Christmas Eve traditions in our family included our favorite foods of raw beef and onions on small squares of rye bread (oh so good), pickled herring, and of course sweet and sour meatballs. The table was laden with all of our favorite food and the sideboard was filled with goodies including Christmas wreath (a stollen with a nut filling and no dried fruit), rum balls, ginger bread and other cookies. After dinner everyone in the family had a glass of wine (the children's were diluted a bit). In the center of the table, the many levels of the candle center piece would be twirling in different directions from the heat of the candles with the angle twirling on top. We too had a pickle ornament on our Christmas tree and people in our neighborhood placed bags of gold chocolate coins on the tree for good luck. Has anyone else heard of the gold coin tradition? And of course a penny for good luck in the new year would be place on a window sill. At midnight the children's choir carrying candles proceeded down the center isle of the church and joined the adult choirs in rejoicing. I am told that we looked like angels. AJ

On 22 Nov 2000, at 8:34, [email protected] wrote: > PS My attitude probably comes from my staunch German background mixed > in with Scots and lots of Quakers. Not much chance for liberalism > with this running through your blood. I doubt that your attitude has anything to do with ethnicity. The whole subject stinks to high heaven. It is simply a political decision by partisan activists who want 'their' way to override the law as passed by the legislature and stop the executive branch from executing it. I'm as upset as I've been at any times in my life when it comes to politics. I don't think I feel that way because of my German background. This is plain justice and fairness I'm seeking. I can see no way for our country to accept a leader who simply makes up the rules as he goes along and then claims to be elected by the people. In the old days this type of system was known under other names. I thought we were above that by now. It is a sad day for our country. I'm sorry but I simply have to vent my frustration somewhere, somehow. I already wrote to the Naples Daily News and they just called me to verify my address. I feel powerless and disenfranchised. This has never happened before. Fred PS I know this has nothing to do with German culture etc except for the fact that I feel I'm among friends here. 4788 Corian Court Naples, FL 34114 941-775-7838 [email protected] Florida Law - count dimples but not military votes

Judy, If I remember correctly it was taught as part of German grammer in school. I think I have made the comment on this list before the trouble I have converting them to english: For example: Die Katze (the cat) feminine Der Hund (the dog) masculine - I unconsciously refer to cats as "She" and to dogs as "He" when I am speaking English. Klaus Dieter Cook, Houston, Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 6:44 AM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Language > I am sure this has probably been talked about before, but I have never > understood, and hope someone can explain to me. How to you determine the sex > of inanimate objects, for the German language. How is it determined if a > door, or chair, for instance, is male or female? There must be some > reasoning to it, or is this just learned by speaking German as a child, and > passed up? Thanks for any help. Judy >

I seem to remember a title " Oberunterdonauschiffahrtskapitaen". Klaus Dieter Cook, Houston, Texas ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 6:50 AM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Rettungschwimmeruebungsplatz > I think I read somewhere that the longest word is the name of a town in > Wales, but I don't have it in front of me. A friend took a photo of the > name, across the front of a building there. However, I would think > Rettungschwimmeruebungsplatz would have to be a close runner up!! LOL I too > would be interested in knowing if there are otherwords like that, and even > longer ones, in German. > > >>> I think it would be a great tragedy if the German language did not > include words like Rettungschwimmeruebungsplatz. Words like that just crack > me up. Is there a Guiness record for the world's longest word? What is the > longest word you know in the German language?>>> >

They don't mention the most important reform they need, hoping not to offend any Germans or Germanophiles, but what is the reasoning for having five different ways to say the word 'the' or alternatively 'a' ? Don't the different forms of "the" and "a" have to do with the gender or tense of the word following? Never studied german but thought that was mentioned by someone when I asked why so many different ways to say the same thing. Lita I have gone to find myself. If I get back before I return, please ask me to wait! See some of my accomplishments! < <A HREF="http://pages.ivillage.com/pux4/"><Click here: Pux's Page</A> http://pages.ivillage.com/pux4/ <<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=89621"><My PhotoPoint Album</A> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=89621

My comment is that if they could see to punch the rest of the ballot, they could see to punch that area. They aren't even arguing about that any more as it is now over whether a hole as touched and looked like it might have been meant to be punched and that these old people were too weak to push it all the way through. How come they were able to punch all the rest of the holes all the day? This is totally ridiculous. The military votes get thrown out because someone forgot/or else it is not the procedure there) to put a postage mark on it. They had no control over that and voted theoretically correctly, but one will never know because they weren't opened even though the federal law says that military votes have to be opened even if they don't have a postmark. I think the only fair way would have been to count the whole state over and thot that is what the courts would do. I have never heard of an election in our country any place that votes get counted and counted and counted. Seems really strange to me. Jerilyn PS My attitude probably comes from my staunch German background mixed in with Scots and lots of Quakers. Not much chance for liberalism with this running through your blood. Jerilyn Lappin Koskan Cook Co., Illinois [email protected] FTM user BREWER-Daniel Belmont, OH, Northumberland, Indiana and Jefferson, PA DAVIS/DAVIDSON-Marium/Mary b1803 Bucks, PA Mother Rachel Greene DUSATKO-Barbara, Anton late 1800s Butler, NE DYE-William, David, Daniel in Monroe, OH early 1800s. FISHER-Joseph, b abt 1805 OH, last Morgan, OH 1850. Wife Judith Lappin. Children John, Knight, Elizabeth, Thomas, Hannah, Mary, Rachel, Ruth GRAY-Ogden b 1850 Morgan, OH, d Fulton, IL. Children - Ogden, Lafayette, Mary A., Cornelius, Elizabeth, Rachel GREENE-Rachel, b abt 1770, Bucks, PA HANNA-Archibald, d 1793 Westmoreland, PA Children Hugh, William, Hannah, Mary (wed Robert Williams) KIRK-Elizabeth, Quaker, daughter Joseph Kirk/Judith Knight, wed Robert Lappin abt 1790. Chester & Fayette, PA Belmont, OH KOSKAN-Vaclav, b 1850s Czechoslovakia d Butler, NE LAPPIN-PA and OH late 1700s/1800s LEAK/LEEK-MD & Eastern, OH in late 1700s and 1800s MITCHELL-Thomas Mitchell, b 1770s Greene, PA -d Monroe, OH. Daughter Maria wed William Dye. MONROE-Nicholas Monroe, b PA, died Belmont, OH early 1850s. Children Curtis, William, John, Samuel, Mary (Hendershot), Eleanor (Maring), Rebecca (Murphy), Miller, George, Richard. MONTGOMERY-Daniel, d 1842 Vinton, OH Family to Wayne, IL Wife Alice Lappin, Children William, Mariah, John, Elizabeth, Rachel, Letticia, Ruth, Euphemia OATES-Sarah Elizabeth born Lewis, WV, adopted Samuel McCluster - to Decatur, KS Parents supposedly Elizabeth Puffenbarger/Benjamin Oates SLUSHER-Frederick, b PA, lived Monroe, OH, d Wayne, IL SMITH-Aaron 1755/Anna Foster Bucks, PA Children John, Amos, Hannah, Samuel, Charles, Mary STARBUCKS-John and Ann Lappin of Belmont, OH STARKEY - b 1810 PA, wed Belmont, OH TODD - Wm. & Rachel Lappin, d late 1800s Morgan, OH WADSWORTH-Alcinda, Martha, Wm., Rachel, Emily, Ruth b Belmont, OH

On New Year's Eve, we follow the German tradition (again from my wife's family) of pork and Sauerkraut -- for good luck in the coming year. My uncle swore it had to be Gefuellte Fisch, but his family were from another part of Germany :-) Dave Ross

Thank you, Katharina, for the story of the Advent Wreath and the poems. In our church (Bethany Lutheran), as in many, I know, the Advent Wreath is a feature of the Advent season. For the four Sundays of Advent, church service opens with an Advent Wreath ceremony: a family of the congregation goes forth to light the appropriate Advent candle (of the four - no wagonwheels here, either), while an Advent reading is proclaimed by another person who is standing behind the congregation. Dave Ross Denver

I think I read somewhere that the longest word is the name of a town in Wales, but I don't have it in front of me. A friend took a photo of the name, across the front of a building there. However, I would think Rettungschwimmeruebungsplatz would have to be a close runner up!! LOL I too would be interested in knowing if there are otherwords like that, and even longer ones, in German. >>> I think it would be a great tragedy if the German language did not include words like Rettungschwimmeruebungsplatz. Words like that just crack me up. Is there a Guiness record for the world's longest word? What is the longest word you know in the German language?>>>

I am sure this has probably been talked about before, but I have never understood, and hope someone can explain to me. How to you determine the sex of inanimate objects, for the German language. How is it determined if a door, or chair, for instance, is male or female? There must be some reasoning to it, or is this just learned by speaking German as a child, and passed up? Thanks for any help. Judy

Hi, Erna & others, How did you obtain this obituary? Was it passed down in the family, or did you manage to get it from the German newspaper? Wonder if you, or anyone, has managed to obtain an old (1920's) obit from Germany, and if so, how you did it? I am trying to locate (without any luck) how to find obits on some of my German family. Thanks. Judy << I have a copy of an obituary that appeared in a German newspaper. It was for my gg grandmother. She died here in the USA but her family placed an obituary in her hometown paper in Germany. Erna>>

I have a copy of an obit from Germany. They looked more like a regular newspaper ad. Black blocking around them with the name of the desceased centered: Gustav Adolf Ficker the date of birth: *22.3.1875 is below on the left date of death: +14.11.1937 is on the same line to the right. There is then a very small write-up: Unser lieber Vater ist nach vier Wochen unserer lieben Mutter nachgefolgt. Sein Leben war Arveit und Sorge. In unseren herzen hat er seinen Platz neben unserer mutter gefunden. This then appears to the right hand side: Familie Max Ficker familie Arno Otto Edeltraut Hering Following this is where the service or reception would be: Chemnitz, am 15. November 1937. Bahnhofsrestaurant chemnitz-Reichenhain. Die Enascherung findet am Bubtag, dem 17. november 1937, 13,30 Uhr im Krematorium statt. This is just what I have. I haven't but it on my website yet, and do not know if it is common. Pam Zaleschuk, Guelph, Ontario Canada --- [email protected] wrote: > Hi, list, > Back to German stuff, okay? I wonder if there > is/was such a thing as > newspaper obituaries in Germany?? I have a > couple ancestorial cousins who > died in the 1920's & 1930's in Germany--in the > former E. part, between > Magdeburg and Stendal. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. http://shopping.yahoo.com/

Our family's traditional Christmas cookies are Pfeffernuesse (spelling? Translates to pepper nuts) made with molasses and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Yum! Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: Katharina Hines <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 12:42 AM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Re: Baking Christmas Treats > Plaetzchen backen (Baking Christmas Treats) > Baking christmas cookies and other sweet treats is still a family favorite. > The most famous is the Christstollen. This is a sweet bread with dried > fruits and peels, originated in the Saxony and Thuringia. > > An other well known treat is the Baumkuchen (tree cake). > It originated in Berlin and is made to resemble the rings of the tree > log. One layer is applied on top of each other, until the "tree" > has the right thickness. It is iced with a chocolate- or sugar icing. > This is a very dry cake. Put it keeps for a long time. > > In the southern part of Germany, Kletzenbrot is baked during Advent. It is a > layer of dough filled with dried pears (called Kletzen), prunes raisins, > figs and nuts. > > The ginger bread house (Lebkuchenhaus) is a favor for children and parents > alike. Especially to make and eat it. It represents the witch's house of the > fairy tale, by the Brothers Grimm " Haensel and Gretel". > > Other treats are Zimtsterne (Cinnamon stars), Wienerkipfel( Viennese > cresents), and Mandelmakaronen (Almond Macaroons). > > But at last not to forget the Marzipan. The best known is produced in > Luebeck. > You can buy it in all shapes and sizes:fruits, pigs, potatoes,bread, > lunchmeats,vegetables and more. > > Katharina > > ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ > Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

If the situation had been reversed, Republicans would be doing and saying the same thing that Gore supporters are doing and saying! :-) And the simple truth is, not everyone has the benefit of extreme intelligence AND good eyesight. Ballots must be simple and clear for EVERYONE, or the right to vote is corrupted. Voting rights are fundamental in our country, and I agree with Florida's Supreme Court, that this right is paramount, and must be maintained. Lets not go back to anything like the days when women and blacks weren't allowed to vote because they weren't intelligent enough--even ignorant people should have the right to vote. We all know some of them are even Republicans! (I'm only joking now, so please don't get your underwear in a bunch!) :-) Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: jlerch <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 2:13 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Re: Reply to British Revocation Announcement > Amen to this !! > My grown (40 years old and plus) children and I were arguing over " > whatever happened to personal responsibility" and they think the people > don't have any ...haha...and I think that we each must have it ! Maybe it > was because I was a single parent working hard to exist and didn't have the > time to teach [thoroughly] the manners and responsibility's each person has > to and for their own actions. > I am saddened by all this behaviour and the reactions to it nationwide. > jlerch > > > > Hmmm. (deep in thought) Now what was that again? Oh Yeah: > > > > > German life having such a strong, positive impact on American ideals, > > work ethics, and citizenship, it's probably not inappropriate to note > > here that those who complain about the ballots had whatever opportunity > > was necessary to prepare themselves to vote. > > > > The presidential campaign ran for nearly a year pointing at the day in > > November for casting ballots. Whatever happened to personal > > responsibility? Why is it, now, always the other guy's fault? > > >

Thank-you, Daniel. I had a hard time swallowing the shard theory--I always took that for something hard and sharp and broken. Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: Daniel Reinhold <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 1:27 PM Subject: [GERMAN-LIFE] Chad > A shard is NOT a chad. A chad is: > chad > > chad (chad) noun > The paper removed when a hole is punched in a card, in a tape, or at the > perforated edge of continuous-form paper-the computer equivalent of a > doughnut hole. > > A shard is: > > shard > > shard [shaard] (plural shards) or sherd [shurd] (plural sherds) noun > 1. broken piece of glass: a sharp broken piece of glass or metal > 2. ARCHAEOLOGY See potsherd > 3. ZOOLOGY scale or shell: an animal's scales, shell, or other tough > outer covering > 4. INSECTS beetle's outer wing: the outer wing covering of a beetle > > [Old English sceard "cut, notch." Ultimately from an Indo-European word > meaning "to cut," which is also the ancestor of English shear, scar, score, > and short .] > > Dan > > Daniel Gensemer REINHOLD III > Clinton Computer Consultants > RR 4 Box 45 > Mill Hall, PA 17751-9622 > Voice phone (570) 748-3201 > Internet [email protected] > Founder of The Millbrook Playhouse. Go to: > http://www.millbrookplayhouse.com/ > Reinhold Genealogy Homepage - http://cub.kcnet.org/~dreinhol/index.html > Genealogical Surname Searching: > REINHOLD, Lancaster County. PA, 1752 - now > also variants REINOEL, REINHOLT, REINHOLDT, REINWALD > AMWEG, WENGER, WALTER, GENSEMER, Lancaster County, PA, 1700s > MUSSER, GLISSEN, - SE PA. 1840 - now > MACK, MOCK,- NE PA, 1880 - now > Shake any family tree and a few nuts will fall.

You will probably laugh, as my husband does, that my family's traditional Christmas Eve supper is "hot dogs", as my husband says! No, not wimpy American hot dogs, but true German-style wieners with skin on them--more like sausage, and NO bun! Accompanied by things like hot German potato salad, red cabbage (Rotkohl), herring salad, and a good strong, German brown (NOT yellow, heaven forbid!) mustard. I love it, but it makes a lot of Americans think we be really poor! Or just weird! Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 12:39 PM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Christmas traditions > My wife is pure German, though both parents were born in this country, some > grandparents, too. I have a few German lines in me. We're mostly German in > bent around our home. Some of our "Americanized" German traditions at > "holidaze" are: > 1) Someone always gets the "Stueck mit eines roten Band" (stick/twig with a > bit of red ribbon tied around it; we understand that's sort of equivalent to > coal in the stocking) in their Christmas stocking; > 2) Our main tree is loaded with German ornaments, most of them from the > Erzgebirge region. The small tree in the antique room is trimmed entirely > with the antique ornaments and animals from Carol's grandmother (we have > candle holders for the tree, from Carol's old family, but we don't use them, > for obvious reasons). > 3) Carol always bakes at least one Stollen (we have to diet almost > constantly, so we don't have a lot of baked goods about), and we enjoy it > over the season; > 4) We cook a lot of German-style food at the holidays: favorites include > Koenigsberger Klops, lots of Spaetzle, Rouladen, Rothkohl mit Apfeln, > Apfelmuss, Kartoffelpuffer, Schitzeln (various ways, one favorite being a > Cordon Bleu style), and good Moselwein we bring from Carol's cousin's Weingut > on the Mosel River in Burgehn a/d Mosel (we always have plenty on hand and > drink it on special occasions); > 5) Of course, lots of German Christmas music (or other kinds too, for > that;matter) on the stereo; > 6) I think, in honor of what was very important to our ancestors, we mainly > observe the tradition of giving thanks for Jesus. Religion played such an > important role in our ancestors' families, and it does in ours too. No, > we're not religious fanatics, just wholeheartedly in favor of Him. > > There are a few of the things we do around here that have a German flavor. > Our daughter is wed to a German, and they live permanently in Germany. > Christmas with them is a REAL German Christmas (byut the weather is usually > crummy). > > Dave Ross > Denver

And my mother, who was born in Tilsit, in East Prussia (now Sowietsk, Russia) is a German, no question about it! She would probably have a coronary if anyone suggested she must be Russian! Dorie ----- Original Message ----- From: W. Fred Rump <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 10:11 AM Subject: Re: [GERMAN-LIFE] Germany or France > On 21 Nov 2000, at 9:31, [email protected] wrote: > > > Amen to that. (Ancestors turning over in their graves). > > > > One question I have concerning German life is when the people were > > living in that area classified as Alsace Lorraine and the borders kept > > changing, did everyone have to change the country of birth they listed > > on their applications for naturalization. What if it was France when > > they were born and then Germany when they left? Just wondering how > > the general population dealt with all the government change. > > One normally "feels" what one is. It goes back to the mother tongue. > Obviously a document reflects the current situation when issued > otherwise it would be a lie but in their heart people know who they > are. > > For example, my passport says that I was born in Elbing, Germany > even though, when issued, Elbing had been incorporated into > Poland as Elblag. In other words, when I was born it was Germany > and the passport reflects that truth. > > Fred > > > 4788 Corian Court > Naples, FL 34114 > 941-775-7838 > [email protected] > Florida Law - count dimples but not military votes

The advent wreath is made of fir twigs and four candles are attached. One more Candle is lit for each Advents Sunday. The Advents Sunday are the four Sundays before Christmas. The wreath is also decorated with fir cones small pine cones, little red and white mushrooms and ribbons . The tradition are red candles and ribbons. Any more the wreath is decorated in many colors. In large houses, shops and churches the wreath hangs from the ceiling. In smaller homes the wreath is placed in the middle of the table. When the first Advent come along, my family, would sit around the table, light the first candle. Each Sunday one more till all the 4 candles are lit. One would read out of the bible ,on other one read a poem and we all would sing christmas carols . After that we had coffee or hot chocolate and baked Christmas cake and cookies. One of the poems I still remember : Advent, Advent ein Lichtlein brennt. Erst eins,dann zwei,dann drei, dann vier, dann steht das Christkind for der Tür. Advent, Advent one candle is burning. First one,then two, then three, then four, then the Christ child is standing in front of the door. We still do the same thing here in the USA. But we say an other poem,too. Good tidings we bring of Advent's return. Look, the first candles already burn! Christmas Rejoice! Be of good cheer, for the Lord is near. I was told a story when I was little how the Advents wreath got started. I am not quit sure if that is right, maybe some one else knows the story better. About 150 years ago. In Hamburg Germany a Pastor(Johann Wichern born 1808 ,died 1881),who had an interest in the poor young people . He build a house in Hamburg , I think is was named 'Das Rauhe -Hause'. There they had a place to sleep,to eat and they learned a trade. Every year around the Advents time the pastor held a service every evening. There the kids where told about Advent and Christmas. They also sung many songs. Every day from beginning the first of December one candle was lit till 24 candles where burning. The candles where placed around a wagon wheel that was hanging from the ceiling. Later they started to trim the wagon wheel with fir twigs ,fire cones, and fruit. A lot of people liked this tradition and they would like to have a wagon wheel at home ,too. But there was no place in the homes to hang a wagon wheel with 24 candles. That it when it started on the Advents Sundays (4 sundays ) to light a candle. That is why the 4 candles. Katharina _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

Plaetzchen backen (Baking Christmas Treats) Baking christmas cookies and other sweet treats is still a family favorite. The most famous is the Christstollen. This is a sweet bread with dried fruits and peels, originated in the Saxony and Thuringia. An other well known treat is the Baumkuchen (tree cake). It originated in Berlin and is made to resemble the rings of the tree log. One layer is applied on top of each other, until the "tree" has the right thickness. It is iced with a chocolate- or sugar icing. This is a very dry cake. Put it keeps for a long time. In the southern part of Germany, Kletzenbrot is baked during Advent. It is a layer of dough filled with dried pears (called Kletzen), prunes raisins, figs and nuts. The ginger bread house (Lebkuchenhaus) is a favor for children and parents alike. Especially to make and eat it. It represents the witch's house of the fairy tale, by the Brothers Grimm " Haensel and Gretel". Other treats are Zimtsterne (Cinnamon stars), Wienerkipfel( Viennese cresents), and Mandelmakaronen (Almond Macaroons). But at last not to forget the Marzipan. The best known is produced in Luebeck. You can buy it in all shapes and sizes:fruits, pigs, potatoes,bread, lunchmeats,vegetables and more. Katharina _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com

In a message dated 11/21/2000 10:09:13 AM, [email protected] writes: << I wonder if there is/was such a thing as newspaper obituaries in Germany? >> I have a copy of an obituary that appeared in a German newspaper. It was for my gg grandmother. She died here in the USA but her family placed an obituary in her hometown paper in Germany. Erna