The story of the glass PICKLE ORNAMENT: The pickle ornament was considered a special tree decoration by many families in Germany. There, the fir tree was decorated on Christmas Eve. It was always the last ornament to be hung on the Christmas tree, with the parents hiding it in the green boughs among the other ornaments. When the children were allowed to view the tree on Christmas morning they would begin searching for the pickle ornament. For they knew that whoever first found that special ornament would receive an extra little gift left by Dt. Nicholas for the most observant child. Cheers and Merry Christmas Paul Koehler Ellenton, FL. Don't blame me I voted for both of them!!!!!!

What a wonderful story...!!!!! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 3:45 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider > Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the > legend interesting. > > > The Legend of the Christmas Spider > > Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning > the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was > left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of > Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in > the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the > farthest corner of the forgotten attic. > > Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting the children > to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the > tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest > spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door > to see Him. Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to > wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and > quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they > couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they > could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along > each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place > they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had > inspected every bit > of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. > > The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. > But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be > broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed > them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree > glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have > hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom > to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. > > > >

Can anyone shed light on the pickle in the Christmas tree? My wife, of pure German ancestry) has a real pickle, dried out, emptied out and made into a whistle, 8"or so long. It is definitely an antique out of her granparents'family, for Carol remembers its being in the tree (lying on a branch, not hung from one) when she was teeny at her grandparents'place. We have a tree in our family antique room which is trimmed solely with antique ornaments out of her family (even the cast-iron reindeer around the base of it are antiques) -- and each year we put the picle into the tree, not knowing whence the tradition, or even if there is one. Dave Ross Denver, CO

Claire, I'm not an expert on this, but I think it's wherever the Catholic church makes it happen. Our German son-in-law tendered the explanation I've given here. They were living in Heidelberg at the time, but we've seen the markings in many different areas of the country. Dave Ross

Thanks Dave for the explanation -- is this throughout Germany or in certain regions? Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 7:33 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Chalk marks above doors? | Gena: The Three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar) have been to such | a home. They're children (Catholic Youth) in costume. They come to "bless" | the house, drink a bit of hot cocoa and have some pastries, also to collect a | person's donation to the Catholic charity. The marks above the door are | C+M+B-- (then the date they were there). It's an OLD tradition. | | Dave Ross | Denver | |

Thanks, Dave. What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing this explanation. I can officially say I've learned my something new for the day! Gena Schmear > The Three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar) have been to such > a home.

Gena: The Three Wise Men (Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar) have been to such a home. They're children (Catholic Youth) in costume. They come to "bless" the house, drink a bit of hot cocoa and have some pastries, also to collect a person's donation to the Catholic charity. The marks above the door are C+M+B-- (then the date they were there). It's an OLD tradition. Dave Ross Denver

That almost sound like Passover -- when the homes with the marks on them were passed over as far as killing their first born -- but this is around Easter isn't it. I would be interested in knowing what they are about too -- anyone?? Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gena" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 7:02 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Chalk marks above doors? | Recently my mother and I were talking about her most recent visit to | Germany. She mentioned something about seeing homes with chalk marks above | the doors. She couldn't remember what she had been told this meant. All she | could say was she thinks it had something to do with some sort of prayer. | Anyone know what she was trying to tell me about? | | Thanks for your input. | | Gena Schmear (in Germany it was spelled SCHMEER) | Dallas, TX | |

Love the story!! Any idea what region this originated from? Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 6:45 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider | Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the | legend interesting. | | | The Legend of the Christmas Spider | | Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning | the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was | left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of | Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in | the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the | farthest corner of the forgotten attic. | | Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting the children | to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the | tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest | spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door | to see Him. Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to | wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and | quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they | couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they | could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along | each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place | they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had | inspected every bit | of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. | | The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. | But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be | broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed | them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree | glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have | hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom | to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. | | | |

Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the legend interesting. The Legend of the Christmas Spider Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the forgotten attic. Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see Him. Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had inspected every bit of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

Recently my mother and I were talking about her most recent visit to Germany. She mentioned something about seeing homes with chalk marks above the doors. She couldn't remember what she had been told this meant. All she could say was she thinks it had something to do with some sort of prayer. Anyone know what she was trying to tell me about? Thanks for your input. Gena Schmear (in Germany it was spelled SCHMEER) Dallas, TX

Interesting bit of folklore ... thanks Dick S. ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 15:45 Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider > Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the > legend interesting. > > > The Legend of the Christmas Spider > > Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning > the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was > left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of > Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in > the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the > farthest corner of the forgotten attic. > > Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting the children > to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the > tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest > spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door > to see Him. Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to > wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and > quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they > couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they > could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along > each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place > they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had > inspected every bit > of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. > > The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. > But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be > broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed > them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree > glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have > hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom > to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. > > > >

I loved this story. thanks! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 10, 2000 3:45 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] The Legend of the Christmas Spider > Someone sent me the following. Thought the German-Life group might find the > legend interesting. > > > The Legend of the Christmas Spider > > Once upon a time in Germany, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning > the house for the most wonderful day of the year. Not a speck of dust was > left on the day when the Christ Child was to come and bring the gifts of > Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in > the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the > farthest corner of the forgotten attic. > > Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting the children > to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the > tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest > spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door > to see Him. Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to > wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and > quickly the spiders sneaked into the room. The tree towered so high they > couldn't see the ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they > could see only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along > each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty. Every place > they went they left a trail of dusty, grey web. When at last they had > inspected every bit > of the Christmas tree, it was shrouded in a dusty grey of spider webs. > > The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing His tree. > But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and that she would be > broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and touched the webs and blessed > them. They all turned to shimmering, sparkling silver and gold. The tree > glistened in greater beauty than ever before. Ever since that time, we have > hung tinsel on the tree, and according to the story, it has become a custom > to include a spider among the decorations on the tree. > > > >

Marge: Thanks for your enlightening message. When I saw Stettin, my ears really perked up. But then I realized two things. First my Stetten is spelling differently and is located in Alsace. Also, I believe the Prussian Stettin would likely be the Stetten (Stettin now in Poland which belonged to Germany before World War II ended. I agree with your comments. I found a number of Everards and Evrards using google. Have you tried that. Here is the web site for this expedient search engine www.google.com. Ken >Welcome THIS is fun isn't it! I've been learning along with the rest and >find the information coming in the strangest places! I did a general search >on the internet for my unusual name ... and found two very famous people who >had this strange name both German PhD professors with websites related to >their subjects. -- O'man do you write to these guys and ask if they knew who >their great-great grandparents were? Would you believe the first answered in >only an hour (I about passed out!) ... he's a very busy man but he'd look and >see if his family had any idea. The second took several weeks to answer >..... HE was researching my question and came up with wonderful clues as YES >they both feel we are probably related to this man who left Stettin Prussia >in 1873! WOW, it's so much fun to find out about who my great Granny was -- >but even more fun finding out and meeting people today! Another 'tip' was >that go on surname sites for the name you're looking for. If you want I'll >send you a link. ON this look for people with your last name who have >relatives in the same area -- say in Jones's in WHATEVER county, >Pennsylvania. I wrote to as many as six or seven people once looking for >people with a certain name in a certain area and got six or seven answers! >From that I got more information than you'd believe complete with copies of >wills from the 1800's! -- Marge (in Arizona) >

Forwarded Message! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:41 PM Subject: {not a subscriber} RE: Herr Klaus > Murray, > You may have been searching in the wrong place, as Herr Klaus now resides in > Cascade, CO. Two of my grandsons paid him a visit today, they love to go to > his little village and talk with him and see the herd of deer. Actually, he > calls them reindeer. > <A HREF="http://www.santas-colo.com/index.html">Click here: North Pole > Santa's Workshop</A> > > Yes, he does allow adults to come along. Perhaps, Nicholas preferred the > climate of the Rockies to that of the Artic since it is reportedly melting. > Besides at this altitude his reindeer have less problem getting out the > ground. > > We check in with NORAD on Christmas Eve when they alert air traffic control > that he is aloft and then provide him with an escort. He shouldn't be as > hard to locate here in the Rocky Mountains either. > > He is looking really well for his age, and continues to amaze us all with his > visits around the world in one night. Amazing relative you have there. > > Best Wishes in Your Search > > Dolly > >

http://archiver.rootsweb.com/ and enter "German-Life" and you will get the list by month and year that you can search. Claire ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken and Lois Everard" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2000 2:14 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] New to List | Greetings everyone: | | A minute ago I joined the list and here is why, thanks to one of your members--Claire Lisa. | | I'm searching my family tree for Christophe Evrard who emigrated from Stetten, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, as did his wife, Marie Anna Fuchs from Laning, Moselle, Lorraine. History interests me and finding and learning more about my great grandfather and great grandmother is of limited value unless something is known about the culture surrounding their lives. | | In addition my mother was half German, with her grandfather coming from Baden-Baden, and a niece is commencing a search of her ancestry. That makes me interested in both Alsace-Lorraine and western German culture. | | A question: Does the list have an archive of past content? | | Ken Everard | [email protected] |

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>From one of my food lists.. --------* The Rules of Fondue *--------------- Just when you thought Fondue was easy ...there are rules! If a lady loses her cube of bread, meat, veggie, fruit, etc. in the fondue, she pays with a kiss to the man on her right. Be smart make sure he is a good kisser. ;) If a man loses his cube of bread, meat, veggie, fruit, etc. he buys the next round of drinks. Have fun and make up your own rules. ;) -----------* Today's Recipe *----------------- -*- Main Dish Recipes -*- Cheese and Tomato Fondue from Tom R.'s Kitchen Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Cal: unknown Amount Ingredient -------- ----------------------------- 1 large loaf Crusty French Bread, cut into 1 inch (2.5cm) or so cubes 2 T Butter 2 cloves Garlic, minced 1/2 tsp Minced Onion 3 small Tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1 1/2 C (375ml) Dry White Wine 1 lb (450g) Gruyere Cheese, shredded 1/2 lb (225g) Swiss Cheese, shredded In a heavy bottom fondue pot or double broiler over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the garlic and onion. Saute until the garlic is fragrant. Add in the tomatoes and saute for another 3 minutes. Gently pour in the wine. Continue stirring until the wine reaches a near boil. You will see bubbles just start forming and rising to the surface but not quite a boil. The top of the wine should be covered with a fine layer of foamy bubbles. Remove from the heat and stir in Gruyere and Swiss cheeses until melted. Place your cut up bread into a nice serving bowl and place on the table. Place your fondue stand on the table and light the warmer or sterno. Place your fondue pot on its stand over a warmer or sterno. Using the long heat proof forks spear a piece of bread and dip the impaled bread into the melted cheese. Enjoy and repeat until all the bread is gone or every one is filled which every comes last. ;)

Welcome THIS is fun isn't it! I've been learning along with the rest and find the information coming in the strangest places! I did a general search on the internet for my unusual name ... and found two very famous people who had this strange name both German PhD professors with websites related to their subjects. -- O'man do you write to these guys and ask if they knew who their great-great grandparents were? Would you believe the first answered in only an hour (I about passed out!) ... he's a very busy man but he'd look and see if his family had any idea. The second took several weeks to answer ..... HE was researching my question and came up with wonderful clues as YES they both feel we are probably related to this man who left Stettin Prussia in 1873! WOW, it's so much fun to find out about who my great Granny was -- but even more fun finding out and meeting people today! Another 'tip' was that go on surname sites for the name you're looking for. If you want I'll send you a link. ON this look for people with your last name who have relatives in the same area -- say in Jones's in WHATEVER county, Pennsylvania. I wrote to as many as six or seven people once looking for people with a certain name in a certain area and got six or seven answers! From that I got more information than you'd believe complete with copies of wills from the 1800's! -- Marge (in Arizona)

Greetings everyone: A minute ago I joined the list and here is why, thanks to one of your members--Claire Lisa. I'm searching my family tree for Christophe Evrard who emigrated from Stetten, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, as did his wife, Marie Anna Fuchs from Laning, Moselle, Lorraine. History interests me and finding and learning more about my great grandfather and great grandmother is of limited value unless something is known about the culture surrounding their lives. In addition my mother was half German, with her grandfather coming from Baden-Baden, and a niece is commencing a search of her ancestry. That makes me interested in both Alsace-Lorraine and western German culture. A question: Does the list have an archive of past content? Ken Everard [email protected]