British-German Association (BGA)

#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!

Members of Taunton Chamber of Commerce also took part in the visit, which was organised by the volunteers of 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝘀𝗹𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. To find out more or get involved, visit www.facebook.com/profile.php?... (2/2)

@uk.diplo.de
@gideonamos.bsky.social

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)

Events like these would be impossible to realise without membership fees & donations. Thank you to our loyal members & generous donors! If you like our work, please consider joining or supporting the BGA: britishgermanassociation.org/donations/

(2/2)

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 falktwinfo@yahoo.co.uk.

#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!

Skegness Town Twinning Skegness Town Twinning. 904 likes · 83 talking about this. Skegness is twinned with Bad Gandersheim in Germany

The celebrations coincided with the "Bad Gandersheim Reads" festival of books, including authors from Skegness. The twinning, which began in 1979, is being maintained by the volunteers of 𝗦𝗸𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 - visit their FB page to find out more! www.facebook.com/Skegness.Twi... (2/2)