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…and come they did, when the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the
Danube Swabian Club announced the annual "Kinderbescherung"
(when Santa comes to the children and grandchildren, and
yes, great-grandchildren of the members to bring presents).
 President Joe Folk after he welcomed the many guests drew their
attention at the fact that with the many children and especially
the young adults lies the future of the Club.
 Lena Forstner –
President of the Frauengruppe (Ladies’ Auxiliary) greeted the
many guests and children and thanked the multitude of helpers of
the women’s auxiliary, but especially Lori Szauter for her great
and tireless
 efforts and contributions with the children.
Then Lori Szauter took over the entertainment part of the
afternoon. She so enjoys to work with the children and never
seizes to be amazed how earnestly they rehearse and learn their
poems, even when they are in German, a language they hardly
speak.
About two dozen children, between 3 and 13 years, entered one
after the other the darkened hall carrying small electric
candles. A sight to behold.
They assembled in front of the stage and under Lori’s guidance a
choir was formed on a tier. Soon their songs of the Christmas
season filled the hall and the hearts of many. Even a photo
opportunity was built in, which parents and grandparents rushed
to take.
It was exciting to hear the children recite several poems,
amazingly many of them in German though most of the children do
not natively speak German. The reading and reciting of the poems
was always intermittently followed by another sketch or play.
One of those was especially entertaining and very amusing. It
entailed various costume changes including a crown, red nose, a
white tail, and a shawl. We wonder how Lori Szauter comes up
with these ideas! It was charmingly presented by this group of
children.
Another few poems and more songs by the choir prepared us for
the play on and in front of the stage, including a puppet
theatre about celebrating Christmas around the globe. The
message really came through.
| The Twelve Days
of Christmas |
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 Of course, this event would be incomplete without the
performance of the "Twelve Days of Christmas". Here not just the
children but the whole audience made up of parents and
grandparents at every table contributes to this playful
tradition.
 It is no wonder why this is one of the most
favourite events of
the year, where everyone is in a good mood, all the while people
sit at the festively decorated tables and festooned with large
platters of a variety of tasty cookies, all baked by the ladies
of the club.
 Unfortunately the large palette of entertainment that was
offered started a bit later than anticipated due to a fabulous
luncheon that was served first. It all took longer than the time
we had allotted, since we also had another assignment that
 afternoon at the Hansa Haus – almost at the other end of the
world. Thus we had to miss out on watching Santa and his visit
with the children. No doubt among the very young a few will have
been crying while others could not wait to tell Santa all their
wishes and take away a present that was waiting for them.
Carolling at the Hansa
Haus
 We arrived in the Hansa Haus just in time for the last two
carols sung by the Hansa Choir under the direction of Dieter
Wütherich, including "Silent Night". It is a great credit to the
conductor that the choir sounded so marvellously confident,
filling the big hall with the sweet sounds of Christmas.
Unfortunately we could not speak to him because his busy
schedule demanded him to be elsewhere.
| The Hansa Choir conducted by
Dieter Wütherich |
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 Harmony and the spirit of Christmas could be felt as soon as we
had entered the hall of the Hansa Haus.
Most enjoyable for the grown-ups was a cup of "Glühwein" – hot,
mulled wine with cinnamon flavour in a glass with a sugar-frosted
rim. Advent just is not Advent
 without a treat like that!
The hall was well filled and festively decorated with lots of
sliced "Stollen" and cookies to snack from and bottomless cups
of coffee at the tables.
 There simply is nothing better and more
heart-warming than
getting together with family and friends at this time of year,
and it is wonderful to see that the young and very young are
showing up to partake in some of our old traditions. We
encountered nothing but smiling faces and hope they keep smiling
right through Christmas and into the New Year.
Merry Christmas from
Sybille, Rolf and Dick
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