Tag Archives: Language

My husband, the nerd

Posted on 22/04/2012 by heidihefeweizen

I love my husband, but he is big-time nerd (but still so handsome, no?).  He writes code for a living, and I teach German.   When he tells me about work, which I welcome, I often have no idea what … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The 90s are Alive in Deutschland

Posted on 08/03/2012 by heidihefeweizen

I was checking out at the grocery store when UB40’s “The Way You do the Things You Do” came on.  Then,  a pack of teenagers zipped down the main aisle on rollerblades.  They were the second group of rollerblading kids … Continue reading →

Posted in Things Students Say: German Edition | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Calling all Pittsburghers:  Check out this New York Times article about other Mardi Gras traditions in the US, including Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh’s Fat Tuesday Fasching Celebration. (In northern Germany, the pre-Lenten celebration = Carneval, but in southern Germany and Austria, it’s Fasching.)  You … Continue reading →

Posted on 22/02/2012 by heidihefeweizen | 1 Comment

Carneval #4: “Vorfreude” and Heiligabend

Posted on 19/02/2012 by heidihefeweizen

After building your float and getting your costume together, it’s time to celebrate.  A quick check of your wallet-sized Carneval calendar of events reveals that Saturday is “Heiligabend.”  (Typically, Heiligabend is Christmas Eve.  The CarnevalistInnen in Damme have simply borrowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Carneval | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Nikolaustag and My Niece

Posted on 06/12/2011 by heidihefeweizen

In the German-speaking world, December 6th is Nikolaustag, or Saint Nikolaus’s Day.  This day commemorates St. Nikolaus, the Catholic saint who would later serve as the basis for the Protestant Weihnachtsmann/Father Christmas/Santa Claus.  In reality, Nikolaustag supports my theory that … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments