German Song

Today I listened to a German song with my parents and Michelle, in English it's called 99 Ballons. Listen to it here.

Important German People

Germany has had many important people, some include Beethoven (musician), The Grimm brothers (writers), von Braun (scientist), Planck (scientist), Bismark (politician), Goethe (writer), Schiller (writer), Benz (industrialist), and Einstein (scientist). These men all had a large positive impact on our current world. Some important women are Angela Merkel (politician) and Sophie Scholl (activist).

Renaissance Era

The Renaissance style contains elements from the ancient Greeks and Romans. The first example of the Renaissance period in Germany is St. Anne’s Church in Augsburg. While it was being built German citizens had very few rights, because of this large plots of land remained barren and unused. A few examples of important Renaissance buildings are Augsburg City Hall and Heidelberg Castle. Many churches in Germany are built in the Renaissance style. The picture is of Trausnitz Castle.

Gothic Era

Gothic building started being made in Germany in about 1230, an example of this is Liebfrauenkirche, a German church. Unfortunately bombing raids in November 1944 destroyed many buildings from this period. A subseries of gothic is brick gothic, which uses mostly brick. An example of brick gothic is Stralsund City Hall. Houses in this period were mainly timber-framed buildings. The picture is of Cologne Cathedral.

German Cookies

I made German cookies! (Vanillekipferl) with Michelle, the recipe is attached...(in german, the second recipe) These cookies are traditionally made for Christmas. A lot of them broke when we coated them in sugar but this may partially be the dough being too dry. Technically they are biscuits, not cookies. Vanillekipferl are also considered Austrian, Czech, and Hungarian.

Weather

Here are some terms and phrases related to the weather.

Cold-Kalt

Warm-Warm (pronounced varm)

Hot-Heiß

Rain-Regen

Snow-Schnee

Sun-Sonne

The weather is good-Das Wetter ist gut

It's raining cats and dogs-Es regnet in Strömen

German Alphabet

The german alphabet is the same as the english one just with Umlaute (ä, ö, ü) Umlaute can be replaced with their respective vowel followed by an e.

(image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tastatur-Umlaute-deutsch.jpg)

Plan for December

Learn the alphabet and how to talk about the weather. Make two German recipes. Study Gothic and Renaissance eras. Listen to one song in german. Learn about christmas in Germany and important people in Germany.

Advent Calendars

These are calendars that have little chocolates in them , every day you open the door assigned to whatever day it is. I got mine for Esther's German Bakery in Los Altos.

Saint Nicolas Day

Today is Saint Nicolas Day! Last night we cleaned our shoes and put them out with milk and cookies. This morning when we checked them they were filled with goodies. This is celebrated to honor the bishop Saint Nicolas, today is his feast day. I read Erika's Two Guests by Isobel Millier Hellender from the book Christmas Stories Around the World to get a further understand the holiday and learned that a similar holiday is celebrated in Austria. Originally they put in apples and oranges and nuts. Nowadays they are filled with gelt and candy. In mine was jelly bellies, chocolate reindeer, candy canes, bubble bath, and gelt. This holiday originated because Saint Nicolas put coins in poor people's shoes when they left them outside because the church had all the money.

German National Anthem, Song

This month for my second song I listened to the German National Anthem, listen to it here.

German Motto

While studying the German coat of arms and flag I found that the german motto is "Einikeit und Recht und Freiheit" which in English is "Unity and Justice and Freedom" and I realized it is very close to the meanings of the colors on the German coat of arms and flag.

German Coat of Arms

The German coat of arms has a black eagle on a yellow background with red beak and talons. The colors, you may notice directly relate to the German flag. The eagle symbolizes imperial power, this is because it was once the symbol of the Holy Roman Empire.

German Flag

The three colors on the German flag, black, red, and gold, symbolize German unity and freedom as well as the freedom of the people.

Nur in meinem Kopf Song

Today I listened to a new German song, listen to it here.

Romanesque Era

The Romanesque Era in Germany took place roughly from the 12^th century to the 15^th century. A trademark of this era is a semi circle arch (right bottom), which would eventually evolve into the Gothic era as well. A very important building from this era is the Speyer Cathedral (left), which was built around 1030 and was at one point the largest building in Europe and a symbol of power for four German kings. Many churches were designed in this era so it is commonly associated with the Christian church. Some castles were built between the Romanesque and Gothic eras so have influences from both, an example of this is Maulbronn Abbey (right top).

Numbers

Zero-Null

One-Eins

Two-Zwei

Three-Drei

Four-Vier

Five-Fünf

Six-Sechs

Seven-Sieben

Eight-Acht

Nine-Neun

Ten-Zehn

Introductions

Hello my name is Laurel-Hallo mein Name ist Laurel

What is your name?-Wie heißt du?

How are you?-Wie geht es dir?

I am well-Mir geht es gut

Nice to meet you-Schön dich kennenzulernen

Good bye-Auf Wiedersehen

Plan for November

Learn how to introduce yourself and the numbers. Learn about Romanesque era. Listen to two songs. Learn about German flag and coat of arms.

German Song

Me and Michelle listened to some German songs, listen to one here.

Simple Phrases

Hi-Hallo

Bye-Tschüss

Yes-Ja

No-Nein

Thank You-Danke

Please-Bitte, apparently not a term of endearment...

Bless You-Gesundheit

My name is Laurel-Mein Name ist Laurel

I speak only a little German-Ich spreche nur ein bischen Deutsch

I'm from America. Ich komme aus Amerika

Colors

White-Weiß

Pink-Rosa

Red-Rot

Orange-Orange

Yellow-Gelb

Green-Grün

Blue-Blau

Purple-Violet

Brown-Braun

Black-Schwartz

Staples in German

Basics for cooking in German!

Flour-Mehl

Butter-Butter

Sugar-Zucker

Water-Wasser

Egg-Ei

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest is a 17 day long beer party that originated from the royal wedding in 1810 where the people were invited to celebrate by watching a horse race. Special food and beer are often made for the occasion, some of these foods are sausages, potato dumplings, red cabbage and many more. There have been years were Oktoberfest was not celebrated, for example during World War 1.

Nutella Torte

Cake:

225 g Zwieback (teething crackers)

400 g Nutella

Cream:

400 g Whipping Cream

400 g Cream Cheese

200 g Berries (we used strawberries and blueberries)

Crush Zwieback into powder, mix with Nutella. Spread into spring pan.

Whip cream, mix in cream cheese gradually, fold in berries.

Michelle, Colin and I made Nutella Torte! Colin crushed the Zwieback. Then we mixed it into the Nutella which made the base of the torte, then we made the whipped cream and spread it on top however it didn't taste right so we sprinkled sugar on top.

German National Anthem

Unity and law and freedom

For the German Fatherland

Let us all strive for that

In brotherhood with heart and hand!

Unity and law and freedom

Are the foundation for happiness

Bloom in the glow of happiness

Bloom, German Fatherland.

Findings from Antiquity Era Study

Germany was under Roman rule during this era, some things built then still stand today.

Trier is the oldest city in Germany.

When the Romans left so did their more modern conveniences, glass, heating, and windows.

Plan for October

Learn Colors & Simple Phrases & Cooking Staples in German

Make 1 German Recipe

Study Antiquity Era

Listen to 1 German Song

Learn About Oktoberfest

Read These Strange German Ways