A quick glimpse into modern Indiana in winter reveals a dizzying array of time-honored German traditions. Music and the church reign as families gather for Mass and the reading of the bible in German and sing everything from carols to hymns. From a rehearsal of Engelbert Humperdinck's Christmas opera Hansel and Gretel come strains of an "Evening Prayer":

Equally familiar is the excitement of school children as they look forward to singing in school Christmas programs, where "Silent Night" and "O Christmas Tree" will naturally be sung, sometimes even in the original ("Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" and "O Tannenbaum"). The corner doughnut shops in Evansville, Indiana advertise authentic Pfeffernuesse, guaranteed to please even the most discriminating of German tongues. The German Christian tradition, fundamental to a large part of German winter customs and firmly rooted in southern Indiana especially, has furnished the Advent calendar and wreath that is now universally recognized as a symbol of Christmas. Of course, Christmas would not be the same without Santa Claus, as he is known to most American children, or St. Nikolaus, as he is called by Germans and the German students who celebrate each Evansville winter with the Saint Nikolaus Fest, held annually at the university of Evansville.

Baking, singing, and German knowledge contests as well as a visit from St. Nikolaus himself highlight the evening for Americans as well as university students from Germany. On a larger scale, Indiana University in Bloomington keeps the joy of learning about German language and culture alive with its state convention for students of German, held on the second weekend in February. The cultural contests spark new interest in the most treasured of customs, namely the craft of decorating a delicate gingerbread house and attempts to prepare sweets from the Old Country, just as delectable as an experienced grandmother's. Many different methods are employed, but somehow, the German winter tradition is passed on from generation to generation.

Though the practices discussed above are a vital part of German winter festivities in Indiana, this discussion would not be complete without a search for the origins of the transplantation of this aspect of European culture into a growing Indiana. St. Wendel, Indiana, was one of the sites of this early cultural seeding. Unlike German immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries who settled in large cities, dropping their native language altogether or adopting English as a preferred language, the residents of tiny St. Wendel clung fast to what they knew, struggling to keep their ethnic values and teachings of the Catholic Church. St. Wendel, for this reason, came to be known as a "Little Germany."

Like St. Philip's Church in St. Philip, Indiana, services in St. Wendel until recently were conducted in German. The Christian customs were intact, ensuring that Palm Sunday, All Souls Day, and Rogation Days would be observed, but it was Christmas that beckoned to all with its favorite German customs. Children, anticipating presents and good cheer on December 25th, eagerly said their prayers and strove to be good during the endless days before Christmas morning. For, as their parents warned them, St. Nikolaus would sternly examine them for sound knowledge of their prayers before any gifts would appear. The more unique tradition was the cherished German custom of hanging stockings on St. Nikolaus Eve which would be filled the next morning with a small treat--an orange, popcorn, or a toy. As Advent was observed, the candy was saved for Christmas Day. On the eve of any holy day in St. Wendel, bells were rung, and the Christmas bell served a dual purpose: to ring out the birth of Christ and alert the children to the coming of St. Nikolaus.

Henriette Coudret Klenck, in a reminiscence, rejoices in her memories of the tiny village named St. Wendel, where she grew up loving the customs of the homeland. Her first memory was a visit from none other than St. Nikolaus himself. "Christmas was in the hearts and air. Parlors were tidied, blinds were drawn .... until Christmas Eve .. we knew we had better be on our best behavior."

Ms. Klenck remembered also her tree, which unlike modern Christmas trees was not lit until the hours before the arrival of Santa Claus, and the ringing of the bells, which was quickly followed by Santa's call to the reindeer to stop at her house. "Santa" was accompanied by a very convincing Mrs. Santa Claus, resplendent in a white and gold robe. The gentleman who delighted in his yearly role as their neighborhood Santa dramatically opened the parlor door to reveal the sparkling tree, surrounded by a veritable rainbow of candy. This annual marvel was as cherished in this little girl's home as in the entire village. Even today, these traditions have left their mark on a tiny town rich in heritage, culture, and memories.

Today in Indiana, the culture of Germany in winter lives on through the teachings of grandparents and the ongoing joy of children, as, year after year, they discover their roots in a land far away. They learn that their ancestors brought the Christmas tree, Advent calender and Christmas song to America, as well as numerous other traditions that may well be unique to a single family or village. The celebration of German ways in the Hoosier mainstream is a legacy that will certainly live on as a treasured facet of American culture.

At the time of this writing Monya De was a student at Harrison High School in Evansville

FURTHER RESOURCES