Lifestyle

Lifestyle

2015 Holidays in Germany

For planning purposes, the following is a list of German holidays in 2015: Jan. 1 – New Year’s Jan. 6 – Three Kings’ Day (official holiday in Bavaria, Sachsen and Baden-Württemberg only) Feb. 16 – Rose Monday (no legal holiday) Feb. 17 – Shrove Tuesday (Fasching – no legal holiday) […]

December 18, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

There’s still time to see KMC Onstage’s latest production, “Fiddler on the Roof.” The story centers around poor dairyman Tevye and his five daughters who live in the colorful and tight-knit Jewish village of Anatevka. Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill in them tradition in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. The next showings of “Fiddler on the Roof” will take place at 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Jan. 9, 10, 16 and 17, and 3 p.m. Jan. 11 and 18 (special family matinees). Tickets cost $14 for adults, $12 for students and senior citizens (60 and over), $10 for children 9 to 12 years old, $8 for children 6 to 8 years old, $5 for children 3 to 5 years old, free for Fisher House families and wounded warriors, and $45 for a special family pass (family of four or more). Children between 3 and 5 years old are only permitted to special Sunday family matinees. Children under 3 are not permitted to any performance.

KMC Onstage presents ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

Photos by Rick Scavetta

 

December 18, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Courtesy photoOff-base residents must sweep the snow off their sidewalk.

Keep sidewalks free of snow, ice

by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

As a way to avoid accidents, each German community has rules regarding the removal of snow and ice on sidewalks. Residents living off base should check their rental contracts to find out about these obligations. The rental contract clearly states who must keep sidewalks free of ice and snow.

December 18, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Photo by City of KaiserslauternThe Kaiserslautern Christmas market closes Tuesday and reopens Dec. 27 to 30.

Christmas market turns into New Year’s market

by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift wing Public Affairs

The Kaiserslautern Christmas market will end Tuesday, but for those who are not ready to let go of that special holiday atmosphere, the market will reopen Dec. 27 to 30 as a New Year’s market.

December 18, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Courtesy photoThe most important symbol for Christians during the holiday season is the Christmas tree.

History of the Christmas tree

by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

This is the time to look for a Christmas tree to put up and decorate for the holidays. Many Germans like to cut their own tree in the forest. Some local forestry offices offer special tree cutting dates.

December 11, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Know customs policies before sending packages stateside

by Robert Szostek
U.S. Army Europe Office of the Provost Marshal

Mailing packages to the United States from Europe involves many prohibitions, restrictions and import duty rules. That’s why it’s important for members of the U.S. forces community to get the facts before sending parcels stateside, said the U.S. European Command Customs and Border Clearance Agency.

December 11, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Courtesy photoTrippstadt’s “Romantic Christmas in the Forest” will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday near the House of Sustainability, Johanniskreuzer Strasse 1, Trippstadt.

Romantic Christmas in the Forest

by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A Christmas market of a special kind will take place from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday near the information center House of Sustainability (Johanniskreuzer Strasse 1, 67705 Trippstadt). It is known as “Romantic Christmas in the Forest.”

December 11, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Take a Hike

by Donald Seltzer

VOLKSMARCHING NOTES – The Kaiserslautern Sunny Coyotes club has opened up seats to non-members for their Bastogne, Belgium, bus trip. The Dec. 13 trip will allow participants to join in the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of Bastogne’s liberation, to include a Defensive Perimeter walk on trails of 7, 13, […]

December 4, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

German Polizei: Pickpockets like Christmas markets

Courtesy of Police Criminal Prevention of the federal states and the federal government

They like the crowds between vendors’ booths and act fast — pickpockets do their job at Christmas markets. The criminal statistics by German Polizei shows a total of 136,000 cases of pickpocketing in 2013 in Germany, which is a rise of 15 percent compared to 2012 (117,300 cases). These thieves cause a damage of about €39.4 million.

December 4, 2014 ×

Lifestyle

Courtesy photosThe Nuremberg Christmas market has more than 180 wooden booths with red and white roofs. The market is open until Dec. 24.

Nuremberg Christmas market

by Petra Lessoing
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

The City of Nuremberg is known for one of the oldest Christmas markets in Germany, called “Christkindlesmarkt,” and for the production of “Lebkuchen,” or gingerbread.

December 4, 2014 ×