Süßes oder Saures

 

Ever since visiting Germany, I’ve been fascinated with its culture and have spent a lot of time learning more on my own. Going to Germany was one of the best experiences of my life, and it’s a place I could even see myself living one day. Recently, I stumbled across an article on NBC News about SNL’s Halloween store skit, and it got me thinking about Halloween, one of my favorite holidays. You might be wondering, “What does this have to do with Germany?” Well, I found out through my research that Germany doesn’t really celebrate Halloween the way we do in the U.S.

For one, Halloween isn’t as big of a deal in Germany. There are no massive Halloween stores like in the SNL skit, and the tradition of trick-or-treating, or "Süßes oder Saures" as they call it, is far less common. Another reason for Halloween’s smaller presence in Germany is that it coincides with an important German holiday: Reformation Day.

Reformation Day, celebrated on October 31st, commemorates Martin Luther’s nailing of the 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517. This event sparked the Protestant Reformation, which had a significant impact on the Catholic Church and led to the development of Protestantism. The day is primarily observed in Protestant regions like Saxony and Thuringia, where people attend church services, reflect on history, and participate in educational events focused on religious freedom and the importance of scripture.

Despite Halloween being a bit overshadowed by Reformation Day, some Halloween traditions have still made their way into German culture, especially among younger generations. Many kids do dress up in costumes, even if older generations don’t embrace the tradition as much. Halloween parties are becoming more popular in larger cities like Munich, where you can also find spooky parades and themed events.

Germany also has some unique autumn festivals, like pumpkin festivals, where people carve pumpkins and celebrate the harvest season. These festivals sometimes incorporate Halloween elements, making it a fun and festive time. While Halloween may not be as widely celebrated as in the U.S., Germany has its own way of enjoying the season, blending local traditions with more modern Halloween influences.

Experiencing Halloween in Germany would definitely be something special. It would give me a chance to see how two very different cultures celebrate one of my favorite holidays in unique ways. Let me know how you celebrate Halloween and what traditions you love the most!

#Halloween #Germany #NBC #ReformationDay #CulturalTraditions #TravelBlog

Read more:

Halloween in Germany: https://www.german-way.com/history-and-culture/holidays-and-celebrations/halloween-and-martinstag/#

NBC:https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/spirit-halloween-strikes-back-snl-season-premiere-sketch-rcna173440

Central Michigan Life

Living on campus at Central Michigan University (CMU) has been a great experience for me so far. I’m staying in a dorm that houses four people, with two in each room, a shared living area, and a personal bathroom for everyone. I got lucky with a larger room, which gives me extra space, but even the smaller rooms are still comfortable. The best part is how close the dorms are to everything—classes, dining halls, and other campus spots—so I never have to worry about rushing to class.

One of the things I enjoy most is the strong sense of community. There are always events and activities happening in the dorms and around campus, which makes it easy to make friends and stay involved. This is especially helpful for freshmen like me who are still getting used to college life. One big highlight of the weekends is the football games. I recently attended my first Saturday game of the season—Central Michigan vs. Ball State Cardinals—and the atmosphere was electric. The crowd was thrilled with our home win, and CMU football games are always interactive, with fun events like the 50-yard dash during timeouts. This year’s halftime show is also exciting and full of energy. Central secured a thrilling victory with a final score of 37 to 34. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of football but still had a great time being at the stadium. 

When it comes to food, CMU has plenty of options. There are choices for everyone, including those with special diets like gluten free or vegan options, and having a meal plan makes it super convenient since I don’t have to worry about cooking.

The campus itself is beautiful, with lots of green spaces where you can relax between classes. The town of Mount Pleasant is small but welcoming, with a nice selection of shops and restaurants nearby. One of my favorite places on campus is the coffee shop, Ponder—it’s a great spot to chill or study.

Of course, like any dorm life, there are some downsides. Sometimes roommates can be noisy, or the rules—like quiet hours or visitor restrictions—can feel a little strict.

Overall, living on campus at CMU is incredibly convenient and a fantastic way to meet new people, stay involved in campus life, and enjoy everything college has to offer with minimal hassle. Let me know about your college experience! Did you like your dorms? 

Lost Swimsuits and Found Memories

My family and I had never gone away for Labor Day before, and since I had a few extra days off from college, I decided to plan a trip with my significant other. As broke college students, we decided to go camping. We chose Little Brevort Lake - North State Forest Campground for our weekend escape. The campground offers up to 15 spots for campers, along with rustic amenities like a pit toilet and a water spout. Neither of us had ever gone camping on our own or pitched a tent, so we were definitely in for a long weekend.

We spent three days traveling around the Upper Peninsula, visiting the gorgeous sights my parents recommended while the weather was still nice. Our favorite part of the trip was spending an afternoon at Tahquamenon’s Lower Falls. I highly recommend seeing both the Upper and Lower Falls if you ever get the chance. At the Lower Falls, we explored the waterfalls and took a light hike. Even though it was a bit chilly that day, we decided it would be an amazing experience to wade and go behind the falls. The water was surprisingly warm for a waterfall, but after getting drenched, the cool air wasn’t so forgiving. With no towels and far from our car, we continued our hike while holding our wet bathing suits. It was the coldest and felt like the longest hike I had ever been on.

Once we finally reached the car, tired and still soaked, I realized I wasn’t holding my bathing suit anymore. So, we hiked all the way back to the falls to retrieve it. Despite the mishap, Tahquamenon Falls made our camping trip unforgettable. I consider the park to be a hidden gem, offering a quieter and more intimate experience compared to the larger Upper Falls. The Lower Falls features a series of five smaller waterfalls that visitors can explore. It’s the perfect spot for nature lovers and hikers. The trails are well-maintained, and dogs are welcome too.

While the falls are free to visit, you'll need a recreation pass for your car to enter the park. I’d recommend bringing water shoes, a bathing suit, and a towel if you plan to get up close to the falls, as well as a camera to capture the beautiful scenery. The Lower Falls are a must-see for any Michigan traveler. Have you ever been to the Lower Falls? If so, I’d love to hear about your experiences! #Travel  #Tahquamenon Falls 

Breitachklamm Hike

 

Hello again, today I will continue my travel stories from my trip to Germany. When looking back at photos, I always have the fondest memories of this day and picture. July 20th of last year I ended up taking a waterfall hike with my host family and to this day I consider it one of my favorite parts of my trip. I love this photo because I'm reminded of Bavaria's natural beauty while walking through waterfalls and cave passageways. This trail is a perfect hike emphasizing many of Bavaria's natural landforms. This photo was taken in Breitachklamm in the region of Allgäu. Tickets were less than 10 dollars for this beautiful hike. A bonus of this location is that it is reasonably close to Oberstdorf, a very unheard area to many tourists making the town an authentic place to enjoy your time living like a local. I hope from hearing my thoughts you take the opportunity to visit these amazing sites. 

Berlin Travels

Last summer I was able to take a trip to Germany and was fortunate enough to see Berlin. I would highly recommend going if you ever have the chance. The food and sites in Berlin are sufficient to keep you occupied for days while also getting to experience breathtaking views and culture. I would recommend taking a walk down the remains of the Berlin Wall as well as visiting Checkpoint Charlie. For my shopaholics, there are many souvenir shops to stop at, and the Mall of Berlin for your shopping needs! I was only in this amazing place for a few days but I would highly suggest exploring outside of my recommendations as well.