Like the picture above shows, lifestyle, in it’s relationship to culture, is always what we make of it!

Accordingly it’s about getting the best out of the moment - and what do you always choose, if you want the best?: of course something GERMAN! ...

German thoroughness and German inventive genius should however not be overrated at this point. Indeed it’s a fact that the Anglo-Saxon Americans once used to say “It takes a German to do it“, if something appeared almost impossible, but we can do even much more, than “being able to do everything better“: We’re also marvelous in “doing absolutely nothing useful“!

Germany is the Country with the biggest number of holidays worldwide! - And “holiday“ in Germany really means that absolutely nobody works anything - Mamas excluded ...

The nicest expression of this mentality can be found in an old little poem:

“Durch Anschlag mach’ ich euch bekannt, heut ist kein Fest im deutschen Land. Drum sei der heut’ge Tag, für alle Zeit, zum ‚Nichtfest-Feiertag’ geweiht!“ ...

“By notice I announce to you, today’s no fest in the German country. Therefore the present day, for all time, may be “solemnly named” the non-fest-holiday!” …

This also makes obvious that Germans always longed for a cause to celebrate and so customs arose for everything - decorations and special songs. The holiday clothes are most well known : the “Trachten“, with which every region, often even every town developed it’s own traditions. - The image, that Germans would have traditionally been wearing Lederhosen therefore belongs into the dump can! - No, better into a volcano! - Most have (and had historically) never even seen Lederhosen in real life! ...

That Trachten are actually tied to a specific locality or at least a tribe, leads us back to the first sentence: Here it is about what we make of things!

The German culture in the United States has once been very daily, lively and most of all also AMERICAN!!!

Therefore it’s a central motive of Germerika and Hecker, to motivate all her German-Americans to be creative in a German way - no matter in which aspect of culture!

From children painting pictures to the fashion designer, who discovers her new inspiration in this source and suddenly wins a market of fifty million German-Americans.

The crucial thing here is self-assurance, in German: “SELBSTBEWUSSTSEIN”! - This means “being aware of yourself“ as well as “having the courage to express yourself“!

Trendsetters are never those, who wait for others“. - Except maybe if waiting should start to become a hot trend one day itself …

At this point it’s clear how DIVERSE this chapter would have to be, in order to be good, but also that we have to request your understanding for how little you can find here so far.

However we have to start somehow and the best way to do this, seems to be telling what we want to achieve and hoping that this can inspire others to help.

Therefore several parts of this site first have to be about motivating and offering a first access to our culture. With the information given on our state-sites and tribe-sites, everyone can at least start by searching the internet or the (much more beautiful) real world for further inspiration! There are many people who’d be glad, if German-Americans showed interest for what they do or have created. - And everyone who doesn’t find what she or he likes, just needs do create this her- or himself. - The Opportunities offered by modern media are giant and you can always also contact your regional German groups! - So let’s all make something of it! - Have fun! Have courage! Be self-assured - Be “selbstbewusst”!