The Bildzeitung, or BILD is the newspaper with the largest print run in Germany. It is read by over 3 million people each day and is even printed in other countries so that Germans abroad can buy it whilst they are on holiday. Although it is a national newspaper, there are 32 different regional editions. … [Read more...]
Christi Himmelfahrt
Christi Himmelfahrt is known in English as Ascension Day. It is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Monday. The name comes from the New Testament, where it is described how Jesus ascended to heaven having shown himself to his aspostles 40 days after the resurrection. The day is a bank holiday in all of Germany as has been since 1936, although it was not celebrated in … [Read more...]
FAZ & SZ
The FAZ (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung) and SZ (Süddeutsche Zeitung) are two of the main national newspapers in Germany. Both have now been going for over 50 years. They take a serious approach to the news, with the FAZ concentrating more on financial issues and the SZ on political topics. … [Read more...]
Maifeiertag
Maifeiertag is the name given to the first (1st) day of May, known in English as May Day. It is also known in Germany as the Tag der Arbeit. It is a public holiday, but unlike in some other countries it always falls on the 1st and is not moved to accommodate weekends. The day was first celebrated in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic in 1919, but it was not … [Read more...]
Walpurgisnacht
The Walpurgisnacht is celebrated on the 30th of April in Germany. According to tradition, on this night witches from throughout the country fly to the Blocksberg for their annual gathering. In many places bonfires are lit, and it is even a tradition in some parts for people to jump over it! Other traditions are comparable to those at Halloween. Since the 1990s the … [Read more...]