Though the Bach Cantatas have some very old-fashioned spellings in German (such as adding an "et" to the end of third person singular verbs instead of just a "t"), the language is still easily understandable, and the music is among the most beautiful ever created. Enjoy!

Despite one couple whose idea of a romantic Valentine's Day is to visit the German Constitutional Court, Yabla star reporter Diane still manages to find some people with some more traditional ideas of love. What are you doing with your loved one this Valentine's Day?

In this next part, Yabla star reporter Diane tells us tales of the battle between Bretten and the Duke of Württemberg, of the fattened puppy that fooled him into retreat! We are also presented with the conjuring of a court jester. Viel Spaß!

Check out this animated version of the classic Grimm Brothers' fairytale "The Frog Prince," with a lively narration by Bastian Pastewka.

Part two of this series takes Yabla star reporter Diane to a catapult stand, where the carnie gives her a detailed account of the history of the catapult, and on to the "Mercenaries" club, whose members wear medieval costumes and barter their services in Bretten's Peter and Paul Festival. Enjoy!

Yabla star reporter Diane takes to the streets of Karlruhe to ask people about their plans for New Year's Eve and their resolutions for the coming year with a suprisingly diverse array of responses. Guten Rutsch!

In part one of this series, Yabla star reporter Diane attends the Peter and Paul festival in Bretten, where she not only dons medieval garb, but proceeds to take lessons in loading and shooting a replica of an ancient matchlock musket, and all in a genuine Baden dialect!

Monsters for Christmas? They are the sinister contrast to our friendly Santa Claus: While the latter likes to turn a blind eye to naughty children, the Krampus rattles his chain to get the necessary respect from the little ones. The Krampus run in Munich always takes place on two Sundays during Advent.

"I'm dreaming of a wet Christmas?" I'll bet it's the first time you've heard that one! Diving instructor Werner Lambert has placed an entire life-sized Christmas diorama underwater in the Moselle town of Bernkastel-Kues. Here's to a very wet Christmas! Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

Der Struwwelpeter, known famously in English as Shockheaded Peter, is a brutal set of stories from the 19th century intended to terrify children into behaving.

In 1891, Mark Twain wrote Slovenly Peter, his own translation of the book.

This video selection, made in the 1950s, adds a fantastic, surreal element to what is already a bizarre selection of tales. Copyright: RheinMainTV.

In this second of a two-part series, Diane resumes her interview with artist Monika Kaeser and our tour of her latest exhibition. Comprised, in part, of rubbings taken from medieval sites left by the socially ostracized, her work “in the present breathes [life into] the past and the future is born.”

American kids get to make up their own "dungeons" in basements for Halloween fun, but in Germany you can go to the real Frankenstein Castle! Strictly for those who enjoy being frightened... viel Spaß am Halloween! Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The band Sportfreunde Stiller has had a summer of sold-out shows on the tail of their latest hit single “Applaus, Applaus” (“Applause, Applause”) In this Interview, three bandmembers talk about coming to terms with middle-age while retaining their youthful outlook and inspiration from their fans. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen! (video copyright dpa)

The Folkwang Museum put together a fantastic exhibition of James Bond posters for 007 fans, a few examples of which are available to see online. Were developments in modern society reflected in British spy films? Were James Bond’s martinis really “shaken not stirred?” Take a taste of this video cocktail and find out!
Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

The Bad Vilbel Castle Festival has all the requirements for a great night out: beautiful gardens, top-notch cuisine, a great wine selection, and an excellent theater stage. Wine, dine, and theater in the ruins of a medieval castle…Enjoy!