The European Union's Anthem, the 4th movement's choral finale from Beethoven's 9th symphony, The Ode to Joy, is emotive and idealistic. Its first performances were thought revolutionary, but now it has been heard in everything from Die Hard to Japanese New Year celebrations and Olympic openings.

Enjoying the winter months is a way of life in Bavaria. It has breathtaking mountain scenery, snow covered forests, castles, palaces, abbeys and ski slopes, mixed with culture, shopping streets and a regional cuisine designed to keep the cold out and warmth in.

It makes delicious spicy ginger cookies, Valentines Day or Oktoberfest Hearts, perhaps a Witches Cottage, Gingerbread Men, Christmas decorations, even a Lantern which gives both light and aroma, but whatever you create with this German Lebkuchen, Gingerbread, recipe it will always be delicious.

Asparagus with Orange and Lime Hollandaise Sauce and Schwabian Asparagus Soup with Pancake. Two delicious German recipes for Spargelzeit, Germany's White Asparagus Season.

Albert Einstein was a humanist and theoretical physicist, sometime laborer at the Munich Oktoberfest, Nobel Prize winner and, as a 'genius', asked his opinion on many things. These opinions became 'Einstein Quotes'.

Evergreen Advent Wreaths, die Adventskraenze, are not hung on doors in Germany, and in amongst the foliage sit four candles signifying the passing of the four weeks of Advent. They are just one of the many traditions which create an enchanting time - A Christmas in Germany.

For generations December 1st has meant it's time to open the first door on Advent Calendars and begin the countdown to Heiligabend, Christmas Eve. A much loved Weihnachtszeit, Christmastime, holiday tradition for the young and the not so young in Germany.

Rinderrouladen, "Beef Rollups", slices of beef rolled up around a seasoned onion and bacon filling, served in a wine sauce. A delicious, and classic, "cold weather meal" in Germany, once considered so special they were saved for celebrations or Sundays, now a very traditional dinner choice.

Germany has a spirited music scene ranging from classical to techno and pop, one seventh of the world’s opera houses, almost one million students at state music schools, and one of its most popular singers has a continuing live show hit with a song sung in praise of a grilled sausage.

Dreikoenigstag, Epiphany, signals the end of the Christmas season and in Germany one of many traditions for the day is a Three King's Cake, with the crowning of the lucky finder of a Christkind figure, or dried white bean, in their portion.