Living in Germany, May has become my favourite month of the year. And no, it’s not only because it’s when I met my husband, got married, or when our son was born. In northern Germany, May encompasses more holidays than any other month of the year. Between Labour Day, Ascension Day, and Pentecost, we have a […]
Living in Germany
The Easter Chocolate Extravaganza
Twice a year German kids are showered in chocolate candy of all shapes and sizes. The first time is on the 6th December when Nikolaus fills their shoes with tasty treats. The second is on Easter Sunday when they go searching for eggs, cute little baskets in hand. And while in my childhood Easter egg hunting meant scouring […]
Breastfeeding in Germany
At a first glance, breastfeeding in Germany should be a breeze. Every mother is entitled to a midwife who visits her at home for the first 8 weeks postpartum. If you wish, she can consult you as long as you continue breastfeeding. And, if there are breastfeeding issues that the midwife hasn’t been able to […]
Swim Baby, Swim!
“I had a feeling that he’s the wellness type” commented my midwife as we were massaging a week old Bamm-Bamm after his first bath. My son hadn’t made a sound of complaint during the bathtime and was now visibly paying attention to each body part that I was carefully massaging with baby oil. His enjoyment of water […]
German Easter – Decorations, Food & Traditions
Last year we spent the Easter holidays in Germany and I tried to give them a little Latvian touch by coloring the eggs Latvian style. As this year we’re celebrating Easter in Latvia, I suppose it’s only fitting that I write about German Easter traditions instead. The long Easter weekend can feel a bit quiet […]
German Pediatricians and the Common Cold
In the small Latvian village where I grew up people were oftentimes making fun of the old village doctor’s favorite treatment for most common ailments: drinking lots of tea and staying in bed. Myself among those who would smile at his advice, it’s probably a little ironic that I now live in a country where the usual way of dealing […]
My Favorite Weird German New Year’s Tradition
Since moving to Germany I’ve had to learn a few things about the New Year’s. First, it’s not called New Year’s Eve over here, it’s Silvester. Second, you don’t wish people happy New Year, instead you wish a guten rutsch, literally, a “good slide” (presumably, into the upcoming year). Third, for some unfathomable reason most […]
How we failed at Germany’s favorite fall tradition
Around the 11th November – the St. Martin’s Day – German daycares and schools prepare for an event called Laternenlaufen or Laternenumzug, roughly translated it means walking with lanterns or lantern pageant. The little ones walk with colorful self-made lanterns and light up the wintry dark streets, parks, and even forests. It’s a beautiful tradition and, […]
Birdy Goes to Kindergarten
Here in Germany a baby’s first birthday marks the end of the paid parental leave and many little ones begin going to kindergarten, known as KITA (short for Kindertagesstätte – children’s day care). I should probably clarify that not everyone sends their kid off to the KITA, despite there being a law that every family who wishes to […]
A walk around Hamburg Altona, Germany
This week I’m participating in a series called Show Me Your Neighborhood Around the World. It is hosted by Annabelle from the Piri-Piri Lexicon and the rules are simple: you should write a post about the area where you live with a maximum of 12 photos taken by yourself that include a playground / play area […]