“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

The German Cultural Society of Erie, Pennsylvania

Newsletter Dec. 2017/Jan. 2018 Printer: Gannon University Press Website: http://gcsoe.org

The mission of The German Cultural Society of Erie, Pennsylvania, is to preserve German values,

customs, language and music through education and activities. The German Cultural Society of Erie,

Pennsylvania, aims to unite German-Americans and to share our German culture in the community

through special events and charitable functions.

Meeting Location and Date:

All are invited to attend our meetings and events. We meet the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM at the

Erie Männerchor Club, 1607 State St. in Erie.

Officers - 2018: Board of Directors - 2018:

Bill Smith, President 453-3872 Nancy Smith 453-3872

Charles Roehrl Vice President 452-6158 Bill Matheis 864-8417

Tom Laska, Treasurer 572-8016 Kirk Hamza 490-9029

Carol George Board Secretary 572-2774 Tim Clint 572-6639

Nancy Rusnak 864-3427

Committees:

Membership: Bill Schubert 217-9425 Programs: Wayne Koble 873-7552

Ways & Means: Carol George 572-2774 Bill Smith 453-3872

Trudy Mueller 825-5702

Nancy Rusnak 864-3427 Webmaster Roy Voshall 898-2124

Parliamentarian: Marilyn Melhuish 866-1709 Language Christian Mueller 825-5702

Dance/Schweinfest Bill Matheis 602-2427 Grant Programs: Charles Roehrl 452-6158

Public Relations Roy Voshall 898-2124

: Tim Donlin 520-5992

Newsletter: Kathleen McCall 823-4352

.

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

President’s Message

As my tenure as President of GCS comes to a

close I offer a sincere “Thank You” to the

German Cultural Society for all the support

and enthusiasm you’ve shown me. Because

of you I truly enjoyed my time as President

and I can hardly believe how quickly the two

years have gone by. I recently attended a

Ways and Means committee meeting and a

Programs committee meeting. I was

overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and diligence of the members on

these two committees who after exchanging ideas have already

outlined some very exciting programs and activities for next year

and as always they welcome your ideas and suggestions.

Betty Schubert, President

Calendar of Events

November 30-December 2

Bethlehem, Pa., Christmas Market Trip Details in this newsletter.

December 14 German Cultural Society of Erie Christmas Party Details in this newsletter.

January 11, 2018-- meeting and program

History of the Erie Maennerchor Club

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

Announcements

Movie Night

In June, the German Cultural Society started a new project by introducing a monthly movie night for our members. The movies are in German with English subtitles. Our first movie night was on Thursday, June 15th.

The movies are shown the third Thursday of the month at the Erie Maennerchor Club. They start at 7:00 PM.

New GCS Officers

The newly elected officers and directors for 2018 are: Bill Smith; Vice President, Charlie Roehrl; Vice President, Tim Clint; Director.

Program Committee

Your Program Committee, for your German Cultural Society of Erie needs your help. They are looking for ideas for programs and speakers for 2018. If

you have ideas, or better yet, be a presenter, please contact our Program Chairperson, Trudy Mueller at 825-5702.

German Life Magazine Renewal

German Cultural Society of Erie members, whether current subscribers or first time subscribers to

German Life magazine, can receive an annual subscription of this wonderful publication for only

$17.95. However, you must act by January 31, 2018. For more information, call Robin Koble at 814-840-4472.

Check out German Life at: http://germanlife.com

Newsletter Update

Starting with the January/February issue, Kathy McCall will take

over as editor of the German Cultural Society of Erie Newsletter

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

German Cultual Society of Erie – Annual Cristmas Party

Thursday December 14th

Erie, Maennerchor Club – Ball Room, 1607 State Street, Erie, Pa.

Cash Bar: 5:00 PM

Sit Down Dinner: 5:30 sharp

Dinner Choices:

Chicken Marsala

Herb Crested Scrod

Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin

Dinner Includes: Garden Salad (3 dressing choices),

Seasonal Vegetable Medley, Oven Roasted Potatoes, and

coffee or tea.

Price: $24.00, tax and gratuity included.

Please send reservations, choice of dinner and check, made payable to GERMAN

CULTURAL SOCIETY OF ERIE no later than November 30, 2017 to Dina Reale, 8200

Louisa Drive, Fairview, Pa. 16415. 474-1585

If members could bring one or two dozen cookies for our cookie exchange, it would be

appreciated.

Following dinner Nance Rusnak will lead us in a sing-a-long.

Our charity this year with be the Erie City Mission. Please be generous and bring a

monetary donation for this worthwhile charity.

GCS CHRISTMAS PARTY RESERVATIONS FORM – CUT AND ENCLOSE WITH CHECK

payable to GERMAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

NAME(S)____________________________________________________ PHONE___________________

Chicken Marsala ___________ Baked Scrod ______________ Roast Pork _________________

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

History of the Christmas tree

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now

know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees

into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them

with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that

Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted

candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a

sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To

recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and

wired its branches with lighted candles.

Most 19th-century Americans found

Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of

one being on display was in the 1830s by the

German settlers of Pennsylvania, although

trees had been a tradition in many German

homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania

German settlements had community trees as

early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s

Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols

and not accepted by most Americans.

It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree

was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was

sacred. The pilgrims’ second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried

hard to stamp out “pagan mockery” of the observance, penalizing any frivolity.

The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against “the heathen traditions” of

Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated

“that sacred event.” In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a

law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a

penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity

continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish

immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree

popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small

trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach

from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade

ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and

marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced

with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible

for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to

appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home

became an American tradition.

German settlers migrated to Canada from the United States in the 1700s. They

brought with them many of the things associated with Christmas we cherish today—

Advent calendars, gingerbread houses, cookies—and Christmas trees. When Queen

Victoria’s German husband, Prince Albert, put up a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle

in 1848, the Christmas tree became a tradition throughout England, the United States,

and Canada.

Another legend says that in the early

16th century, people in Germany

combined two customs that had been

practiced in different countries

around the globe. The Paradise tree (a

fir tree decorated with apples)

represented the Tree of Knowledge in

the Garden of Eden. The Christmas Light, a small, pyramid-like frame, usually

decorated with glass balls, tinsel, and a candle on top, was a symbol of the birth of

Christ as the Light of the World. Changing the tree’s apples to tinsel balls and

cookies; and combining this new tree with the Light placed on top, the Germans

created the tree that many of us know now.

Today, the Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) is traditionally decorated in secret with

lights, tinsel, and ornaments by the mother and is lit and revealed on Christmas Eve

with cookies, nuts, and gifts under its branches.

“Only someone who honors the traditions of their ancestors is worthy to be their descendant.”

German Cultural Society of Erie

4601 Glenwood Park Ave, Erie, Pa. 16509

German Cultural Society of Erie --- Membership Renewal, 2018

Full name__________________________ Spouse______________________

Address ________________________________ Apt__________

City/State___________________________Zip________ Phone______________

E-mail address ______________________________________________________

Birthday_________Spouse__________ Anniversary__________________

Types of Membership ( ) Single head of household $30. ( ) Couples, members & spouse OR member & significant other $35. ( ) Family, includes children under the age of 17 $40. ( ) Students, (ages 16&17) $10. ( ) Donation, Unable to attend meetings or events but would like to receive newsletter $10. All membership fees go to the GCS operations in Erie. Children under 17 are free of charge with Basic or Family Membership. Membership includes newsletters, monthly programs, and reduced fees for special events. Make checks

payable to: The German Cultural Society of Erie

Send to Bill Schubert 6377 Dickens Ct. Erie, PA 16505. Ph. 814-217-9425