German Culture Site
	Francine McKenna BellaOnline's German Culture Editor

Germany and its Turkish German Community
It was to be a short term ´home in a foreign country´, surrounded by an unfamiliar culture, a wary people with an unheard of fondness for keeping pets, a strange language, different religion and European toilets. But fifty years later, to many of the 2.4 million Turkish Germans, Germany is now just ´Home´.

Chocolate Museum in Cologne, Germany
It is said that each German eats eleven kilos, almost 25 pounds, of chocolate every year, which might be one reason they have the biggest, and most comprehensive Chocolate Museum in the world.

Germany's Garden Colonies, Schrebergarten
The minute spring's first rays of sunshine appear it's gardening time. And the "garden" can also be a balcony container, or a Schrebergarten. Little rented plots on a city's edge, or even in its center surrounded by asphalt and exhaust fumes, the pride and joy of millions of city-dwellers.

Germany's Radioactive Wild Boar
Radio active wild boars in Baden Wurttemburg and Bavaria, together with an overall population boom within wild boar families, thanks to the Chernobyl meltdown of 1986 there is another side to some of the residents of Germany's beautiful forests.

Germany, Energy and Change After Fukushima
Japan's tsunami's effect on nuclear reactors brought about what was supposedly a partial and temporary nuclear shutdown in Germany, affecting its 'green' energy policy. Temporary it wasn't, and the long term outlook for consumers and the economy is anyone's guess, so far it is not positive.

Germany´s Cult Beach Chair, the Strandkorb
For generations a wicker beach chair, the ´Strandkorb´, once likened to an upright wash basket, has not only sheltered beach goers from wind, rain and too much sun it has become a part of Germany´s culture. A symbol for holidays, sand, sea and just the right amount of sunshine.

Germany´s Garden Colonies, Schrebergarten
Germans love their gardens, even if they are only boxes on a balcony, but Schrebergarten, little rented plots on a city´s edge, or perhaps surrounded by asphalt and sitting in the middle, are the pride and joy of millions of city-dwellers.

Green Germany, and a Non Nuclear Future
German nuclear power plants were to have all been phased out by 2021, but the situation changed and not all Germans were in agreement. However a nuclear reactor accident in Japan not only restored the status quo, the date for phasing out nuclear power was moved forward.

How to Make a Schultuete, School Cone
The first day at school, and its Schultuete filled by small gifts and candies, is a source of great excitement for Germany´s first graders. A tradition which began in early 19th century Germany, it is as popular now as it was then, and perhaps a fun idea and new tradition for your own family.

Spargelzeit, The White Asparagus Season in Germany
"Spargelzeit" is an eagerly awaited first symbol of spring in Germany. Asparagus, the ´Royal Vegetable´, much loved white stalks harvested and savored from around the middle of April until June 24th, the feast day of St. John the Baptist.

The Dutch Quarter, Potsdam, Germany
It is a ´sought after address´ now but since the 18th Century, just outside Germany´s capital Berlin and far away from the Netherlands-German border, there has been a ´Dutch Quarter´ with 134 simple Dutch styled homes. They were built for artisans from Holland and set amongst the opulent palaces and parks of Potsdam.

Today´s German Fashion Owes Something to East German Innovation
On the Eastern side of a divided Germany fashion was inseparable from politics, and there was a one style fits all mentality. So a sewing machine, needle, thread and "Sybille", a culture and fashion magazine, led to ´freedom´ and form of individual design that still influences German fashion today.