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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!

SeasonSpring
TimeCentral European Time (CET), one hour behind South Africa until the last Sunday of March, when Summertime starts (26 March 2022).
WeatherThe 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.

Plan your month

everything you need to know

Festivals

During the festive season of Easter, several towns organize colourful Easter Markets and embellish the town fountains with eggs. Known as Osterbrunnen, these intricately decorated fountains are a sight to behold. But that’s not all, people also adorn trees and dried sticks with eggs, creating enchanting Easter egg trees, also known as Ostereierbäume.

Snow Info

Looking for information on the latest snow conditions? Check out these resources:

Holidays

HolidayDateInformationStates
Public Holidays
International Woman's Day2024-03-08Berlin, MV
Good Friday / Karfreitag2024-03-29KarfreitagAll
Easter Sunday / Ostersonntag2024-03-31OstersonntagBrandenburg
Observations
Meteorological start of Spring2024-03-01All
Josefstag / Saint Joseph's Day2024-03-19BY
Astrological start of Spring2024-03-20All
Palm Sunday / Palmsonntag2024-03-24The Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Maudy Thursday / Gründonnerstag2024-03-28Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospelsAll
Karsamstag2024-03-30Six days before Ash Wednesday
More info
All
Start of Summer time2024-03-31Clocks are turned forward by one hourAll
Festivals and events
St Patrick's day2024-03-17 The St Patrick's day parade in Munich is one of the biggest in Germany. There is also one in Berlin.
School Holidays and Terms
Easter HolidaysVariousSchool HolidaysAll

Events listed on our website

Dada Masilo/The Dance Factory with “Hamlet” in Hamburg

25/09/2024 – 29/09/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Dada Masilo/The Dance Factory with “Hamlet” from 25 to 29 September 2024 in Hamburg!! The South African choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo returns to the Kampnagel stage in Hamburg with ten dancers and her own version of Shakespeare’s most eloquent drama, “Hamlet.” The focus is on the deceptive appearance of what is said and terrible […]

Jeremy Loops Europe Tour 2025

11/02/2025 – 22/02/2025 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – With his dynamic and electrifying live performances and a modern blend of folk and pop,  South African artist Jeremy Loops has made a name for himself globally in recent years. Boasting over 300 million streams and having toured with major acts like Twenty-One Pilots and Milky Chance, his success speaks for itself. He’s also collaborated […]

Trots Afrikaans Nederland

19/10/2024 @ 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm – BOK VAN BLERK, RIAAN BENADE, LIANIE MAY, DEWALD WASSERFALL, ‘N SKOFFEL-DANS & MEER! VIR SLEGS EEN AAND IN VEENENDAAL. Tickets on Evenbrite.nl or on the deBAsiliek Venue site   Disclaimer The events listed on this website are provided for informational purposes only. We are not the organizers of any events and do not assume responsibility […]

Scatterlings of Africa in Concert Sat, 21 Sept -1173 Montherod Switzerland

21/09/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – This event will be the highlight of the tour featuring our three artists! Refentse Morake | Julani J | Anne-Marie van Eeden You will be welcomed at the venue with a glass of South African wine and light snacks from 17:30 – 18:00, included in the ticket price.   After the concert, there will be […]

Bok van Blerk & Riaan Benade 17.10

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 […]

Schalk Bezuidenhout keeping up – Berlin 25.09

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 […]

SA Connections: Monthly Virtual Meetup for South Africans in Germany –  October Edition 

10/10/2024 @ 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm –  Join us for this month’s virtual meet-up, where we’ll be switching things up a bit! 🌟 We’ll kick off with a short 15-minute talk on “Getting Through the Winter Months in Germany”, offering helpful tips on staying positive, keeping warm, and making the most of the colder season. 🧣❄️ Afterwards, we’ll have a 10-minute Q&A […]

Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page

09/12/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]

Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page

11/11/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]

Market Monday – South Africans in Germany page

14/10/2024 @ All Day – To keep things fair and add benefits to our members, here are the current rules: By placing an advertisement on our Facebook page, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions: You will post only once a month on the Monday specified by the Admin team. Notice hereto will be given in advance. For the […]

Some foods and drinks to try

01.

Bärlauch

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.

02.

Mussels

During the months that contain the letter “r,” which typically run from September through the beginning of spring, seafood lovers can indulge in a variety of delicious options including oysters, scallops, and clams. Be sure to savour these delectable treats to the fullest during March!

03.

Spinach

The delicious, nutrient-packed leaf spinach (Blattspinat) season typically begins in the month of March.

04.

Morel (Morcheln)

Morels, also known as Morchella, are a delicious and versatile type of sac fungi that can add incredible flavour to any dish.  Here are some recipe ideas

05.

Starkbier is as the name suggests a strong beer.  Starkbierzeit is called the 5th season. It is during Lent (From Ash Wednesday (14.02.2023) to Easter). Read more here

Fruit and Veggies in Season

Vocabulary

Springder Frühling
Wild garlicder Bärlauch
Morelsdie Morcheln
Chervilder Kerbel
Turnipsdie Steckrüben
Radishder Rettich
Lamb’s lettuceder Feldsalat
Scallopsdie Jakobsmuscheln
Oystersdie Austern
Clamsdie Venusmuscheln

Sources

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