230413/spargelzeit-six-things-to-know-about-the-german-love-affair-with-asparagus Thu, 13 Apr 2023 11:43:00 +0200 spargelzeit-six-things-to-know-about-the-german-love-affair-with-asparagus In Germany, Good Friday, or 'Karfreitag' is a designated silent holiday. Here's a look at what's allowed and what's not, and what you can still get up to on the public holiday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260402/are-laughing-and-dancing-really-forbidden-in-germany-on-good-friday Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:49:41 +0200 are-laughing-and-dancing-really-forbidden-in-germany-on-good-friday Easter brings a four-day weekend to most people living in Germany. Here's how businesses, transport and other services are affected by the public holidays. https://www.thelocal.de/20250415/whats-open-and-closed-over-easter-weekend-in-germany Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:39:28 +0200 whats-open-and-closed-over-easter-weekend-in-germany January 6th marks Three Kings Day, a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony-Anhalt. Here's a look at how and why it's celebrated. https://www.thelocal.de/20200106/germany-public-holiday-why-is-three-kings-day-celebrated Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:31:56 +0100 germany-public-holiday-why-is-three-kings-day-celebrated Hang a shining... pickle... on the highest bough? The Weihnachtsgurke, or Christmas Pickle, is supposedly a classic German tradition. But it may not be quite as traditional - or German - as you'd expect. https://www.thelocal.de/20191216/christmas-pickle-ornaments-german-tradition Mon, 16 Dec 2019 13:59:00 +0100 christmas-pickle-ornaments-german-tradition 'Drei Hasselnüsse für Ashenbrödel' - or 'Three Wishes for Cinderella’ - is one of Germany's most beloved Christmas films. Here's how you can watch it this year. https://www.thelocal.de/20241223/three-wishes-for-cinderella-how-to-watch-germanys-favourite-christmas-movie Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:18:39 +0100 three-wishes-for-cinderella-how-to-watch-germanys-favourite-christmas-movie You might spot a branch or two in the homes of Germans in the lead up to Christmas. Here's what you need to know about the festive customs connected to St Barbara. https://www.thelocal.de/20241204/barbarazweig-the-german-christmas-tradition-for-st-barbaras-day Wed, 04 Dec 2024 11:47:02 +0100 barbarazweig-the-german-christmas-tradition-for-st-barbaras-day For shepherds, moving sheep between summer and winter pastures is a seasonal event, but in Nuremberg this march runs right through the city's central market square. Photographer Taeseok Oh shares his photos of the procession. https://www.thelocal.de/20251117/in-pictures-six-hundred-sheep-are-led-through-nurembergs-city-centre Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:10:24 +0100 in-pictures-six-hundred-sheep-are-led-through-nurembergs-city-centre Wondering why Germany's carnival festivities kick off on November 11th at such a specific time? We unpack the significance of the date and numbers. https://www.thelocal.de/20251111/why-does-germanys-carnival-season-start-on-november-11th-at-1111am Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:50:15 +0100 why-does-germanys-carnival-season-start-on-november-11th-at-1111am You may have noticed lots of paper lanterns popping up in shops across Germany. Here's why you you may see processions of school children with them on Tuesday evening. https://www.thelocal.de/20191111/15437 Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:20:29 +0100 15437 From scavenging for mushrooms to drinking Apfelwein, autumn is a truly magical season in Germany. Here's how to make the most of the fall months just like the locals do. https://www.thelocal.de/20220923/10-ways-to-enjoy-autumn-like-a-true-german Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:05:58 +0200 10-ways-to-enjoy-autumn-like-a-true-german Workers in Germany get a day off on Friday, October 3rd to mark German reunification. How are shops, transport and medical services affected by the public holiday? https://www.thelocal.de/20240318/whats-open-and-closed-in-germany-on-unity-day-this-thursday Mon, 18 Mar 2024 17:51:43 +0100 whats-open-and-closed-in-germany-on-unity-day-this-thursday One of the most difficult things about moving to a new country is immersing yourself in the culture and history. Here are eight effortless ways to deepen your knowledge of Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20240216/8-easy-and-fun-ways-to-learn-more-about-germany Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:29:40 +0100 8-easy-and-fun-ways-to-learn-more-about-germany It may feel like most of Germany is on holiday already - but residents of a few lucky German states get an extra day off work on Friday. Here's why. https://www.thelocal.de/20230815/why-august-15th-is-a-public-holiday-in-parts-of-germany Tue, 15 Aug 2023 13:20:13 +0200 why-august-15th-is-a-public-holiday-in-parts-of-germany Summer holidays have come to an end for pupils in the states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia while those in other states will be trickling back until mid-September. Here's when kids go back to school in all of Germany's states. https://www.thelocal.de/20250619/key-dates-when-do-children-go-back-to-school-in-germany Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:52:25 +0200 key-dates-when-do-children-go-back-to-school-in-germany All but two German states rotate their summer holidays to prevent gridlock on the roads and railways and spread demand at holiday destinations. Irritation at Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg’s refusal to join in may finally be coming to a head. https://www.thelocal.de/20250716/explained-why-german-states-are-clashing-over-the-school-holiday-schedule Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:33:15 +0200 explained-why-german-states-are-clashing-over-the-school-holiday-schedule Kaffee und Kuchen - or coffee and cake - is a strong German tradition. So of course there is a huge selection of sweet treats across the country. Here's 10 that we think you should try. https://www.thelocal.de/20221007/10-classic-sweet-treats-you-should-be-able-to-identify-in-germany Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:40:43 +0200 10-classic-sweet-treats-you-should-be-able-to-identify-in-germany Students in the states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia will start their summer holidays at the end of June while those in other states will have to wait until July or August. Here are the vacation periods in all of Germany's states. https://www.thelocal.de/20250619/key-dates-when-are-the-school-holidays-across-germany-this-summer Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:52:25 +0200 key-dates-when-are-the-school-holidays-across-germany-this-summer Marriage may be in long-term decline in Germany. But with nearly 350,000 marriages registered in 2024, there’s still a good chance you’ll be invited to one if you're in the country for any length of time. Here’s our guide to what you can expect. https://www.thelocal.de/20250625/saws-spades-and-scissors-the-quirky-traditions-to-expect-at-a-german-wedding Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:17:46 +0200 saws-spades-and-scissors-the-quirky-traditions-to-expect-at-a-german-wedding Punctual, organised, lovers of beer... we all know the stereotypes about Germans. But how well do you know the stereotypes for each of the German regions? https://www.thelocal.de/20220708/thrifty-swabians-and-haughty-hamburgers-a-guide-to-germanys-regional-stereotypes Fri, 08 Jul 2022 19:20:03 +0200 thrifty-swabians-and-haughty-hamburgers-a-guide-to-germanys-regional-stereotypes