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.

Stories & poems

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.

The choirs and play

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).

The Play

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.

12 Days...

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 Santa

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	Fascination
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.)

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.

Poems

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.

A new Choir

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.

Women's Auxiliary

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 universalstone@sympatico.ca . 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.

Christkindl Market Kitchener

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 2^nd 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.

Christmas Entertainment

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.

Shopping for Christmas

Here too I have my standard route where I always end up first upstairs to pick a favourite piece of pottery.

All about Christmas

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

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