Happy Hanukkah!
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt around 164 BCE. This year it falls on December 25th – January 2nd. It features the nightly lighting of the menorah, commemorating the miracle of oil that lasted eight days. The holiday includes special prayers, festive foods like latkes and sufganiyot, and games such as spinning the dreidel.
Today, the Jewish community in Germany is around 118,000. It is the fourth largest in Western Europe and the eighth largest in the world. The majority of Jews who currently reside in Germany were born in the former Soviet Union (USSR).
The United States has the world`s second-largest Jewish population after Israel, with around 7.5 million people.
Merry Christmas! Frohe Weihnachten! Wishing everyone an enjoyable and restful holiday.
We will be closed this week on December 23rd – January 1st for the holidays. We will be open regular hours again on January 2nd.
Wishing you all a happy and restful holiday and Happy New Year!! 🎄 🎁 ❄️
Today is the Winter solstice, which is the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Also referred to as "Yule," it is an ancient winter festival with deep roots in Germanic cultures, originating thousands of years ago. It was traditionally celebrated around the winter solstice.
The festival`s name derives from the Old Norse "jól" and Old English "geol," both referring to a midwinter celebration. Yule was closely associated with the god Odin, who was also known as Jolnir. The celebration focused on themes of fire, light, and feasting, often featuring roasted meats due to the practice of thinning livestock in colder months.
Yule held great religious importance in Germanic paganism. It was connected to the Wild Hunt, the veneration of ancestors, and increased supernatural activity. The festival involved various traditions, including the Yule log, Yule goat, and Yule boar, which may have pre-Christian origins.
As Christianity spread across Europe, Yule began to merge with Christian traditions.
– By the 9th century, "Yule" became synonymous with Christmas in many languages.
– During the Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th century), pagan Yule rituals gradually blended with Christian narratives.
– In the High and Late Middle Ages (11th to 15th century), Yule traditions were increasingly reinterpreted through a Christian lens, though many pagan aspects persisted.
Today, Yule is celebrated by Neo-Pagans and adherents of Modern Germanic paganism, often as a separate observance from Christmas.
There is an archaeological site in Germany known as the Goseck Circle. It is significant to the winter solstice due to its precise alignment with the sunrise and sunset on this day, marking it as one of the oldest known solar observatories, dating back to around 4900 BCE. This alignment indicates that the winter solstice held considerable importance for the Neolithic people, likely serving religious or ceremonial purposes. Overall, Goseck Circle exemplifies the sophisticated astronomical knowledge of prehistoric societies and their deep connection to celestial events.
We have new beer!
“Erbe ’48” | Märzen | 5.2% ABV
Inspired by local brewing history and the German Revolution of 1848, this beer honors the heritage of German settlers in our community. Erbe translates to "heritage."
We’re excited to release Erbe ’48, (pronounced AIR-BUH) a special Märzen brewed in collaboration with @twinspanbrewing. Made specially for our Oktoberfest events earlier this Fall, we got the rest of the batch canned and ready to take home! This is a limited brew and would make a great unique gift for a German beer lover in your life.
Comes in 16 oz packs of 4 and is only available in our gift shop.
$14 for a 4-pack, GAHC+M members get a 10% discount!
#beer #german #museum #immigration #history #iowa #davenport #quadcities #gift
There are only a few days left to collect pickles! 🥒 🎄 ❄️ ⛄
Find 10 pickles to win a pickle ornament for your own tree and be entered into a drawing for a chances to win downtown gift cards and a Grand Prize Basket!
🏆 Pick up an official card at one of the participating businesses to play. Turn in your completed card into one of the following locations:
🇩🇪 German American Heritage Center (712 W. 2nd St.)
Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.,
Sunday 12 – 4 p.m.
📚 Davenport Public Library (321 N. Main St.)
Monday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
**the last day to pick up prize pickles at the GAHC+M is Sunday December 29th (while supplies last). (We are closed Dec 30th -Jan 1st).
#downtowndavenport #iowa #qc #quadcities #qcthatswhere #deckthedowntowns
We are here! Christkindlmarkt is still on. We have indoor vendors and a heated tent outdoors. Come get some delicious food and glühwein to warm up 🔥
Meet our vendors at Christkindlmarkt!
Mi Bella Resin will have resin keychains, decor, trinket boxes, & more. With a large variety of designs and colors, these make great small gifts or stocking stuffers!
Join us Saturday December 14th from 10 am – 6 pm to shop all of our wonderful vendors, purchase German food, enjoy various music throughout the day featuring Die Musikmeisters from 2-6 pm. Santa will be available for photos from 11-2, and free admission all day. Stay warm in our big tent, grab a glass of Glühwein, Bier, or Heiße Schokolade and stay cozy by our fire pits. 🔥 🍷 🍺 ☕️
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