The Ice Saints, the Sheep Cold, and Why Your German Ancestors Watched the Sky

Andrea Bentschneider

Published on: 18/05/2026

Your ancestors did not check a weather app. They did not even check a thermometer in most centuries. What they had instead was a tightly woven calendar of saints' days, farm rhythms, and proverbs handed down across generations, refined by anyone who

GGC Blog

Halloween in April? The Story of Walpurgisnacht and Your German Ancestors

Andrea Bentschneider

Published on: 30/04/2026

What sounds like “Halloween in April” is actually Walpurgisnacht - a night where bonfires, saints, and centuries-old folklore collide. Discover what this layered tradition reveals about the world your German ancestors lived in.

GGC Blog