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The beginning of Summer and the longest day of the year will be on 20 June. This is a special day that marks the peak of sunlight and is celebrated by many cultures around the world. In Berlin, the sun will rise at 04:43 and set at 21:33, giving us nearly 17 hours of daylight to enjoy. The long days are perfect to take a stroll in one of the many parks, enjoy a refreshing swim in a nearby lake, or just sit back and relax in a beer garden with your friends.

Germans love to grill and take advantage of the warm weather. You might find yourself invited to German Grillfest, a popular tradition where friends and family gather together to enjoy grilled sausages, vegetables, and even cheese. Just know that a grillfest is nothing like a South African braai 🙂 

Grilling in public

When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a

Braai Season

Summer is finally here and it is time to invite friends to kuier around the braai.  But before you light your charcoal, check out the rules and regulations that

It is also time to get your cozzies out as some public swimming facilities (Freibad) will be open.
Other options are to swim at a beach, a baggersee or a lake.
Hiking and riding your bicycle or mountain bike are also very popular activities. Great websites for trails are Outdooractive or Komoot.  Both are available as apps.

Unique weather conditions: 
die Schafskälte – Between June 4th and June 20th (usually on the 11th of June), there is often a cold snap in Central Europe. The cool and humid air flowing in from the northwest causes the temperature to drop. When this happens, the weather changes significantly, which can lead to the first – severe – thunderstorms of the year and put a considerable damper on a good summer lookout.

Folk saying (Bauernregel) Die Siebenschläferregel – “Ist Siebenschläfertag ein Regentag, regnet’s noch sieben Wochen danach” – According to this rule, the weather conditions that occur during the period around 27 June can significantly influence the weather for the rest of summer.

SeasonSummer
TimeCentral European Time (CET), Summertime – the same time as South Africa until the last Sunday of October, when Wintertime starts (30 October 2022).
Weather

The average day temperature is 22 degrees Celsius. The days become longer and there are more hours of sunshine

Plan your month

everything you need to know

Festivals

The warmer weather and long nights means that the summer Festivals are in full swing.
Cities come alive with street parades, music, markets, food and enough to drink.
Summer solstice will be on the 21st of June. It is still custom in many areas to light bonfires or use fireworks to celebrate.

Events listed on our website

Schalk Bezuidenhout keeping up – Berlin 25.09

25/09/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Newly married, Schalk feels older, wiser and much more mature (possibly), but all he wants is to stay “hip with the youth”. Can he do it? Can he Keep Up? As seen on Netflix and Comedy Central and fresh from supporting Trevor Noah on his arena tour. This is an external event,  we are not […]

Bok van Blerk & Riaan Benade 17.10

17/10/2024 @ 8:00 pm – 11:45 pm – Welcome, music lovers, to an evening dedicated to the unforgettable sounds of Riaan Benade and Bok van Blerk. From the vast plains of South Africa, these two extraordinary artists come together to enchant us with their unique voices and enchanting melodies. These artists enjoy world fame in their home country, so prepare yourself for an […]

Scatterlings of Africa in Concert Sat, 21 Sept -1173 Montherod Switzerland

21/09/2024 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – This event will be the highlight of the tour featuring our three artists! Refentse Morake | Julani J | Anne-Marie van Eeden You will be welcomed at the venue with a glass of South African wine and light snacks from 17:30 – 18:00, included in the ticket price.   After the concert, there will be […]

Trots Afrikaans Nederland

19/10/2024 @ 5:00 pm – 11:30 pm – BOK VAN BLERK, RIAAN BENADE, LIANIE MAY, DEWALD WASSERFALL, ‘N SKOFFEL-DANS & MEER! VIR SLEGS EEN AAND IN VEENENDAAL. Tickets on Evenbrite.nl or on the deBAsiliek Venue site   Disclaimer The events listed on this website are provided for informational purposes only. We are not the organizers of any events and do not assume responsibility […]

Some foods and drinks to try

01.

Berries

Berries like Strawberries (Erdbeeren), Red currant berries (Johannisbeeren), Blueberries (Blaubeeren) and Cherries (Kirschen) are all in season. 
Make your own Rote Grütze and serve it with Ice cream, Milchreis or pudding. You can find some more recipes here.

02.

Braai

With the sun shining so bright and a gentle breeze blowing, it is the perfect weather to gather around with friends and family for a delightful braai.

03.

Asparagus

04.

It is still Spargalsaison until the 24th of June, which means you still have time to enjoy the seasonal asparagus dishes that this time of year brings.  For more inspiration visit our Spargel page

Ice cream

 The best Ice cream you will find at Italian Gelato shops. Do try Spaghetti Eis, a delicious concoction of ice cream shaped like spaghetti noodles, topped with a sweet strawberry sauce that will make your taste buds sing. Trust us, this dessert is not to be missed!

05.

Aperol Spritz

Summer cocktails

Relax and fully immerse yourself in the sunshine by trying out some refreshing cocktails such as an Aperol Spritz, a classic Italian cocktail with a twist of orange zest and soda water, or the Hugo, a delightful blend of elderflower, mint, and Prosecco.

Fruit and Veggies in Season

Vocabulary

German Barbecuedas Grillfest
a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer.die Gemütlichkeit 
Man-made quarry filled with water

der Baggersee

Lakeder See
Oceandas Meer
Beachder Strand / der Badestrand
Blueberriesdie Blaubeeren
Raspberriesdie Himbeeren
Elderberriesdie Holunderbeeren
Strawberriesdie Erdbeeren

Sources

Summer Holidays

The school summer holidays are during July and August.  Schulferien has an up-to-date school calendar.  Start planning your summer holidays well in advance. Below are some tips and information that might be helpful

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Germany, known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities, offers a diverse range of accommodation options to suit every traveler’s needs. Here’s

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