It
is quite clear that Christmas is for children. This becomes abundantly
apparent when visiting one of the afternoons in our German clubs that hold a
"Kinderbescherung". This is a time when grandparents bring their children’s
kids to the club, if the parents themselves cannot make it.
But
most often they will come, even though they are not regular visitors anymore
in the club, because their lives are just too busy. Thus we often see 3
generations enjoying the customs of old together as a group of like-minded
people. There truly is nothing more heart warming.
On the first Advent Sunday in December 2007, I
went to visit the Danube Swabian Club in Scarborough. The hall was so packed
despite the severe weather that it was hard to find a place to sit. Luckily
we found space at the table with the fabulous Szauter family.
Ingrid
and her daughter-in-law Lori had a big hand in preparing the children for
this event, that otherwise was organized and run by the Women’s’ Auxiliary
(who by the way sewed all their fabulous dirndls by themselves and did not
buy them from Regina’s Dirndls, as I had speculated).
Especially
Lori Szauter was instrumental in teaching the children how to perform the
Christmas story, involving as many kids as possible. Elise Scully and Susie
Szauter had created the imaginative costumes, and as the children paraded
across the stage telling the famous story, this time from the point of view
of a pig that also wanted to be involved in the happenings, I could see the
proud parents and grandparents adoring the efforts of their offspring.
There were many poems performed by children, even
by those that otherwise hardly spoke any German at all. They too were
rewarded with much applause. And before Santa Claus came to give away his
presents Ingrid Szauter got the children to sing traditional Christmas
songs.
Santa Claus |
![Calling for Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-zz_small.jpg)
Calling Santa |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zza_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zzb_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zzc_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zzd_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zze_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zzf_small.jpg) |
![Santa Claus](712c-DSChild-6zzg_small.jpg) |
The parents of the children were so grateful for
these wonderful presentations, for their children to have had the
opportunity to learn about their customs, they presented both Ingrid and
Lori Szauter through Mr. Mandel with flowers as a big thank you.
The audience |
![Admiration](712c-DSChild-zt_small.jpg) |
![Fascination](712c-DSChild-l_small.jpg) |
Admiration |
Fascination |
![Applause from the floor](712c-DSChild-i_small.jpg) |
Applause from the floor |
Christmas Banquette at
the Danube Swabian Club
On
the second Advent Sunday of December the Hall was packed again. This time
with mainly adults who came for the annual Christmas banquette. There was
practically not room for even a mouse. The tables filled every space, even
the dance floor.
After
a lovely meal from the club’s kitchen that has a new chef, Pastor Joachim
Knack and Vater Karl Hoeppe told anecdotes and shared their points of view
about Christmas. The sentiments hit home,
they
were familiar and shared by many, including our unhappiness about the
welfare of our beloved Christmas tree in our otherwise fair land.
These were followed by presentations of thanks to
Mr. Adam Bissinger by the organizers of a youth and dance group trip to
Hungary, that Mr Bissinger had made possible. This trip, which united Danube
Swabians from several countries of the world in dance, was an important
learning experience for many people. We shall find out more about this trip
in the next issue, when we recount some of the more important events of the
year 2007.
![Thank you to Mr. Bissinger (2nd f.r.)](712c-DSXBanquet-f_small.jpg) |
Thank you to Mr. Bissinger (2nd f.r.) |
Mr.
Bissinger’s generosity was also apparent in his rewarding two recipients for
their services to the Danube Swabian community, as Henry Betsch, president,
announced, including the Szauter family for their never ending support of
the club and work with the children. We at Echo Germanica have also come to
be grateful and full of admiration for this family’s sharing of their
cultural heritage with the rest of us.
This
year another one of the Szauter girls is club Princess. Natascha is doing a
great job, and was present at all the important events such as this. She
read poems in German, even though it is not always that easy for her or
anyone growing up here. She had to rehearse them and she did really well.
Other children also recited poetry and it is a
never-ending source of wonderment that befalls grown-ups when they listen to
the most sincere efforts of these talented kids. It also throws us back in
time to our own moments of anxiety, when we were afraid to get stuck in the
middle of a poem as children. But somehow it always does work out well and
applause is good reward.
Among the adults there are also many efforts to
add new life to the club. A new singing group was formed and we heard them
perform for the first time at the Christmas Banquette under the direction of
Ingrid Szauter. We could hardly wait to come to the parts when we could all
sing along. How wonderful to be able to pour out your heart in song among
friends! There is nothing like it, especially at this time of year!
Christmas Fair at the Danube
Swabian Club
The
Danube Swabian Club is now a mainstay for German culture in Toronto. At the
other end of our huge City of Metropolitan Toronto we have the Hansa Club
doing what they do best. They are also gearing up for an expansion of
activities with a new extension to the building in form of a members lounge.
That way there is more room for renting the hall without loosing out on
space for the rest of us. However, they do not hold a Christmas fair
anymore, but the Swabians are still having a highly successful one.
This
year it took place again in November, thus getting us into a Christmas mood
early. Walking through the stalls with the mostly familiar merchants we know
exactly where to look for what. It has become a tradition. Everyone has sort
of a standard route to follow. I always end up going to George Jewellers
first. This year I arrived on Sunday, last day, and the selection was not
anymore what I had hoped for. Nevertheless I found some divine jewellery
again, as I do every Christmas. For more goodies there is still time to go
to the store, especially for all presents like watches and even beautiful
crystal candleholders or pewter items or watches and clocks! They could not
possibly bring all that stuff to the fair!
The
great thing about this fair is that I can find something I like, get it,
give it to the best of all husbands to wrap up for Christmas, by which time
I have forgotten what it is I picked and I can be all surprised at something
I really, really wanted. I highly recommend this practice to all wives who
usually do not receive what they really find useful.
Next I always go upstairs to the booth of the
Women’s Auxiliary to find a treasure or two. I was not disappointed!
From there I proceeded along the top floor,
visited International Furs, where I discovered the new way of creating fine
coats made of the lightest furs I have ever felt on my shoulders. If you
missed them you should visit the store in Brampton to find out more. You
will not regret it. As far as I am concerned fur is still a most important
option for living in Canada, as long as it is not an endangered species, and
those you would not find in a fur store anyway.
The
last display on the top floor always belongs to Regina’s Dirndls, where I am
tempted to acquire a new piece for my heritage look. I was really lucky this
year; I found a wonderful long linen dirndl with peek-a-boo shoulders.
Simply fabulous! For obvious reasons I would never ever wear something
sleeveless anymore, but I still have good shoulders and this style affords a
smart fashion look without exposing what I do not want to display any
longer.
On the way back downstairs I stopped at the baker
to stock up on strudels and the like. I bought a lot and lost 3 of them
somewhere. I hope someone found them and enjoyed them!
Back
downstairs I stopped at the Lesezirkel to chat with Reinhard and Hannelore,
which is always a pleasure. Right next to them I was stumped by a miracle
cream that nearly everyone had heard of already but I was totally unaware
of. It is called the Original Universal Stone. Despite the name it is a
creamy substance that cleans just about anything you can think of in a
nonabrasive environmentally friendly way. From metals to marble, form cars
to shoes, any material will benefit from this cleaning method. It is even
gentle to the skin!
I
spoke with Laura Lee Catillo, who demonstrated the properties of this
product on all sorts of items. My jaw dropped. I had to have some. I took it
home and it works the miracles it promises.
Laura Lee is agent for Niagara and surrounding
area. You can reach her at 905-685-1101 or mail her at
. In
Toronto
it is available at Jolanta Interiors, 2368 Bloor St. W.
Well, there is always a very last stop on the way
out to get some smoked goodies. It would not be Christmas without some goose
liver sausage.
And when I have finished that purchase I can get
some more at the Christkindl Market in Kitchener, which I did a couple of
weeks later on the weekend of the 2nd Advent. This visit was
another surprise to us. Never have I seen the market that packed! It is such
a huge success. I heard that a lot of merchants were sold out already on
Saturday and some of them could not get any more merchandise because they
came from Germany to do business here.
According to Toni Bergmeier who organized this
fabulous event from the beginning there are more busses arriving than ever
before on a regular basis. It is becoming as popular as Oktoberfest it
seams. This is not surprising because the promotion should travel along the
same lines of communication that are already grooved in.
Here too I have my standard route where I always
end up first upstairs to pick a favourite piece of pottery.
Along
the way there are assorts of handmade items to be found, crafts of all
description. The market prides itself in not having goods that are too
commercial, but rather encourages specialty merchants of good arts and
crafts as well as typically seasonal items.
At the Concordia booth |
![At the Concordia booth](712c-CMK-4m_small.jpg) |
![At the Concordia booth](712c-CMK-4n_small.jpg) |
While working my way through the tremendous
crowds, which was hard work this year, I found lots of familiar faces to
greet, many Merry Christmases were exchanged and having arrived finally
downstairs I could admire the outside stalls and have some mulled wine and
listen to children sing. Armed with several more goose liver sausages we
finally made it out of the City Hall complex in Kitchener to make our way to
the Concordia Club for some good old German food, Sauerbraten and plaice.
HMMM…good…!!!
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister