Scotch College

A German Weihnachten party

Late last year, the 1998 Year 7 German Students were given a taste of what it is like to experience a traditional German Weihnachten, or Christmas, in the form of a Sankt Nikolaus party.

The event, held on the 3rd of December, began with some German Christmas Carols from the 'German Singers' from Melbourne University. They encouraged us all to join in.

Having worked up an appetite in this way, we were treated to some traditional German Christmas foods, including Pfefferminznüsse - soft gingerbread biscuits covered in icing, and Stollen - a rich German fruitcake, containing lots of spices.

After groups of students competed in a German Christmas quiz, Sankt Nikolaus (St. Nicholas, heavily disguised as David Baillieu) and Schwarzer Peter ( Black Peter, impersonated by Walter Riedler ) made an appearance.

St. Nicholas gave a present to those who had been good, and Schwarzer Peter hit the naughty ones over the head with a large rubber mallet, to the great mirth of all present.

Traditionally in Germany households are visited by St. Nikolaus and Schwarzer Peter on December 6th.

The children leave a shoe out, and, if they have been good, St. Nikolaus will put fruit, nuts, lollies or a small toy into their shoe. However, if they have been bad, all that they will receive is a lump of coal from Schwarzer Peter.

This was a most enjoyable event, and an excellent way of learning about German life and culture.

Michael Roy, 8 Selby Smith