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 A three-day window for buying fireworks began in Germany on Thursday as politicians warned of "senseless violence" on New Year's Eve. https://www.thelocal.de/20231228/germany-kicks-off-firework-sales-as-ban-debate-rages Thu, 28 Dec 2023 12:53:32 +0100 germany-kicks-off-firework-sales-as-ban-debate-rages Whether you're planning on setting them off yourself or leaving it to the professionals, here are the most important things to know about fireworks in Germany on New Year's Eve. https://www.thelocal.de/20191231/fireworks-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know-about-ending-the-year-with-a-bang Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:00:20 +0100 fireworks-in-germany-what-you-need-to-know-about-ending-the-year-with-a-bang With festivities around the corner, we've put together a few words and phrases that will come in handy. https://www.thelocal.de/20191219/the-german-words-and-phrases-you-need-to-know-to-survive-the-holidays Thu, 19 Dec 2019 15:46:04 +0100 the-german-words-and-phrases-you-need-to-know-to-survive-the-holidays Germany's 16 states have proposed special rules for the festive season. From calling on employers to offer company holidays to allowing groups of up to 10 people to meet, here are the draft proposals. https://www.thelocal.de/20201124/groups-of-10-and-no-general-fireworks-ban-german-states-agree-on-christmas-and-new-year-rules Tue, 24 Nov 2020 10:13:19 +0100 groups-of-10-and-no-general-fireworks-ban-german-states-agree-on-christmas-and-new-year-rules Every year, hobby researcher Knud Bielefeld rifles through hundreds of thousands of names to identify the most popular choices of German parents. https://www.thelocal.de/20191231/revealed-germanys-most-popular-baby-names-of-2019 Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:22:45 +0100 revealed-germanys-most-popular-baby-names-of-2019 Berlin brought in the New Year with a dazzling display of fireworks over the Brandenburg Gate, with the Berliner Sea Dogs later taking their first icy dip of 2020. https://www.thelocal.de/20200101/berlin-brings-in-2020-with-a-dazzling-fireworks-display Wed, 01 Jan 2020 18:21:42 +0100 berlin-brings-in-2020-with-a-dazzling-fireworks-display Despite a lot of news stories portraying doom and gloom, there have also been plenty of good and heartwarming stories of 2019. Here are 10 of the top stories which have given us a reason to smile going into 2020. https://www.thelocal.de/20191230/ten-positive-news-stories-from-germany-in-2019 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 12:08:14 +0100 ten-positive-news-stories-from-germany-in-2019 From Saturday until New Year's Eve, fireworks will be sold throughout Germany. But as warnings over safety and pollution intensify, are fireworks still a big part of German culture at Silvester? https://www.thelocal.de/20191227/majority-of-germans-back-new-years-eve-fireworks-ban Fri, 27 Dec 2019 10:27:05 +0100 majority-of-germans-back-new-years-eve-fireworks-ban Pyrotechnic-mad Germany loves to see in the New Year with a bang but concerns about climate change have prompted several major retailers to take fireworks off the shelves this year, local media said Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20191227/german-fireworks-sales-fizzle-on-climate-anxiety Fri, 27 Dec 2019 13:26:06 +0100 german-fireworks-sales-fizzle-on-climate-anxiety When are the official public holidays in Germany this Christmas? Do you have to take a day of annual leave on Christmas Eve? Here’s what you need to know about working (or not) over the festive period. https://www.thelocal.de/20191202/working-in-germany-over-the-festive-period-what-you-need-to-know Mon, 02 Dec 2019 13:52:49 +0100 working-in-germany-over-the-festive-period-what-you-need-to-know After four young asylum seekers reportedly attacked pedestrians at random in Amberg in northern Bavaria, far-right “neighbourhood defence groups” have started patrolling the streets of the town, according to German media reports. https://www.thelocal.de/20190103/far-right-militias-patrol-bavarian-town-after-asylum-seeker-attack Thu, 03 Jan 2019 16:05:29 +0100 far-right-militias-patrol-bavarian-town-after-asylum-seeker-attack Prosecutors have opened a murder investigation after a young mother was believed to be killed by a gunshot to the head near the north German town of Kiel while watching a firework show at New Year. https://www.thelocal.de/20190103/woman-shot-to-death-in-north-germany-under-cover-of-firework-show Thu, 03 Jan 2019 13:07:44 +0100 woman-shot-to-death-in-north-germany-under-cover-of-firework-show As December comes around it brings lots of festive events to look forward to all across Germany. There are not only Christmas markets to enjoy, but other events ranging from a chocolate festival in Tübingen to big New Year celebrations all around the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20181130/events-not-to-miss-in-germany-this-december Fri, 30 Nov 2018 11:53:45 +0100 events-not-to-miss-in-germany-this-december Firecrackers left two people dead, a child injured and five people requiring amputations during New Year celebrations in Germany, police and emergency services said on Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20180101/german-new-year-firecrackers-kill-two Mon, 01 Jan 2018 14:50:32 +0100 german-new-year-firecrackers-kill-two Of the Berliners The Local recently spoke to, many don't have classic New Year's resolutions. Instead, among other things, they hope that their standard of living remains high. https://www.thelocal.de/20171229/in-2018-berliners-wish-for-the-simple-things Fri, 29 Dec 2017 18:31:40 +0100 in-2018-berliners-wish-for-the-simple-things Germans hate to be labelled as boring. That's why they've been watching the same comedy sketch on New Year's Eve since 1972. https://www.thelocal.de/20161230/the-weirdest-german-new-years-eve-habit-youve-never-heard-of Fri, 30 Dec 2016 14:56:28 +0100 the-weirdest-german-new-years-eve-habit-youve-never-heard-of Next year, Germany will still be waiting on a government. But with everything from an upcoming World Cup to more benefits for parents, there is a lot to look forward to. https://www.thelocal.de/20171228/what-to-expect-in-2018 Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:51:07 +0100 what-to-expect-in-2018 Two years since sexual assaults by immigrant men took place in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, cities across the country plan on amping up their security measures for Silvester 2017. https://www.thelocal.de/20171228/how-german-cities-are-increasing-police-presence-on-new-years-eve Thu, 28 Dec 2017 14:08:57 +0100 how-german-cities-are-increasing-police-presence-on-new-years-eve From more expensive public transit to more money for parents, here's how 2017 has already changed things up in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20170102/this-is-what-has-changed-in-germany-since-january-1st Mon, 02 Jan 2017 18:17:25 +0100 this-is-what-has-changed-in-germany-since-january-1st Millions of people around the world shrugged off terror jitters to ring in 2017 in style. https://www.thelocal.de/20170101/world-parties-to-ring-in-new-year-despite-terror-jitters Sun, 01 Jan 2017 09:58:56 +0100 world-parties-to-ring-in-new-year-despite-terror-jitters