Happy New Year! Are you ready to tackle 2018 with us?

We hope you enjoyed the holiday season as much as we did and that you had a fabulous start into 2018!

German Customs to Ring in the New Year

Should you have celebrated New Year’s Eve or the 1st of January together with some Germans or somewhere in Germany, you might have been given a little pig made of marzipan. Don’t be offended! It means that the person, who gave it to you, wishes you all the best luck in the new year ahead. In fact, there is such an intrinsic connection between luck and “pig” that it even shows in the German expression: “Da hast Du aber Schwein gehabt” which literally means “You really had some ‘pig’ there”, meaning “Wow, you were really lucky there.”

Germans love to ring in the New Year in ‘Grande style’. That means fireworks galore! When the clock strikes midnight, you can be sure to find extensive fireworks in all major cities, but even many families launch quite impressive fireworks right from their backyard.

But, what do folks do, who are not into fireworks?

Like people in other countries also Germans like to get together with friends and family to make New Year’s Eve a special night. A favorite party activity while waiting for the clock to turn midnight is lead pouring (Bleigiessen). Germans just love to play fortune teller on that last day of the year. And…, who doesn’t’ like to find out what the future holds in store for the next year?

Well, each bizarre form that’s being created during the lead pouring process is supposed to reveal the future for each particular person participating. How does lead pouring work? A piece of lead is melted over a flame. Once it has become liquid it is poured into a bowl of cold water. Voilà! You instantly get some kind of “frozen” form that will be interpreted by the rest of the guests. Instead of using lead many use wax instead these days.

But there is more! Germans have a dear show they like to watch again and again, year after year on this last day of the year. Dinner for One is an 18-minute sketch featured on various television stations throughout the evening. But the most peculiar thing about is: The short play is ENTIRELY in ENGLISH! Yet, New Year’s Eve or ‘Silvester’ as the German calls it, wouldn’t be the same without this delightfully funny show. See for yourself!

How did you ring in the New Year? Share your traditions and stories with us next time we see you in class on January 4th.

It’s Only Just January, but we are moving ‘Full Steam Ahead’!

We have a full year of excellence ahead of us and it’s starting right this month. Our advanced German class is taking the AATG 2 test on January 27. They have studied hard since last September and are well prepared to tackle this test’s challenges. The next few weeks we will spend with plenty of test preparation for January 27th, we will be more than ready to go!

What is the AATG test?

If you are new to our German School Campus’ newsletter, you might not yet know about the great advantage that taking the AATG test will give high schoolers.

The AATG Exam, also called the National German Exam, is delivered electronically and has four levels, each with the same format. Passing the AATG tests might help you fulfill the foreign language requirement at your high school. Many high schools will give you credit for a full year of taking a foreign language with each AATG test you pass.

So, if you pass all four AATG tests you might be credited for four years of taking a foreign language! A credit that is not only a great personal achievement but also looks impressive on any college application.

Here at German School campus, we make sure that all our students are properly prepared for the various levels of the AATG testing.

You thought all festivities were over…? Surprise!

We are gearing up for Fasching also known as Carnival season next! While today this season is mostly known for its costume parties, lustrous Ball (dancing) season and official mocking of politicians and governments, it is actually a time that has its origins in the Western Christian festive season. It’s the time before Lent, also known as Shrovetide, a time during which people since the medieval times adopted excessive lifestyles displaying gaiety and overindulgence until Lent would start a time of fasting that would end with the celebration of Easter.

Even though we will learn some of the historic background of Carnival in Germany, we will focus most on the fun part here at German School campus and invite everyone to our Carnival Party on February 10.th Watch out for more fun facts on Carnival practices on Facebook .

https://www.facebook.com/GERMANSCHOOLcampus/

DATES to REMEMBER:

January 04 – School is Back in Session

January 27 – AATG2 Testing at German School Campus

February 10 – Carnival Party at German School Campus

July 2nd – July 7th – Our Yearly STEM SUMMER CAMP! Book early to claim your space.