CULTURAL ROOTS

Cammie L. Morgan

Angelo State University

German Immigration to TexasGerman roots run deep within my

family. All sets of my great, great,

great grandparents immigrated from

Germany in the 1840’s. Some settled

in what is now Castroville while

others settled in Bergheim and

Fredericksburg. The picture to the

left is my paternal grandmothers’

mother, Katie Marie. Even though

Katie was born in Texas, she spoke

very little English. My oldest

daughter is named after Katie and my

youngest daughter is named after my

maternal great grandmother.

ReligionMy ancestors who immigrated from Germany also brought their faith with them. While some of my ancestors were Lutheran, the majority of them belonged to the Methodist Church. My family’s ways of life have always revolved around our faith. We celebrate Christian holidays, go to church, and worship together. Whether a blessing before a meal or prayer during stressful times, prayer and praise are something my family always practices. Methodist traditionally baptize as infants with the belief that baptism is the beginning, not the end. The picture to the right shows a traditional Methodist infant baptism.

Communion

One of my most vivid religious memories of a child was communion. I always attended church with my paternal grandmother. We may not have always attended church every Sunday, but one thing is for sure: We always attended on Communion Sunday. Methodist welcome all to participate in communion. The picture to the right shows the chalice with juice which represents the blood of Christ and the bread symbolizes the body of Christ.

AgricultureFor generations, agriculture

has been an important part of

my family’s life focusing on

sheep, goats, cattle, and swine

production. In addition to

livestock, my family farmed

land producing hay and grain

to feed the livestock. Today,

my children have carried on

this legacy by raising both

swine and Angora goats in

which they exhibit at livestock

shows all across the state.

Pictured to the right my oldest

daughter exhibits one of her

pigs.

Raising Livestock…A Family Tradition

.

Angora Goats are raised primarily raised for their elite fiber called mohair. My family has been raising Angora goats since the early 1900’s. My children and I have continued to carry on this legacy. In the picture below, my oldest daughter pours feed to a herd of older nannies. .

In the picture above, my youngest

daughter holds a baby orphan goat

that she bottle feeds three times a day.

GardeningFor as long has I can remember, gardening has been an important part of my family. My grandma routinely grew cucumbers, squash, green beans, beets, tomatoes, turnips, and more. She would have a huge garden and all of the family would work to help cultivate that garden. Vegetables were eaten fresh and canned for later use. The most famous of all were my grandma’s canned dill pickles. The tasty recipe has been used for 6 generations. Today, my cousins and I still make the pickles. Pictured to the left is my daughter working in the garden with my father.

Family Gatherings

Whether it is a holiday or a

special birthday or wedding,

my family always comes to

gather to celebrate with food,

music, and games.

Traditionally, sausage, potato

salad, and beans are served

for outdoor barbecues.

Country music, washer

pitching, and domino games

keep everyone entertained.

Pictured to the right guests

visit in honor of my

grandma’s 90th birthday.

ChristmasChristmas is one of the most important

holidays for my family. Traditionally,

Christmas trees are decorated the day

after Thanksgiving and are not taken

down until after January 1. Each family

member hangs a stocking from the mantle

to be stuffed with candy, toys, and other

goodies. When I was a child, our family

always gathered at my grandma’s house

on Christmas Eve to bake and decorate

cookies. Our celebration continues

through Christmas Day where the children

await for Santa.

Easter

Another important holiday for

my family is Easter. After

church on Easter Sunday,

both adults and children hunt

colored Easter eggs. The

night before Easter Sunday,

the children build nest for the

Easter Bunny to lay eggs.

Geographic Location

While I do have some cousins

who live out of state, the

majority of my family have

remained in Texas. From

grandparents to aunts, uncles,

and cousins, my family has

always shown each other

affection and love. Hugs are

generally given when greeting

each other and when saying

good-byes.

Respect

The importance of respect, manners, and punctuality have always been stressed in my family. My grandfather used to always say, “Being on time and a good handshake shows a hard worker.”

QuiltingWhile today quilting,

crocheting, and sewing are

more of a hobby than a way of

life, generations ago these

things were a necessity.

Thankfully, I had the privilege

of learning to crochet and even

helped my grandma make a

quilt. I can remember my

grandma having quilting

parties for the community

where ladies would gather to

socialize and sew just as the

ladies in the picture.

FamilyBoth my immediate and

extended family have always

been close to one another.

Whether good or bad times,

we know we can rely on each

other. Perhaps some of our

ways of life have adapted to

modern times, but one thing

that has remained the same for

generations is our love and

faith for Jesus Christ and each

other.