nPostednon December 19, 2013
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Inam always amazed by the variety of customs in the world—but I amnalso often surprised by some of the similarities I see in variousncustoms.
Inam always amazed by the variety of customs in the world—but I amnalso often surprised by some of the similarities I see in variousncustoms.n
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nAfternwriting about Trick-or-Treating at Halloween, I found out thatnsome cultures include similar door-to-door “begging” on St. Martin’s Eve and St. Catherine’s Eve. Here’s another one! InnGermany, the three Thursdays before Christmas are called “KnockingnNights.” (Only in German the name is one long word: Klopfelnachte.)
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nTonightnkids in rural parts of Southern Germany will dress up in masks and gondoor to door chanting rhymes that always start with the word “knock.”nThey make noises as the go from house to house, cracking whips,nclattering dishes, and ringing cowbells. This commotion is supposednto drive away evil spirits. Each family gives the children treatsnsuch as fruit, candy, or coins. n
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nEnjoynKnocking Day with…wait for it…knock-knock jokes!
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nBynthe way…
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SouthernnGermany has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth! Inonce went to the Black Forest area and the Bavarian Alps, in SouthernnGermany, and the natural beauty and fairy tale castles were gorgeous!
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nThis is what the Black Forest and Bavaria look like in winter (so, basically, right now):
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SouthernnGermany has got to be one of the most beautiful places on earth! Inonce went to the Black Forest area and the Bavarian Alps, in SouthernnGermany, and the natural beauty and fairy tale castles were gorgeous!n
nThis is what the Black Forest and Bavaria look like in winter (so, basically, right now):
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nAlsonon this date:
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Inventor Rudolph Hell’s birthday
Inventor Rudolph Hell’s birthday n
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nSaintnNicholas Day in the Ukraine
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nIt’snstill time for LasnPosadas!
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nIt’snstill time for LasnPosadas!
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nAnniversarynof Samuel Clemens’s first patent
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nPlannahead:
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on:
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nDecembern holidays
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nDecembern birthdays
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- Historicaln anniversaries in December
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn holidays
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
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