May 25, 2013

Leipziger Allerlei and the Love of Lohengrin

The citizens of Leipzig celebrate the bicentennial birthday of Richard Wagner this year. On May 22nd, a statue of this celebrated and controversial composer will be unveiled on the Leipziger Promenadenring, close to Wagner's birthplace. It's an opportunity to present Leipziger Allerlei and other local dishes, and pay homage to the creator of the Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman and other world renowned operas. The legend goes tha ... » read more...

If It's May, It's Spargelzeit in Germany!

Spargelzeit, asparagus season, is one of Germany's culinary highlights. The first crop of spears is harvested around mid-April and the season traditionally runs through the feast of St. John the Baptist, June 24. German white asparagus is a distinctly seasonal product, and is in such great demand inside the country that few, if any, of the white stalks are exported. Any traveler to Germany during the 8-week season will want to visit a re ... » read more...

Spring, Love and May Pole Robbery

One of the most ancient and beloved German customs of spring is related to a tree: the Maibaum or May tree. This freshly cut and colorfully decorated birch or spruce is the centerpiece of picturesque Southern German villages, folk dance festivals and open air Maifest parties. In the Rhineland, however, the Maibaum is also a coveted object of desire signifying love and yearning – and motivating nightly raids by mischievous tre ..." » read more...