Grünkohlessen

thumb|Grünkohl|Grünkohl dish with [[German fries, Pinkel, Kochwurst, Kassler, bacon and mustard]] Grünkohlessen (, ) is an old wintertime custom in North Germany, and parts of Scandinavia (Denmark and Scania), involving drinking, games, and a feast of regional dishes, typically featuring kale, potatoes, and sausages. It is practised in the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and its surrounding districts of Osterholz, Diepholz, Verden and Rotenburg, in Oldenburg Land, the County of Bentheim, Emsland, Osnabrück Land and East Frisia, in the Middle Weser Region, and also in Hamburg, Cuxhaven, in the Hanover Region, Hildesheim region, Brunswick Land, in the Magdeburg region, in Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein. thumb|Boerenkool (stamppot of curly kale) with [[rookworst.]] thumb|Cooking Gruenkohl outdoor at a medieval market at Dortmund, Germany Grünkohl (similar to Braunkohl and the Dutch boerenkool but with curly cale instead of cabbage, and creamed) is curly-leafed kale, a type of cabbage, traditionally harvested after the first autumn frost. The late harvest of kale ensures that its bitter-tasting constituents have disappeared, although modern kale varieties are generally low on bitter components and are harvested as early as in September.

The participants in a Kohlfahrt ("cabbage walk") arrange a walk through the countryside to a village pub, usually in mid-winter. Often this walk is linked with cross-country games such as Boßeln. As fortification against the frosty weather and in preparation for the hearty meal, an ample supply of alcoholic beverages, such as korn, or, for sailors, sherry, is taken in a shopping trolley or handcart, and is handed out as part of the games or at points along the walk (e.g. at crossroads or pylons). At the village pub the merry walkers are served with Grünkohl and, depending on the region, with German fries or boiled potatoes and Kassler, Bregenwurst, Pinkel or Kohlwurst. In addition there is also a lot to drink: (beer and/or Korn) allegedly to aid the digestion. In many areas there is also music and dancing after the meal.