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German American

German PhD Student Needs German American Interview Partner

July 12, 2014 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

A PhD student from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich is currently here in the U.S. and is searching for German-American interview partners for her field work.

For her PhD project about German-American descendants in the U.S., Christiane Bauer is looking for interview partners, who would like to talk about their relationship towards their German heritage, and their self-perception as German, American, and German- American. One or both of the parents of the interview partner should have come from Germany to the U.S. after 1945.

The interview will focus mainly on everyday as well as family life, language, culture, customs, and traditions. It will be audio-taped and last about 90 minutes.

The results of the interviews will contribute to Ms. Bauer’s  research and excerpts of the interview transcript might be published in order to receive a PhD. The interviews will increase the knowledge about the last German mass migration to the U.S. and the forming of diverse and hybrid ethnic identities among migrants and their families.

If you are interested in participating in the project please don’t hesitate to contact Christiane Bauer for further information about the project itself, the interview process, or with any other questions.

Contact Christiane Bauer at :
E-mail: PhD_ImagesofGermanness@outlook.com
Mobile: 718 219 3626
Web: www.proamhist.amerikanistik.uni-muenchen.de/personen/doktoranden/ christiane_bauer/index.html

.

 

Filed Under: Education, Life in California, Uncategorized Tagged With: German American, German American Community, German American History, German heritage, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich

As Richard Wagner’s 200 Birthday Nears – Staged Reading of ” Richard and Felix – Twilight in Venice” at the Goethe Institut L.A.

May 20, 2013 by Cornelia 1 Comment

Staged Reading of “Richard and Felix in Venice”
Tuesday, May 21st 2013, 7:30 pm 

Richard Wagner and his second wife Cosima, who...
Richard Wagner and his second wife Cosima, who established the Bayreuth canon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A short synopsis of the play:

Venice Italy, February 13, 1883. Composer Richard Wagner is seen at the window overlooking the Canale Grand in Venice.

As the music of Felix Mendelssohn plays, Mendelssohn himself, dead since 1847, appears to Wagner from beyond the grave.
Although in reality, the two had but three brief encounters, Richard and Felix: Twilight in Venice provides a fictionalized meeting and discussion between the two composers during the final hours of Wagner’s life.
The dramatic exchanges between the two composers explore not only Wagner’s fascination and animosity toward Mendelssohn’s music, but also examine the music of the time.
Although not a typical topic for the two composers, or their contemporaries the topic of Wagner’s relationship to Judaism—viewed through 21 century eyes— is also explored.

Presented by USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies, the German-American Cultural Society (GACS) and the Goethe-Institut Los Angeles.

Richard and Felix: Twilight in Venice, had its world premiere in 2010 in Hollywood’s MET THEATRE, and this staged reading will reunite the original cast.
Performed by: Don Paul (Richard Wagner), Jerry Weil (Felix Mendelssohn), Channing Chase (Cosima Wagner), Kelly Chatman (Lover), Christina Linhardt (Narrator)
The evening is produced by Cornelius Schnauber, the author of the play, Emeritus Associate Professor of USC and Founding Director and Director Emeritus of USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies, and is sponsored by USC’s Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss- Studies, as well as the German-American Cultural Society (GACS).
English translation by Tom Schnauber.

Reception following the event. RSVP required.
$1 Validated Parking at Wilshire Courtyard West Building (P1) on weekends and evenings after 6:00 pm (events only) Related links

Goethe-Institut Los Angeles
5750 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
$7 General Admission, $4 for students, seniors, GACS members, Free for Friends of Goethe
RSVP: +1 213 7432707
or  
kade@dornsife.usc.edu

 Article / Event Source: Goethe Institut Los Angeles

Filed Under: Attractions & Events, Culture, German Literature & Theater, Life in California Tagged With: Cornelius Schnauber, Cosima Wagner, Felix Mendelssohn, German, German American, Goethe Institut, Los Angeles, Venice

Groundhog Day, Hedgehogs and the History of Candlemas

January 30, 2013 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

Ground Hog Day

According to a German legend the forerunners to the Groundhog Day tradition were hedgehogs, which are now a protected species in Germany with their own Hedgehog Hotline, open to anyone with an Igel emergency, countrywide support associations and specialized food available in almost all supermarkets.

Most healthy hedgehogs enjoy their winter hibernation, sleeping the time away until Spring arrives, except it seems many years ago, and perhaps even now, around the beginning of February they would leave their den, inspect the weather and depending on what they found decide whether or not they would disappear for another four or so weeks, or begin slowly to come back to life.

For several European nations, including the Romans, once they had been introduced to the custom by the Scottish Celts, hedgehogs became a form of weather forecaster, and there was ancient German proverb:

Wenn der Igel Lichtmess seinen Schatten sieht,
so Kriecht er wieder auf sechs Wochen ins Loch.

If the hedgehog sees his shadow at Candlemas,
He will crawl back into his hole for another six weeks

And February 2nd is Candlemas.  For the Romans “weather forecasting day” was February 5th with no connection to Candlemas, however the custom was brought to the USA by German and English immigrants with those from England also having a piece of farmer’s wisdom:

If Candlemas be fair and bright
Come, winter, have another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go, winter, and come not again.

Hedgehog

These cultures had for centuries predicted the spring weather by watching the behavior of hedgehogs at Candlemas, February 2nd, celebrating when a cloudy day meant there was no shadow as, in their experience, this seemed to show that there was to be a quick end to the cold winter season.

Actually it was thought that originally a bear was used as the weather forecaster, but for whatever reason, now lost in the mists of time, it became the hedgehog.

Just how impatient they were to see the arrival of spring was summed up by another German proverb, ‘a shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine’.  Wolves were then widespread throughout the country, a dreaded enemy of farmers, shepherds and of course sheep.

However an absence of hedgehogs when the settlers arrived in the ‘New World’ meant an alternative was found, and it is now the shadow of a Ground hog, the woodchuck respected by the Delaware Indians as a wise, sensible animal and their honorable ancestor, which on a sunny clear February day predicts six more weeks of winter weather with a tradition that became known as the Groundhog Day.

Believe it or not, there is more to the tradition of Ground Hog day with the religious celebration of Candlemas Day or feast of Maria Lichtmess that early European immigrants brought with them to America.  Head on over to the source link below to get the full story

Source: Bella Online
Photos by Aaron Silvers and XWiz via flickr

Article Source: GermanPulse

———————————————————————————–———–

ABOUT

   German Pulse is a new online magazine for the German-American community where you can  find the latest news, reviews, events, businesses, and so much more.
website | twitter | Facebook
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Related Articles:

  • Ground Hog Day “imported” by German settlers:  (Murmeltiertag 2009; http://www.wetter24.de)
  • Oktoberfest and Other Famous German Traditions (handsoffourholiday.com)
  • Happy Groundhog’s Day! (braddockeagle.typepad.com)

 

Filed Under: Culture Tagged With: Candlemas, German American, Groundhog Day, Hedgehog, Maria Lichtmess

German American Friendship Poster Contest Is Now Accepting Submissions For 2013

October 2, 2012 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

 

With German-American Day approaching on Saturday, October 6, you may find yourself feeling a little extra German pride.  If you have even the slightest artistic bone in your body, you may want to give the German American Friendship poster contest a shot since the Tricentennial Foundation is now accepting submissions for 2013.  There aren’t too many requirements and the contest is open to all ages.

Not only will the winning posters be featured in a moving exhibition throughout the United States, there will also be cash prizes awarded in various categories based on age.  The grand prize winner will receive an additional cash prize, and if you are finding it difficult to settle on one design, multiple entries are allowed in this contest.

Cash Prizes Offered

$250 for Open competition (non-student) : Category I
$200 for college student (undergraduate) : Category II
$150 for high school student : Category III
$100 for elementary or middle school : Category IV

The grand prize winner will be awarded an additional $100

Contest Rules

  • Must be an original 8.5″ x 11″ artwork
  • Include the words GERMAN AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP
  • Artist’s name, age, school grade( if a student), and phone number must on the back of the poster
  • Poster must have a copyright release
  • Submitted your poster by mail, postmarked by June 3, 2013 to: Tricentennial Foundation, 8628 Orion Ave., North Hills CA 91343-5815

To find additional information on the contest, visit the source link below, and feel free to share your designs on our Facebook page.

Source: Tricentennial Foundation
Photo: Past contest winner via Tricentennial Foundation
Article Source: German Pulse

———————————————————————————–   ABOUT

  German Pulse is a new online magazine for the German-American community where you can  find the latest news, reviews, events, businesses, and so much more.
website | twitter | Facebook
—————————————————————————————————-

 

Filed Under: Culture, German Festivals, LifeStyle Tagged With: German -American Friendship, German American, German-American Day, Poster contest

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