Colors of Gronau - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Residents of Gronau are known for their straightforwardness and tolerance - these qualities they got, firstly, from the German mentality, and secondly, from the Dutch one (the city is located on the border with the Netherlands). Locals appreciate comfort and are never late for an important meeting - these are some more distinctive features. They don't like beating around the bush and always say what they think. Sometimes they can accidentally offend a person who is not used to such an obvious straightforwardness. However, you should not be offended because they don't mean any harm.

Nevertheless, you can always ask for help - local people will not refuse, if it's in their power, of course. It is also worth noting their restraint; locals are not likely to tell the story of their whole life to strangers. Above all, all tourists are expected to observe German laws and regulations - everything should be clear and according to plan. Improvisation is unnecessary, here it is not valued at all, as well as the condemnation of someone because of appearance and principles guiding a particular person in life (provided that he/she follow certain rules).

The language prevailing here is Westphalian dialect, the distinguishing feature of which is the pronouncing of a longer “a” sound, as well as the presence of some words that have no analogs in High German. However, traditional German is used for communicating with tourists, which in no way complicates the interaction between the interlocutors. Hot to get in good with them? It's enough to know a few phrases in German - since almost everyone speaks English here, you can easily get by with the international language. The main products of the local cuisine include meat, sausages, stewed cabbage. Traditionally, the favorite alcoholic drink of local people is, of course, beer. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Throughout the year, the city hosts a lot of interesting festivals fascinating many with their extraordinary charm. The most famous and popular event among all social groups and age categories is Jazzfest Gronau. It starts at the end of April and lasts a whole month, ending at the end of May. Everyone will find music to their liking here - musical bands perform all possible jazz subgenres, ranging from classical jazz and swing to soul, a cappella, pop music, blues, and rock. The average number of festival visitors is 15,000 people, all this because famous and popular artists are among its headliners. It is held at various locations throughout the city - clubs, bars, concert halls.

Gronau is also known as the city where one of the most important metal events in North Rhine-Westphalia takes place. We are talking about the Monster Metal Festival taking place at the beginning of March at Bürgerhalle Gronau, which is located on Spinnereistraße 20. The festival is popular among metalheads, and among its headliners, you can see (and hear, of course) many famous bands that play in various metal subgenres - from alternative rock to thrash metal. When it comes to indoor festivals, this one can safely be called one of the best events of this kind in all of Europe.

Another interesting festival taking place in Gronau is Auf die Ohren, and its date falls on the beginning of August. This musical event is devoted to great musicians who left a deep mark in history. During the festival, musical groups perform the most interesting songs of great bands, thus honoring them. The event takes place on Udo-Lindenberg-Platz 1 where Rock'n'popmuseum is located. This is a great festival to listen to new versions of old songs and discover new facets in music.

In the middle of August, another interesting event takes place in the city of Ahaus located very close to Gronau. We are talking about the Mammamia Festival, where the audience can not only listen to high-quality music but also enjoy cocktails and swimming. Which is not surprising given the August heat - everyone is dreaming of such an opportunity at this time. The festival takes place in the indoor swimming pool AquAHAUS located on Unterortwick 32. Here you can listen to music of completely different genres such as hip-hop, rock, techno house, and indie.

The culmination of the festival year in any German town is Christmas, namely, the opening Christmas Fair, or Weihnachtsmarkt, which turns it into the wonderland of elves, dwarfs, and Weihnachtsmann himself. The opening of the fair takes place on Gronauer Innenstadt, and its time is mid-December. It is at this time that you can buy everything you need to turn Christmas in a narrow family circle into a fairy tale. The city itself is like a fairy tale, and the atmosphere hovering in the air is really amazing - a great time to believe in miracles. People greet each other, at this time it is customary to visit each other's homes and give presents, and on the street, you can try traditional Christmas treats and mulled wine.