“Easter Pack 2″ is a collection of 3 transcripts, each in their own PDF file. The pack is a ZIP file containing the 3 PDFs and is available from the AllThingsGerman Download Store.

The transcripts in this pack are:

• Osterei
• Osterfeuer
• Gründonnerstag

To find out more, visit the AllThingsGerman Download Store.

Many of you might already know, the Dresdner Bank AG merged with Commerzbank a while ago. To finish the fusion successfully, all IT related programs are going to be combined during Easter Break.

Therefore, Commerzbank will deny access to online banking, cash draft and all other services from April 22 to April 25, 2011 (Good Friday till Easter Monday).

Please make sure you will have enough cash on hand during this time or for your upcoming vacation.  You will be unable to withdraw cash in Europe or abroad from April 22 to April 25.

No EC-card (debit card) use is possible during this period.

A bit more about this Notice of Technical Maintenance is on their website Commerzbank.

“Easter Pack 1″ is a collection of 4 transcripts, each in their own PDF file. The pack is a ZIP file containing the 4 PDFs and is available from the AllThingsGerman Download Store.

The transcripts in this pack are:

• Palmsonntag
• Karfreitag
• Ostern
• Die Auferstehung

To find out more, visit the AllThingsGerman Download Store.

The Osterhase (Easter bunny) I spotted at the local Edeka Supermarket must be the biggest edible one I have ever seen. It is about 40 cm (16″) in height, weighs 1 KG (2.2 lbs) and costs a stately 39 euro.

Of course, it is made by the Swiss chocolate maker Lindt and for a better idea how big this bunny really is, see Lindt’s website showing a girl holding one in her arms.

Pounds of chocolate sitting on the shelf

This is not an advertisement, I do not even care for chocolate all that much. But I bet you won’t feel like hopping once you have devoured this life size Easter bunny. Has a bit of a touch of Super Size Me German style! Morgan Spurlock, I invite you to come to Germany around Easter time.

Gründonnerstag is the German name for Maundy Thursday.  It is the day before Karfreitag.

On this day, people go to Church to be freed of their sins in order to make a “clean” start for Easter, thus leading to one explanation of the name: the idea is that “green wood” is said to be fresh.

Another reason for the name may be that it is the end of the fasting season, and people used to eat mainly vegetables on this day.

It is a normal working day, although many people do take the day off to go away for a long weekend.

To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)

Download the MP3 file | Comment in the forum

Subscribe to the podcast | Listen by telephone