St. Martin’s Day Songs (Lieder)

by | Nov 10, 2018

Martinstag – Kinderlieder Sankt Martin und Martinssingen As you learned on our Martinstag and St. Martin page, children in parts of Germany observe the traditional German custom of St. Martin’s Day that has a few things in common with Halloween. Part of...

Short Trousers

by | Oct 29, 2018 | Berlin, History and culture

One of the most interesting aspects of being an expat is when you find yourself in the eye of a culture clash storm. Last winter my, then seven-year-old, son was determined to wear shorts, whatever the weather. His avoidance of long trousers evolved gradually during...

“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” – Winkworth Lyrics

by | Oct 23, 2018

An English Translation of “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” Music: Martin Luther, 1539 English Text: Catherine Winkworth, 1855 In 1855 Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) published her translation of all 15 verses of Martin Luther’s “Vom Himmel...