In Germany Gluehwein and Christmas are a timeless festive combination, but a traditional warming winter drink is a major ingredient throughout Germany's cold weather season, not only during the Weihnachten celebrations. From Gluehwein to Pharisaeer, rum, cream and coffee, there are many to try.

A first symbol of spring in Germany is 'Spargelzeit', the white asparagus season. Much loved white stalks known as 'The Royal Vegetable', which are harvested and enjoyed for two months from around the middle of April until June 24th, St. John the Baptist's feast day.

Although Germany's different regions continue to follow their own traditional wedding customs, May is the most popular month to get married throughout the country. Age old traditions begin weeks before the ceremony and celebrations can last for days.

Neither a German St. Martins Day, Martinstag, nor a Sankt Nikolaus, St. Nicholas, celebration would be complete without having bought or baked the traditional sweet yeast dough Bread Man, known as a Weckmann, Nikolaus, Klausenmann or Stutenkerl.

May 1st, May Day Celebrations, in many parts of Germany are filled with Maypoles, Mayhem and Fun, chasing away the winter and marking the beginning of summer. It is a long way from May Day parades with soldiers, rifles and tanks in former communist countries, including what was 'East Germany'.

The foundations for a 'New Germany' were laid by 'Truemmerfrauen', Rubble Women, who, aged from 15 to 50 and often half starved, were the heroines of post war Germany. With bare hands, and sheer hard work, they cleared the rubble from the streets and buildings of their war torn cities.

Baking Weihnachts Plaetzchen is just one of Germany’s centuries old traditional Christmas customs. Holiday cookie recipes vary from region to region and family to family, but during advent, even amongst those who do not follow the Christian faith, few homes will be without their Weihnachtskekse.

The unique annual Fire, Water, Light and Culture festival, Rhein in Flammen, takes place for five days during the spring, summer and autumn along a strikingly beautiful, and historic, stretch of Germany's Rhine River. Each spectacular firework display celebrates a different theme.

Perhaps because German Americans stem from a mixed community that settled in the USA over a wide span of time, they assimilated quickly into their new homeland, and using their skills, discipline and different talents, household names or unknown, they had an enormous influence on American society.

The Castle Road is a scenic 745 mile journey through the legacies of the past. From Mannheim in Germany to Prague in neighbouring Chechnya the 'Castle Road' is filled with castles, palaces, historic sites and medieval towns and villages. A unique experience which leaves a lasting impression.