Christmas in Europe is a special time. A Christmas market, trees and decorations, Christmas carols … But all this you find not on Christmas itself, but earlier – on Advent. From December 23 to January 27, Europe is not the best place to visit: just before Christmas, everyone completely empties the store shelves and lies at the bottom: long weekends, no one works, except gas station, Donners and a few restaurants. The interval between Christmas and New Year and after the New Year is the time of sales of old clothing collections. And immediately after January 6, the holidays are completely over: the lights and the trees are removed.
Society, politics, traditions
Saint Martin Festival Germany. Songs
The main children’s autumn holiday is on the way – Saint Martin Festival in Germany. Processions with lanterns are timed to this holiday.
The memory of Saint Martin is celebrated on November 11th. But processions in his honor usually take place after All Saints’ Day, that is, after November 1, and small processions of one kindergarden or urban area can be scheduled for any day of the last week of October.
German wine classification system and wine regions
Since we live in a wine region, we had to explore German wine classification system. And German wines are not bad at all, if you make right choice.
In this post about different classifications (classic German wine classification + EU, taste, VDP), wine regions, popular sorts.
Farmer market in Germany and fruits and berries “free of charge”
Local products are in great demand, although it is not always easy to find them. In this post – where you can find farmer market in Germany and whether your can eat for free apples and Co on the way.
Election in Germany 2021. Questions and answers
Let’s look how the parties answer the important questions of election in Germany 2021.
Once again, I note that the websites will help you understand what questions is discussed, but do not trust them too much. One simple example: the question “Family reunification of migrants has been limited since 2015, is this correct” gives two answers – yes and no. However, “no” actually implies two completely opposite answers: “no, we must not let them in at all”, and “no, we must take everyone”. Thus, by answering “no”, you matched both the left guys and AfD. And there are many such inaccuracies – different wording of the questions will give different answers to the same party, “no” can be like a refusal and “no” like another proposal.
It turned out very clearly – you can see how strongly the greens developed the red theme and how strongly the red ones developed into the green. If you are going to vote for the Greens, please note that you vote as Linke in many cases. In my opinion, this is a combination of the incompatible: after all, following the green theme in the proposed from Greens and Reds form, they kill their social program (jobs, family cars …). Where does the money come from? The ÖDP in this sense are more understandable and consistent – back to the ground, digging potatoes and consuming fewer. Only for some reason no one wants and does not vote for them.
Nearby I wrote about possible coalitions, if obvious. For decoding of coalitions’ nicknames, see the first part.
I looked at the parties in parliament and a couple of the most visible small ones, because studying all parties that gain less than a percent is a waste of time. Die Partei also is not mentioned: this is for those who want to laugh (“we will make the speed limit 136 km/h, this is as much as 6 km more than the SPD …”). Since I looked at different sites, there were different numbers of answers to different questions. Abbreviation FW not typical – Freie Wähler
Broom on the house. What is Besen?
Riddle from the series “Do you know Germany well?”
What do the owners want to say if they hang a broom on the house?
Half timbered houses in Germany through history
Fachwerk (half timbered houses) is an ancient way of building profane buildings (that is, not churches). Similar basic principles were used in many places. But it was the Fachwerk that reached the height of art, reflecting in its development all cultural epochs – from the Middle Ages to Art Nouveau.
Most of all half-timbered houses are in Germany, but they can be seen also in France and England.
Stumbling blocks
They are called stumbling blocks – Stolpersteine. And this is really so: you suddenly notice them, raising your leg for the next step.
You stumble and stop to once again remember how often man is a wolf to man. About how easy calls to a strong power and shouts about a “special” path, “special” moral qualities or a “special” faith of their people turn into wars and atrocities – in past, present and, unfortunately, future, because not everyone is ready remember.
Leben in Deutschland test. 9. Traditional holidays. Religion
There are a little questions about traditions and religion in Germany in the Leben in Deutschland test.
Leben in Deutschland test. 7. Germany and Europe. Migrants
Leben in Deutschland test (Orientierungstest, Einburgerungstest) has several questions about the relationship between Germany and other countries (mostly Europe). There are also a few questions about migrants, but more from a historical perspective.
Note: This post does not include the changes that will occur with the UK’s exit from the EU.