April

April in Germany is a beautiful month with the arrival of spring. The weather starts to warm up, trees and flowers begin to bloom, and outdoor cafes and beer gardens start to open up.
It’s a great time to explore the country’s picturesque landscapes, visit local markets, and enjoy traditional spring festivals like Easter markets and the blooming of cherry blossoms.
People also start to spend more time outside, enjoying activities like hiking, biking, and picnicking. Overall, April in Germany is a lovely time to experience the country’s natural beauty and vibrant culture.

One of the most breathtaking sights that you can witness during this time of the year is the cherry blossoms and magnolias blooming in all their glory. If you’re looking for a great place to watch the magnolias bloom, check out the Wilhelma Zoo in Stuttgart. With over 70 trees, it’s a paradise for nature enthusiasts and provides an unforgettable experience.

With pollen season in full swing, taking care of your allergies is important. You can stay up-to-date with the latest information using the Allergie website‘s Pollenkalender.

Season

Spring

Time

Central European Time (CET), the same time as South Africa until the last Sunday of October, when Wintertime starts (30 October 2022).

Weather

The weather can vary depending on the region, but generally, it marks the transition from winter to spring. Temperatures typically start to warm up, with daytime highs ranging from around 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. However, it’s important to note that mornings and evenings can still be quite cool, so layering is recommended.

“April, April, der macht, was er will” – meaning the weather can be very fickle.
It can change from hot to snowing within days and it is very difficult to make long-term forecasts.
The average daily sunshine is 5 hours.

Plan your month

everything you need to know

Festivals

Many towns throughout Germany celebrate springtime with lively festivals filled with music, dancing, and delicious food. Among the most famous of these festivals are the Frühlingsfest in Munich and the one held in Stuttgart. These events attract visitors from all over the country, eager to enjoy the festive atmosphere and take part in the various activities and traditions.

Holidays

Holiday	Date	Information	States
Public Holidays
Easter Monday / Ostermontag	2022-04-01	Ostermontag
Observations
Walpurgisnacht	2022-04-30		All
School Holidays and Terms
Easter Holidays	Various	School Holidays	All except Hamburg

Events

Events listed on our website

Bongeziwe Mabandla in Berlin

23/05/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – After his sold-out concert on 3 March, award-winning South African musician Bongeziwe Mabandla is back in Berlin on 23 May hours at the Kulturbrauerei. Mabandla is a South African award-winning singer, musician and songwriter from the rural town of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape. He has recorded four highly acclaimed albums and has performed on […]

Bok van Blerk & Riaan Benade

17/10/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Welcome, music lovers, to an evening dedicated to the unforgettable sounds of Riaan Benade and Bok van Blerk. From the vast plains of South Africa, these two extraordinary artists come together to enchant us with their unique voices and enchanting melodies. These artists enjoy world fame in their home country, so prepare yourself for an […]

Fokofpolisiekar / Die Heuwels Fantasties

12/07/2024 @ 7:00 pm – 11:45 pm – After a sold-out show in 2023, Fokofpolisiekar is back. This time they bring their friends from Cape Town, Die Heuwels Fantasties, as support. There is no better live combo showcasing the best of African rock and African alternative music than these two acts. It will be energetic, melodic and full of nostalgia as these two […]

Voting Abroad – 2024 – Berlin

18/05/2024 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm – Casting of votes at a foreign mission A person who wants to cast a special vote at a foreign mission in terms of section 33(3) or (4), may do so on 17 May 2024 and 18 May 2024, between 07:00 and 19:00, depending on the host country’s dominant religious and cultural practices. In practice, this […]

Voting Abroad 2024 – Munich

18/05/2024 @ 7:00 am – 7:00 pm – Casting of votes at a foreign mission A person who wants to cast a special vote at a foreign mission in terms of section 33(3) or (4), may do so on 17 May 2024 and 18 May 2024, between 07:00 and 19:00, depending on the host country’s dominant religious and cultural practices. In practice, this […]

Trevor Noah Tour – Berlin

01/08/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Trevor Noah Off the Record Tour. The actual time is not published yet, estimated it will be in the evening We are not the organisers of this event it is shared for information purposes only Tickets via the Trevor Noah website – this will take you to the Eventim Website

Trevor Noah Tour – Stuttgart

03/08/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Trevor Noah Off the Record Tour. The actual time is not published yet, estimated it will be in the evening We are not the organisers of this event it is shared for information purposes only Tickets via the Trevor Noah website – this will take you to the Eventim Website

The African Picnic Festival at the Goethe Institute in Schwäbisch Hall

31/05/2024 – 02/06/2024 @ All Day – The African Picnic Festival at Goethe Institute in Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg, is the brainchild of Mthunzi Fesi, a young South African, who is also a promoter for South African artists touring Europe. The festival was first hosted on 16 June 2014. This year, the ninth edition of the festival will take place from 31 May […]

Schalk Bezuidenhout keeping up – Berlin

25/09/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Newly married, Schalk feels older, wiser and much more mature (possibly), but all he wants is to stay “hip with the youth”. Can he do it? Can he Keep Up? As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central and fresh from supporting Trevor Noah on his arena tour. This is an external event, we are not […]

Kearsney College Choir

29/06/2024 – 06/07/2024 @ 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm – The renowned Kearsney College Choir and Rainbow Agency, KwaZulu Natal, have the honour to inform you that former Federal President Professor Dr Horst Köhler is the patron of the choir’s concert tour to Germany from 28 June to 6 July 2024. Professor Dr Köhler will attend a concert of his choice. Kearsney College Choir has […]

Thabile – Read my lips – Hannover

24/05/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm – @Thabilé is a South African-born singer and was rightly chosen as “Artist of the Year 2023” at the African Festival Award (AFA) in Würzburg. Today, Thabilé lives in Stuttgart and campaigns for better coexistence, especially for the rights of women, who are not only oppressed in South Africa. Her songs tell of difficult living conditions […]

Thabile – Read my lips – Mannheim

26/04/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm – @Thabilé is a South African-born singer and was rightly chosen as “Artist of the Year 2023” at the African Festival Award (AFA) in Würzburg. Today, Thabilé lives in Stuttgart and campaigns for better coexistence, especially for the rights of women, who are not only oppressed in South Africa. Her songs tell of difficult living conditions […]

Some foods and drinks to try

01.

Lamb is not very popular in Germany, and it can be hard to find good quality. Apparently the best lamb in Germany is from Taunus mountains near Wiesbaden.

02.

Bärlauch (Wild Garlic) is in season. Wild garlic can be bought at markets or you can harvest it in the forests. I would not recommend harvesting Bärlauch yourself, as the leaves can look similar to those of the Lily of the valley – which is poisonous.

03.

The Asparagus season in Germany starts towards the end of April and ends on the 24th of June (St. John the Baptist Day)

04.

Rhubarb has a tart flavour that becomes sweeter when cooked with sugar. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and potassium.
Rhubarb is commonly used to make pies, crisps, jams, and sauces. It can also be stewed or roasted to bring out its natural sweetness.

05.

Starkbier is as the name suggests, a beer that packs a punch with its high alcohol content. Depending on the brewery, it can range from 7% to a whopping 12%. If you want to learn more about the history and culture behind this beloved tradition, check out this article.

Fruit and Veggies in Season

Vocabulary

Happy Easter	ich wünche dir frohe Ostern
Easter bunny	der Osterhase
Easter egg	das Osterei
Easter lamb	das Osterlamm
Chocolate bunny	der Schokohase
Daffodils	die Osterglocke

Sources

Meat

German meat cuts are different from those in South Africa. South Africa tends to follow the British way of cutting meat.Below is a explanation of the German Beef Cuts German beef

Starkbier

Starkbier is as the name suggest a strong beer. It is a legal generic designation for beers in which the original wort content is over 16 °P (degrees Plato). The alcohol level is between 5% and 10%. Most of them are seasonal.
In Munich, Starkbierzeit is called the 5th season. It is during Lent (From Ash Wednesday 14.02.2024 to Easter).

Cycling

The entire cycling scene in Germany took some getting used to when I arrived here. In South Africa its sort of all kitted out serious health fanatics on bikes, and

Grilling in public

When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a public

Spargel – the German white gold

Bis Johanni – nicht vergessen – sieben Wochen Spargel essen! The Asparagus season in Germany starts towards the end of April and ends on the 24th of June (St. John

Weather in Germany

German Climate Germany’s climate is temperate and marine, with cold, cloudy winters and warm summers and in the south occasional warm föhn wind. The greater part of Germany lies in

Spring is finally here, but let’s not get overly excited, as temperatures will still take a few weeks to rise.
Although the trees will only begin to bloom in April, nature blesses us with the most beautiful flowers, like the cheerful Crocus, the elegant Narcissus and the stunning Tulips. These flowers can be seen in most gardens and meadows, adding a touch of colour and beauty to our surroundings.
There is also the anticipation of the upcoming Easter celebrations, and most houses and gardens will be decorated accordingly, creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
Another great thing about March is the increase in daylight, which gives us more time to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us. Every day the sun comes up a minute or two earlier and sets a bit later.
Keep in mind that some places may still have snow, especially in the mountains. So, let’s embrace this transitional period with open arms and cherish all the little joys that come with it!

Season	Spring
Time	Central European Time (CET), one hour behind South Africa until the last Sunday of March, when Summertime starts (26 March 2022).
Weather	The temperatures average between 0.2 °C and 7.4 °C. Depending on the location, it could be warmer or colder. The average daily sunshine is 3.8 hours.

Here is a list of food traditionally eaten in Germany over the Easter period

Gründonnerstag:
Gründonnerstag sounds like green Thursday although it is derived from the old German word greinen, which means crying. Thus many people celebrate by eating green dishes, such as the following:
– Seven herb soup / Sieben Kräutersuppe
– Chervil soup / Kerbelsuppe
– Eggs in green sauce / Eier in grüner Sauce

Karfreitag:
Church bells are silent on Good Friday. Families may go to church and in some towns, such as Bensheim you will see processions.
Dancing is not allowed on Good Friday, neither are weddings. The shops are closed.
It is a tradition to eat fish at dinner with your family.
– Fish cakes with green sauce / Fishfrikadellen mit grüner Sauce

Ostersamstag:
In Northern Germany, people light Easter fires (das Osterfeuer) as a symbol of light in the darkness.
These fires are sometimes lit on Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Ostersonntag:
Families come together to celebrate. They may go to church together and then have a big brunch or a festive dinner.
The main dish is often lamb.
Children hunt for Easter eggs.

– Colorful boiled eggs / Bunte Frühstückseier – served with Black Forest ham and Emmentaler cheese
– Easter bunny brioches / Osterhasebrioches
– Roast leg of lamb with juniper berry sauce / Lammkeule mit Wacholderbeerensauce
– Biennenstich cake. Click on this link for other Easter cake recipes
– Easter lamb cake
– Hefezopf
– German Sweat Bread nests

Ostermontag:
Easter Monday is a day of remembrance and reflection.

Other Foods:
Before Easter, you will find Easter bread (das Osterbrot) in most bakeries.
Brightly colored boiled eggs and of course beautiful chocolate easter eggs in the bakeries
The asparagus season (die Spargelsaison) starts in the middle of April.
Traditionally the white variety is eaten with hollandaise sauce, potatoes, and ham.
To find out how to buy and store asparagus, as well as some recipes, read our page about the German white gold.