Y11s ... Check out these new booklets ... They contain lots of things you need to know!
The German Democratic Republic lives on - in 79 square meters!
Good Bye, Lenin! is a German tragicomedy film, released in 2003, by Wolfgang Becker, starring Daniel Brühl as Alex Kerner and Katrin Saß as Christiane Kerner.
East Germany, the year 1989: Alex Kerner protests against the regime. His mother Christiane Kerner watches the police arresting him and suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma. Some months later, the GDR does not exist anymore and the mother awakes. Since she has to avoid every excitement, Alex tries to set up the GDR again for her in their flat. But the world has changed a lot.
Die DDR lebt weiter - auf 79 m2!
Good Bye, Lenin! ist ein deutscher Spielfilm aus dem Jahr 2003. Regie bei der Tragikomödie führte Wolfgang Becker, die Hauptrollen spielten Daniel Brühl als Alex Kerner und Katrin Saß als Christiane Kerner.
DDR, 1989: Alex Kerner protestiert gegen das Regime. Seine Mutter Christiane sieht wie er bei den Demonstrationen verhaftet wird, erleidet einen Herzinfarkt und fällt ins Koma. 8 Monate später erwacht die Mutter. Doch inzwischen ist die Mauer gefallen und die DDR gibt es nicht mehr. Um jegliche Aufregung zu vermeiden, versucht Alex die DDR in ihrer Wohnung weiterleben zu lassen und schafft eine ganz eigene Welt. Doch in der Realität hat sich die Welt sehr verändert!
“Mein Name ist Alexander Kerner. Ich bin Bürger der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik und habe ein Problem. Die Mauer ist weg!”
Der Film wurde in Ost und West zu einem ungeahnten Publikumserfolg und zum erfolgreichsten deutschen Film des Jahres 2003. Er wurde von mehr als sechs Millionen Kinobesuchern gesehen. Damit gehört er zu den 15 erfolgreichsten Filmen in deutschen Kinos. Er wurde unter anderem ausgezeichnet mit 9 deutschen Filmpreis für Bester Film, Bester Hauptdarsteller, Bester Nebendarsteller und Beste Regie. Außerdem gewann Good Bye, Lenin! den Europäischen Filmpreis für Bester Film und Bester Hauptdarsteller.
The Christkind ( = Christ Child) is the traditional Christmas gift bringer in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. On the night of the 24th December the Christkind comes to all children in Germany and brings presents.
It was Martin Luther, the famous German priest and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation, who promulgated stories about the Christkind as a gift bringer.
In Catholic areas it was adopted as well but later it was gradually replaced by the Weihnachtsmann ( = Father Christmas).
Today, the Weihnachtsmann and the Christkind are both coming for Christmas, but traditionally the Christkind brings all the presents to the kids.
Can Easter and Christmas be on the same day? - Obviously not! Wenn Ostern und Weihnachten auf einen Tag fallen -literally meaning "When Easter and Christmas are on the same day" - is a German expression to say that something never happens.
Synonyms: nie, niemals, am Sankt Nimmerleins-Tag
Example: Nur wenn Ostern und Weihnachten auf einen Tag fallen ist er freundlich.
(= Er ist NIE freundlich.)
A very important Christmas tradition in Germany is baking Christmas biscuits! There are all sorts and kinds of various Christmas biscuits but the most popular one's are probably "Zimtsterne"(=cinnamon stars).
Nom nom nom ... Sooo delicious!!!
Here you can find the recipe for "Zimsterne" in German!
... und die Weihnachtsbäckerei kann losgehen! :)
Zutaten:
3 Eier, davon das Eiweiß
250g Puderzucker
250g geriebene Mandeln
2 Teelöffel Zimt
100g Zucker
Zubereitung:
Eiweiß zu Eischnee schlagen. Den Puderzucker kräftig unter den Eischnee rühren. 2 Esslöffel davon zum Dekorieren wegnehmen. Mandeln mit Zimt mischen und unter den Schnee rühren. Auf die Arbeitsfläche Zucker streuen und auf den Zucker den Teig etwa 0,5cm dick ausrollen. Sterne austechen und auf das Backblech setzen, mit Eischnee bestreichen. Bei etwa 150°C die Sterne mehr trocknen als backen, bis sie leicht Farbe annehmen. Auf dem Blech abkühlen lassen.
Here is a song to get inspired to: In der Weihnachtsbäckerei!
Every December 6, German children celebrate Nikolaus (Saint Nicholas Day).
But why does this Santa look-alike come so early and why do all the children place their shoes in front of their doors on the evening before the 6th ? Read on and find out some more about the German tradition of Nikolaus ...
Is Nikolaus the same as Santa Claus?
Though they seem to share the same style - clothing wise - Nikolaus is not to be confused with Santa Claus or Father Christmas, who Germans would rather call Weihnachtsmann.They are two different people! In fact, many religious families try to focus more on Nikolaus earlier in December to insure that Christmas is actually about Jesus’ birth, and not presents from an Americanised and commercialised Santa.
Who is Nikolaus, then?
Each year on December 6, Germans remember the death of Nicholas of Myra, who died on that day in 346. He was a Greek Christian bishop known for miracles and giving gifts secretly, and is now the patron saint of little children, sailors, merchants and students.
Why do children put their shoes out on the night of December 5th, then?
Well, the custom began because the historical St. Nicholas had a reputation for leaving secret gifts, such as coins, in people’s shoes overnight. That's why kids traditionally put out their boots ... thoroughly shined of course!
And the boots really have to be shined first?
Oh, yes! Definitely! Dirty boots are unacceptable! Children polish their boots to show they’ve been good. They usually place just one boot outside their door so they don’t appear too greedy, though.
One polished boot: Check! What happens next?
According to the legend, Nikolaus comes in the middle of the night on a donkey or a horse and leaves little treats – like coins, chocolate, oranges and toys - for good children. Bad children will only find a wooden stick as a symbol that they have to try harder next year!
What???
Well, this all depends on different family traditions. Sometimes Nikolaus only leaves a rod in the boot, ostensibly for spankings, to show that the child doesn’t deserve a treat. In other families, a man disguised as St. Nicholas will visit the family or the child’s school alone or with his sinister-looking alter ego Knecht Ruprecht to question the children about their behaviour.
Here is the most popular Nikolaus song children sing before the 6th December ...
