Zwischen den Jahren - The Week Between the Years, Week 52

SHOW NOTES — Week 52

Zwischen den Jahren: The Magic of Germany’s “Nothing Week”

🎧 Episode Overview

The days between Christmas and New Year feel strange for many newcomers to Germany. Offices are quiet, emails go unanswered, and time itself seems to slow down.

In this episode of Life, Just in German, Christine explains the uniquely German concept of Zwischen den Jahren — the in-between time when the old year hasn’t fully ended and the new one hasn’t begun. You’ll learn why this pause exists, how Germans relate to it culturally and emotionally, and how embracing it can change the way you experience time, rest, and belonging.

🇩🇪  German from the Episode

🔹 Core Concepts & Seasonal Terms

Zwischen den Jahren
between the years
👉 TSVI-shen den YAH-ren
(The quiet days between Christmas and New Year)

die Raunächte
the “rough” or sacred nights around the year’s end
👉 ROW-nuh-nehk-teh
(Traditional nights associated with reflection and transition)

der Jahreswechsel
the turn of the year
👉 YAH-res-VEK-sel

Silvester
New Year’s Eve
👉 ZIL-ves-ter

zweiter Weihnachtstag
Second Christmas Day (Dec 26)
👉 TSVAI-ter VY-nakts-tahk

🔹 Greetings & Social Phrases

Guten Rutsch
literally: “good slide”; meaning: have a good transition into the new year
👉 GOO-ten ROOTCH

einen guten Rutsch
a good slide / wishing someone a good transition
👉 EYE-nen GOO-ten ROOTCH

Frohes neues Jahr
Happy New Year
👉 FROH-es NOI-es YAR
(not used before Jan 1 in Germany)

Wir wünschen einen guten Rutsch!
We wish you a good transition into the new year!
👉 VEER VUEN-shen EYE-nen GOO-ten ROOTCH

Nichts Besonderes
nothing special
👉 NIKTS beh-ZON-der-es

Tschüss
bye
👉 CHOOS

🔹 Daily Life & Institutions

der Amt
(government office; often said as das Amt)
👉 AHMT

Betriebsferien
company holidays / business shutdown
👉 beh-TREEBS-fee-ree-en

Verdauungsspaziergang
digestion walk (after eating)
👉 fer-DOW-oong-shpaht-see-er-gang

🔹 Reflection & Emotional Vocabulary

nachdenken
to reflect / think deeply
👉 NAHKH-den-ken

loslassen
to let go
👉 LOHS-lah-sen

sich zurückziehen
to withdraw / step back
👉 zikh tsoo-ROOK-tsi-en

der Jahresrückblick
looking back over the year
👉 YAH-res-ROOK-blik

der Neuanfang
a new beginning
👉 NOI-an-fang

Jahresabschluss
year-end closing (literal or symbolic)
👉 YAH-res-OWS-shloos

Jahresendstimmung
year-end mood
👉 YAH-res-ent-SHTIM-oong

🔹 Food & Seasonal Culture

Raclette
melted-cheese meal shared at the table
👉 ra-KLET

Fondue
communal melted cheese or oil meal
👉 fon-DOO

Lebkuchen
German spiced Christmas cookies
👉 LAYB-koo-ken

Stollen
traditional German Christmas bread
👉 SHTOL-len

Rotkohl
red cabbage
👉 ROHT-kohl

Weihnachtsgans
Christmas goose
👉 VY-nakts-gans

🔹 Traditions & Media

Dinner for One
British sket