Kaffeeklatsch - An old German Tradition

Today, I will tell you a little bit  about an old German tradition; the "Kaffeeklatsch". First off, Kaffee means coffee, and Klatsch can be translated as gossip. So, as you might imagine already, "Kaffeeklatsch", the coffee gossip, is a time when people (mostly women) get together and chat or gossip about all sorts of things, while having a good cup of coffee and some delicious cake.

For centuries, the "coffee gossip" existed for the ladies only behind the doors of their living rooms: After the coffee had conquered the European society in 1650, more and more coffee houses were opened in which only men were accepted. 
Even though the ladies of the society could not enter the coffee houses, they did not want to do without the new and modern drink. This was how the "Kaffeklatsch" started. The women simply enjoyed the coffee with their friends at home. A lavishly decorated table created the right atmosphere. Women during the time described it as follows: "A great "Kaffeeklatsch" needs the coffee, this much is clear, it needs the pastry, but perhaps even more...it needs the delicate shimmering porcelain, exquisite accessories, and of course pleasant furniture and comfortable rooms. " 
Inspired by the "happenings of everyday life" they had long conversations, that could derogatory be described as gossip, and shared their favorite poems and passages of novels.
Since the 1970's the once essential features of the classic coffee party slowly disappeared: flower dishes on silk tablecloth, artfully draped cream on homemade cakes, the ladies dressed properly with nicely dressed  hair.What remains is the desire to drink coffee and the exchange of news and gossip. Psychologist Stephan Grünewald thinks that TV talk shows in the afternoon are a "modern form of 'coffee gossip'". They help people to overcome the "midday-crisis", he says. "Adding the stimulating effect of coffee to this atmosphere", he claims, "creates the timeless fascination of the coffee gossip: You are excited and relaxed at the same time."
Grünewald has a valid argument, but not the whole German population relies on TV for "Kaffeekltatsch". In many towns people still get together and do the "real" coffee gossip, or even create clubs that serve the sole purpose of "Kaffeeklatsch".