Cookies, German traditions and a holiday sing along were all part of the Hamburg Area Historical Society’s annual Holiday meeting at the high school on Thursday, Dec. 4.
The special speaker for the evening was Rosemarie Werber, owner of Little Germany in Leesport, who spoke about German Christmas traditions and shared her own experiences and memories of the holiday season as she was growing up in Germany. She explained that pre-Christmas is a big deal in Germany counting down to Christmas eve as opposed to Christmas day, though the day itself and following day are still considered to be a holiday.
“It’s still a big tradition in Germany that you do the actual Christmas tree on Christmas eve,” shared Werber.
In Germany, the tree is brought into the house on Christmas eve and decorated that night. Rather than call it “putting up the tree” or “decorating the tree,” the phrase in Germany is “clean the tree.” Most of the celebration is that night rather than the following day like it commonly is here. Advent Calendars are very popular in Germany, but differ from here in that the calendars countdown to Christmas eve instead of Christmas day. Werber remembers the excitement as a child in school of seeing what special surprise each day would bring with the calendars. She recalled students sharing their gift for that day with each other and when two would have the same, they would excitedly point out that the two of them must have the same calendar.
Werber also brought with her and demonstrated how a Christmas pyramid is used and a smoker which are both popular traditions in Germany when it comes to Christmas.
Currently, Werber’s shop in Leesport is open by appointment only, but she can be seen at Bethlehem Christmas City Village which she said is set up very much like such a market would be in Germany outdoors with little huts that the vendors are located in. The market is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Christmas as well as Dec. 22 and 23.
When asked about the magic of Christmas after learning that Santa Claus is not real, Werber replied, “Christmas is still fun, but the magic is missing.”
Following the presentation it was time for the annual tradition of a holiday sing along. Popular favorites such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Joy to the World,” “Sleigh Ride” (with some instrument help from the members), and of course “O’ Christmas Tree” in English and German as well as many others were sung.
Election of officers also took place at the meeting with all of the positions remaining the same.
Coming up this Sunday, Dec. 14, the Historical Society is holding an open house at the museum on State Street in Hamburg from 1 to 4 p.m.
