Did you buy carrots today?

May 15, 2008 By 2 Comments

A while ago I was invited to a group on Facebook called “On May 15, 2008, everybody needs to go out and panic buy carrots” – a group with over 200,000 members!

I wondered how many people would actually go out and do this and kept a keen eye on the BBC News website today.

I’m sad to say that the idea doesn’t seem to have spread to my part of Germany. I went to my local supermarket this afternoon, but there were still plenty of carrots in stock and I didn’t see anyone buying any either.

The idea shows the power of so-called social networking sites: there are surely not many groups online with that many members.  But although Germany does have such sites, they do not yet seem to command the power over the people that they do in English-language countries.

Filed Under: Food & Drink, Shops Tagged With: ,

Christi Himmelfahrt

May 14, 2008 By 2 Comments

Christi Himmelfahrt is known in English as Ascension Day. It is celebrated on the 40th day after Easter Monday.

The name comes from the New Testament, where it is described how Jesus ascended to heaven having shown himself to his aspostles 40 days after the resurrection.

The day is a bank holiday in all of Germany as has been since 1936, although it was not celebrated in the GDR between 1967 and 1989.

The day is also known as Vatertag – Father’s Day and many clubs and organisations hold their annual parties, open days or outings on this day.

In 2008 Christi Himmelfahrt fell on the same day as Maifeiertag!

To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:

(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)

Download a transcript

Download the MP3 file | Subscribe to the podcast

Filed Under: German Words Explained, Podcasts Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cigar tasting at the Oberursel Brauhaus

May 9, 2008 By Leave a Comment

How’s this for a novel idea: cigar tasting!

Now, if I’d written “wine tasting” then you’d probably not even have thought it was something special, but cigar tasting?

This is the idea that a local tobacco shop has come up with. The event is to be held on 21st June, 2008 in the Brauhaus in Oberursel.

Customers will have the chance to watch a professional cigar maker from Cuba roll individual cigars for them to try – and enjoy a 4 course meal at the same time. The cigars will then be accompanied by a glass of rum.

It’s a fascinating idea, isn’t it? Well, at least for cigar smokers!

The evening costs 89EUR (incl. MwSt) and the tickets are available at the shop or the Brauhaus itself.

For more information, please contact them using their contact form.

Filed Under: Smoking Tagged With: , , , ,

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