GERMAN-AMERICAN CUSTOMS, BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS
An Elderhostel Program
September 20-25, 1998

German-speaking immigrants contributed much to the American Mainstream Culture. Discover how Germanic customs, beliefs, and traditions influenced celebrations of the winter months from Halloween and Thanksgiving to Ground Hog Day. Learn about the Advent and Christmas seasons with their many customs, foods, and songs. Bring your German letters and learn to decipher old German script (Handschrift) and printing (Fraktur). Learn about the crafts of these early immigrants and learn a craft. Visit a craft store, an orchard and winery, and other sites including a monastery.

The Presenters: Drs. Ruth and Eberhard Reichmann are natives of Germany who became American citizens in 1963. Ruth is the director of the Max Kade German-American Center at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis. She organizes programs, conferences, workshops, and teacher institutes. Ruth conducts Indiana Heritage tours for German visitors and Americans interested in their German roots. Eberhard is editor-in-chief of the publications program for the German-American Center and the Indiana German Heritage Society. He is professor emeritus at Indiana University's German Studies Institute.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE: Registration is from 2-4 p.m. E.S.T. Sunday (2-4 p.m. Chicago time, 3-5 p.m. New York City time.) The program begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. Sunday and ends at 1 p.m. Friday.

Cost: The $340 fee (double occupancy) includes workshop program and materials, meals, socials, and overnight accommodations. (singe occupancy is $440.)

For Additional Information Contact:

Kordes Enrichment Center 841 East 14th Street Ferdinand, IN 47532

To Register Write or Call:

Elderhostel Office
75 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1941

Want to learn more? Article on Elderhostels: Teaching and Learning with Americans of German Descent.

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