November 2000 - Nr. 11
Just a little bit...
...of this and that.
Germany’s National Holiday came and went really rather quietly here in Canada. The Consul General, Mrs. Christiane Geissler-Kuss had invited the community to a reception in the Ontario Club. It appeared as though a totally different crowd had shown up. We recognized only a few people other than our colleagues. The Consul General showed much endurance, standing at the entrance for hours to welcome her guests. Only when most people had started to leave could she have a look at the buffet, which was quite depleted by this time.
Generally the comments were mostly of an astounding about the lack of grandeur in our local celebrations, as we heard from a Bavarian delegation visiting from Bayreuth. They surely were aware of the extensive festivities planned and executed in Germany for the 1oth anniversary of unification. Antje Steiger reports from Dresden about the elaborate entertainment, which went on all day it seems.
That this anniversary does not mean much here is also apparent in the theme of the German Gala Ball, or rather the absence of the theme. The word unification was dropped this year in any of the wording of any promotional material. It is interesting to see that different things also mean different things to people. Closer to the grass roots we are a bit more sentimental, assign more significance and importance to traditions and historical events. In the hard cold light of business and trade one is more concerned with getting on with the future, so to speak, at least in this country. Perhaps that is also the reason why this year proceeds from the ball are going to the new German school. This is of course a really good example of creating future. What better way to ensure the continuation of anything but to look after the education of our children?!
Any writer needs a hiatus occasionally. This is the case with Alide Kohlhaas, who writes the interesting heritage series. She needs to do a lot more research to continue her discovery of German immigration in the West before she will continue this special column for us. This happens occasionally to any columnist. So do not be discouraged if you do not see your favorite column for a while, it might come back soon enough, after some research has been done.
November is a strange month. Mardi Gras has its beginning here in this month, but we also remember our dead. On November the 19th the Kitchener Woodland Cemetery is once again the scene for an annual ritual of commemoration and wreath placing. All organizations have been notified and the public is invited to attend at 14:30 in the afternoon. It is always a very somber affair and well attended.
In November we also start to visit Christmas Fairs. The popular Dannube Swabian Fair runs from the 17th through the 19th. Only two weeks later Kitchener starts its Christkindl Market, (See the ad) and about the same time, only for all together two weeks, Toronto has a Christmas Market planned right in front of the Toronto City Hall. I heard that there are some other Christmas Fairs, but as of this time have no data. In any event, these fairs are a marvelous way of getting in the mood and picking up some of the traditional trimmings and gifts we so much cherish.
Along side these fairs we can enjoy the traditional concerts of the season to enhance our good will.
Wherever you are, I encourage you to support your local efforts to keep our German traditions alive and to introduce all your none German friends to them. I guarantee they will like it.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
