#FunFactFriday: 🇩🇪 has more zoos than any other country in Europe, and is 2nd 🌍. Berlin Zoo even welcomed 3.85m visitors in 2023, and was interestingly inspired by London’s Zoological Garden before opening in 1844. Have you managed to visit? And do you remember the iconic polar bear, Knut? 🐻‍❄️

#WordyWednesday 🥣 German has a great phrase for “to beat around the bush”: um den heißen Brei herumreden, literally meaning “to talk around the hot porridge.” Same meaning but with a nice wintry feel to it!

Watching Dinner for One: “the same procedure every year!”🍾 This 🇬🇧 sketch has become a NYE's tradition in 🇩🇪 - up to half of the population tune in each year. It’s usually shown without subtitles, relying purely on its physical comedy. Some fans even recreate Sophie’s meal!👇

A lively and fulfilling year for the BGA, marked by inspiring events, thoughtful discussions, and meaningful connections. From panels to cultural gatherings, we brought people together to strengthen 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 ties. Grateful to our members and partners for their support.

One of Germany’s iconic festive decorations: Räuchermänner! Meaning “smoking men”, these wooden incense figures come from the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in eastern Germany. Hand-carved, they release fragrant smoke through the mouth, bringing each character to life. #Räuchermann

Lebkuchenherzen are a familiar sight at 🇩🇪 Xmas markets. Unlike soft lebkuchen, these are much harder - usually bought as souvenirs or gifts, not snacks. They come wrapped in film and with ribbons to hang up, with messages ranging from sweet, to more tongue-in-cheek! 🤎

#WordyWednesday: Party season is here! Work-dos, reunions, and all the Christmas celebrations are in full-swing. If you’re looking for a fun way to describe the livelier gatherings you’ll be heading to at the end of this year, remember the saying ‘“da steppt der Bär”! 🐻💃

A little insight into our Carols and Readings event with the Christuskirche in Knightsbridge last week. A lovely evening packed full of hymns and readings in 🇩🇪and 🇬🇧, Glühwein and Lebkuchen! Have a listen to Fever Pitch Choir’s ‘Es is ein Ros entsprungen’.

UK band Radiohead wrap up their Europe tour in Berlin tonight. 🇩🇪 music has played a part in inspiring them: the band often cites Krautrock, especially Cologne band CAN. Thom Yorke even referred to Krautrock synths and knowledge of ‘70s 🇩🇪 when scoring Suspiria (2018)!

State dinners show off national pride, and this 1958 Guildhall menu cover says it all. With the State Visit last week, it’s fun to compare menus from different times. Take a look at last week’s compared to the 1958 luncheon. What would you serve at a 🇬🇧-🇩🇪 state dinner?

#WordyWednesday: Butter will be used generously in German cooking and baking in the upcoming Christmas season. But did you know there are German sayings dedicated entirely to butter? 🧈

#twinningtuesday The Odenwald Association is joining Falkirk’s first Festival of Trees! Their tree features Odenwald photo baubles, handmade German-themed decorations, and more. See it on 13–14 Dec at the Howgate Centre, Falkirk. 🇩🇪🌲

#FunFactFriday🎅 Tomorrow is St Nikolaus Day in Germany! Kids are polishing their boots tonight and leaving them outside in the hope of finding it filled with treats and gifts all from St Nikolaus. For many families, it’s seen as the start of Christmas fun. Did you celebrate it?

Christmas markets are back in both Germany and the UK - and so is Bratwurst season. 🌭 With the smell of sizzling sausage everywhere, it’s the perfect moment to enjoy Germany’s best sausage-themed sayings. Heard any other good ones we should add? #WordyWednesday

🇬🇧🤝🇩🇪 King Charles and the Royal Family welcomed German President Steinmeier for the first German State Visit in 27 years. BGA Chair Peter Barnes is live at Windsor for the BBC with Kasia Madera and Sean Coughlan.

"Advent, Advent ...ein Lichtlein brennt” Yesterday’s first Advent candle marked the true beginning of the season. Germany is officially in Christmas mode 🎄 Who’s got one? And who is thinking of starting this cosy German tradition?

#GreatBritishBakeOff’s Jürgen Krauss shares why cinnamon stars (Zimtsterne) are his ultimate German Christmas treat. Catch his full chat with EatingWell’s Abigail Abesamis Demarest, all about his German Christmas Cookbook and festive memories: youtube.com/watch?v=UsYpM6…

#WordyWednesday: In German, “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof” (“I only understand train station”) means “I’m totally confused”. English says “It’s all Greek to me,” French/Spanish/Swedish use Greek or Chinese… but Germany? They opt for the train station! 🚉

#WhyLearn German? German shares many familiar words with English, making vocab a breeze! But beware of false friends, gift is not the same in German! ☠️ Which German word has made learning easier, or caused a funny mix-up for you?

#FunFactFriday: Hamburg has around 2500 bridges, more than Venice, Amsterdam & London combined! 🌉 Check out Speicherstadt, the historic warehouse district and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its iconic red-brick buildings, canals & bridges. #Hamburg #DiscoverGermany

Join us 24 Nov 2025, 6:30pm GMT for an exclusive BGA online event with @juergenthebread.bsky.social Jürgen Krauss and Abigail Abesamis Demarest celebrating The German Christmas Cookbook. Festive bakes, expert tips, Christmas inspiration! 🎄✨Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#WordyWednesday 🍺 Ever notice how languages say the same thing in different ways? English: “It’s not my business”. German: “Das ist nicht mein Bier” (“That’s not my beer”). Same meaning, German style!

#WhyLearnGerman? Because German words often explain themselves. Many long words are built from smaller parts you already know. Just think of Staubsauger (“dust-sucker” = hoover). This structure makes new vocab easy to decode. What are your favourite examples?

The German Academic Scholarship Foundation celebrated their 100-year anniversary last weekend in London with a full programme – including a networking fair at King's College. The BGA was delighted to take part. Thank you to Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes for the invite!

#FunFactFriday: Christmas Markets are popping up across the UK: Manchester and Birmingham are in full swing, and Hyde Park’s #WinterWonderland opens today. But did you know 🇩🇪 has over 150 cities and towns with established Christmas markets? Berlin alone has more than 70! ✨🎅

Great turnout last night at Edinburgh Uni for “Still a Model? What We Can (and Can’t) Learn from German Federalism” — a joint BGA & @ccc-research.bsky.social event. Thanks to @angusrobertson.bsky.social, Elke Heins, David Smith, and everyone who joined us! 🙌📸 #GermanFederalism #Edinburgh

#WordyWednesday: Last night in 🇩🇪, lanterns jingled and swayed for St. Martin’s Day, with children singing “Rabimmel, rabammel, rabum!”. These mimetic words echo how languages hear the world: like English’s ding-dong and German’s kling-klang. Do you have a favourite sound-word?

#WhyLearnGerman? 🇩🇪 Even knowing the basics can turn your next TV watch into a language lesson! Switch your Netflix or Prime shows to German audio/subs and pick up vocab + grammar naturally. Low effort, high reward. 📺

#FunFactFriday: Next Tuesday, 11 Nov, holds meaning in both 🇩🇪 & 🇬🇧! In Germany, it’s St. Martin’s Day – lanterns, songs & kindness. In the UK, it’s Remembrance Day – honouring those who served. Different traditions, same spirit of compassion & remembrance.

📢 #BGAEvent: It is not too late to book for our first in-person event in Edinburgh, organised jointly with @ccc-research.bsky.social. We're honoured that @angusrobertson.bsky.social will share this thoughts on German federalism. Register here: eventbrite.co.uk/e/still-a-mo...

Yesterday's #GermanLinksQuiz question was this: buff.ly/L2fRUFv And here's the answer 💡 Congratulations to everyone who got it right ❗️

#GermanLinksQuiz: our series explores British-German links by asking what connects familiar aspects of UK life with Germany. Questions on a Wednesday, answers on a Thursday. Feel free to post your guesses below 👇 Enjoy and be kind in your comments!

Last month, 30 people from Königslutter (DE) visited their twin town Taunton (UK). The partnership has been going since 1992. A week-long programme included local trips, museum visits, a reception given by the Mayor & quintessentially West Country experiences such as cream tea. (1/2)

Other recent #BGAEvents now available to watch online include 𝗥𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗹 (youtu.be/q71_Zlx9QJ0) and 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗸 (youtu.be/i3TIGm94ll4). (1/2)

Yesterday, we hosted an online event celebrating our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, to mark his 90th birthday, in partnership with the Dresden Trust, @bloodcanceruk.bsky.social & the Scouts. If you missed it, you can now watch a recording here: youtu.be/YJ8brwkQysc @royalfamily.bsky.social

#WhyLearnGerman? Because spelling in German is easier than in most other languages! It's largely phonemic, meaning that the same spelling indicates the same sound, and vice versa. Even the use of the (in)famous "ß" follows a simple rule. Here it is ❗️

Yesterday's #GermanLinksQuiz question was this: buff.ly/aja6Xzj And here's the answer 💡 Congratulations to everyone who got it right ❗️

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗥𝗛 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝟵𝟬 - A lifetime of service, supporting 140+ charities & causes. Join us 𝗼𝗻 𝟭𝟯 𝗢𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝟲𝗽𝗺 on Zoom as charities honour his legacy, with insights from royal biographer Hugo Vickers and others. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... @uk.diplo.de

Wishing our Royal Patron, HRH The Duke of Kent, a very happy 90th birthday! @royalfamily.bsky.social

#GermanLinksQuiz: our series explores British-German links by asking what connects familiar aspects of UK life 🇬🇧 with Germany 🇩🇪 Questions on a Wednesday, answers on a Thursday. Feel free to post your guesses below 👇 Enjoy and be kind in your comments!

Yesterday's #GermanLinksQuiz question was this: buff.ly/hXW3VfT And here's the answer 💡 Congratulations to everyone who got it right ❗️

The Odenwald Association (which supports Falkirk’s twinning link with 🇩🇪) will be celebrating their 50th anniversary this weekend with an Oktoberfest evening (Fri 3rd), an exhibition in Falkirk & a ceilidh in Airth (Sat 4th). For details, contact Anne on [email protected].

#GermanLinksQuiz: our series explores British-German links by asking what connects familiar aspects of UK life with Germany. Questions on a Wednesday, answers on a Thursday. Feel free to post your guesses below 👇 Enjoy and be kind in your comments!

#TwinningTuesday: earlier this month, 𝗕𝗮𝗱 𝗚𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺 (DE) welcomed visitors from its twin town 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 (UK) to mark 10 years of "Two Voices" - an installation consisting of an iconic British phone box & seaside bench which represent the cultural dialogue between the two towns. (1/2) @uk.diplo.de

#FunFactFriday: Hanna Steinmüller this week became the first lawmaker to address the German parliament while carrying her baby, earning praise from the (female) President of the Bundestag. As recently as 2021, Stella Creasey was rebuked for doing the same in the House of Commons.

Yesterday's #GermanLinksQuiz question was this: buff.ly/ZRztNr6 And here's the answer 💡 Congratulations to everyone who got it right ❗️

A great pleasure to meet @mayorofgm.bsky.social Andy Burnham & German Honorary Consul Sandra Morrison (pictured here with BGA Chairman Peter Barnes) at the 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗥𝘂𝗵𝗿 Innovation Summit today, marking the next step in this UK-German regional partnership initiated by the BGA in 2021.

#GermanLinksQuiz: our series explores British-German links by asking what connects familiar aspects of UK life with Germany. Questions on a Wednesday, answers on a Thursday. Feel free to post your guesses below 👇 Enjoy and be kind in your comments!

📢 #BGAEvent: 𝗥𝗶𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗹 - @theguardian.com journalist @kateconnolly.bsky.social in conversation with director 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝗶𝗲𝗹 📅 Thu 25 Sep, 6.30pm 🗺️ On Zoom 👉 Join the BGA & register here: britishgermanassociation.org/event/riefen...

#TwinningTuesday: the brilliant @jayforeman.bsky.social & @markcooperjones.bsky.social at #MapMen have just published a fun potted history of twinning in the UK (& beyond)! Not limited to UK-Germany, but well worth a watch - and a light-hearted yet sincere reminder of why twinning remains relevant ❤️