Winter has finally arrived in Germany, with at least some snow falling in the last days, while at the same time 'ending of winter' traditions are also beginning, and one is 'Vogelhochzeit', the 'Bird's Wedding'.

VOGELHOCHZEIT, 'BIRD'S WEDDING', is a Sorbian tradition celebrating the not too distant 'end to winter'. Young children wearing the region's traditional costumes are 'Bridal Couples'; the bride is a 'Magpie', her groom a 'Raven', and the guests are often other 'Birds'.

It takes place on January 25, a centuries old custom in the Sorbian Lusatia region of eastern Germany, and there are stories behind it of course so for more, including a video, just click on the link:


The Bird's Wedding – A tradition of a small national minority, the Sorbs, a western Slavic ethnic group who cultivated the area where they now live some 1,400 years ago

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art182540.asp



And the Word Of The Week is - Kummerspeck, literally 'Grief Bacon'.

Weight gained through 'Emotional Eating' - so the entire tub of ice cream or whole bar of chocolate that somehow just seemed to disappear after a 'hard day'.



There is much more to read and discover on the German Culture site, which also has a forum, so if there is anything you would like to see featured, or if you have any Germany related questions or comments, then please feel free to contact me, either in the forum http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=247 or via email.


Francine McKenna-Klein,
German Culture Editor

http://germanculture.bellaonline.com




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