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German Advent Calendar Day 10

German-Advent-Calendar-10

Adventskalender Tag 10: der Ingwer



der Ingwer
der Ingwer
ginger
der Ingwer

This is one of the key spices for Lebkuchen, and no surprise that it is, as Hildegard von Bingen thought that ginger would create a good feeling in your stomach. According to her methods, eating Ingwer-Kekse, ginger cookies, is the traditional way to begin a fast.

der Ingwer


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German Advent Calendar Day 9

German-Advent-Calendar-9

Adventskalender Tag 9: der Engel



der Engel
der Engel
the angel
der Engel

Perhaps der Engel that you enjoy thinking about is from the Bible, or perhaps someone who's been an angel to you recently. Or perhaps you want to be an angel to someone and do them a good turn.

der Engel


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German Advent Calendar Day 8

German-Advent-Calendar-8

Adventskalender Tag 8: die Harmonie

die Harmonie
die Harmonie
the harmony
die Harmonie

Die Harmonie can be used in German to talk about musical harmony and also as part of interpersonal relationships.

Perhaps you like the harmony in a particular German Advent or Christmas song? Or perhaps harmony is the one thing you wish for at Christmas time.

die Harmonie





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German Advent Calendar Day 7

German-Advent-Calendar-7

Adventskalender Tag 7: der Lebkuchen



 der Lebkuchen
der Lebkuchen
German style ginger bread
der Lebkuchen

Lebkuchen is sweet, but not sugary, because it's sweetened with honey. Lebkuchen is a big deal in Germany at Christmas time, with every store offering different kinds of it and there are even special collectors tins. The spices are a key ingredient, and two of the key spices are coming up in this Adventskalender, on days 10 and 18.

der Lebkuchen




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German Advent Calendar Day 6

German-Advent-Calendar-6

Adventskalender Tag 6: der Nikolaus und Knecht Ruprecht


 
Heute ist Nikolaustag!

Am 6. Dezember stellen Kinder den Stiefel raus. Der Nikolaus bringt Nikolausgaben, z.B. Obst, Nüsse, Schokolade oder Äpfel. Nikolaus beschenkt die braven Kinder. Aber Nikolaus kommt nicht alleine. In Deutschland kommt er mit Knecht Ruprecht, in Bayern und Österreich mit dem Krampus. Der Krampus ist eine dämonische Gestalt und er bestraft die unartigen Kinder. Oder er verteilt einfach Süßigkeiten.

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German Advent Calendar Day 5

German-Advent-Calendar-5

Adventskalender Tag 5: die Ruhe genießen


 
die Ruhe
die Ruhe
rest, ease, calm, peace, tranquility, repose
die Ruhe

genießen
genießen
to enjoy
genießen

die Ruhe genießen

Genießen Sie die Ruhe.


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German Advent Calendar Day 4

German-Advent-Calendar-4

Adventskalender Tag 4: die Lichterkette



This is an odd plural form.

Das Licht, die Lichter
das Licht, the light.
die Lichter, the lights.

die Kette, the chain.

The lights chain is a string of lights. Which begs the question: do they get all tangled up in German-speaking countries like they do here?! Or does German Ordnung also apply to Christmas lights? (Ha!)

die Lichterkette



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German Advent Calendar Day 3

German-Advent-Calendar-3

Adventskalender Tag 3: Plätzchen backen



Kekse gibt es immer, Plätzchen gibt es nur zu Weihnachten.
Kekse gibt es immer, Plätzchen gibt es nur zu Weihnachten.
Kekse are cookies and they're available all year round, but you can only have Plätzchen at Christmas time.
Kekse gibt es immer, Plätzchen gibt es nur zu Weihnachten.

Plätzchen backen - to bake Christmas cookies

Mmmm, Plätzchen backen. Super!
Mmmm, Plätzchen backen. Super!




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German Advent Calendar Day 2

German-Advent-Calendar-2

Adventskalender Tag 2: Schlittschuhlaufen


das Schlittschuhlaufen - as a noun, talking about ice skating is das Schlittschuhlaufen and it's one word for Schlittschuhlaufen.

If you want to talk about the actual skating, when you want to use the verb, then it's Schlittschuh laufen, two words.

The skates themselves are der Schlittschuh, die Schlittschuhe

Yesterday you learned im Winter for "in the winter" or "in winter," thus we have: Im Winter kann man Schlittschuh laufen.
Im Win…

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German Advent Calendar Day 1

German-Advent-Calendar-1

Adventskalender Tag 1: der Winter


der Winter


Der Winter is the season we're in and all the seasons, lucky for you, are der words. Der Winter, der Frühling, der Sommer, der Herbst


That's how you can remember that it's der Winter. To say something takes place in winter it's im Winter. You'll need this bit of information tomorrow.


der Winter




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