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