German, Norwegian, Mexican, whatever is your greatest population of cognitively active individuals.
Plan a gathering of people who are interested in sharing the language, food, and customs of their like ancestry.
Many of our elderly grew up speaking a different language; in the northern Midwest, that was often German or Norwegian. Once these folks enter a long term care facility, they lose contact with this heritage. Presenting it again gives them the opportunity to speak their parents’ native language, and often their first language, and be understood, to taste again the food their mothers made, and to relive the old customs around holidays.
We have two heritage-based groups. One is “The Germans of AMV” and the other is “A Scandinavian Christmas (See Monthly Large Group Activities)
THE GERMANS OF AMV
This group meets once a month. The tables are covered with blue and white table covers (Blue and white is the color of many festivals in Germany). You may find blue and white checked table covers at a second hand store. Centerpieces include gnomes (NOT the garden variety), beer steins, small German flags (hand made) in beer bottle vases, and table tents that announce the special food item of the day.
Photographs are taken with each member of the group holding our favorite gnome close to their cheek. It’s fun to watch the participants search for their photo each time they come to a monthly gathering.
Germany is a country of festivals so be sure to plan ahead:
January 6: Epiphany is a great day of celebration throughout Germany.
February brings the season of Karneval, known as the Fifth Season: a period of parades, costume parties, and dances.
Easter is celebrated by tying colored eggs to outdoor trees. In 2013, one apple tree contained 10,000 brightly colored eggs!
On the first of May, in addition to international Labour Day, Germany also celebrates the day of the Malbaum (Maypole). It is one of the better known festivals of Germany.
In Germany, Father’s Day, Vatertag, is a state holiday (Mother’s day is not!)
The biggest celebration in the world is Oktoberfest! It begins in September and runs through October.
November 11 is St. Martin’s Day, widely celebrated throughout Germany.
Many of our Christmas symbols originated in Germany so it’s no surprise that Christmas celebrations in Germany are bright, colorful, and filled with age-old traditions.
Starting your German activity (or any other heritage group) will require a little time and a little shopping. Preparing the room is a large part of drawing and keeping participants. A large round table works best as everyone is able to see everyone else and interactions are much easier. Once you have the table cloth and centerpieces, print out two or three tag board posters of common words and ask your participants for the German translation.
cat: katze
cow: kuh
dog: hund
duck: ente
frog: frosch
goat: zeige (z ga)
mouse: maus
tree: baum
horse: pferd (2 syllables)
rabbit: kaninchen
good day: gute dag
hi: hoi
pig: schwein
sheep: schaf (shav)
rat: ratte
church: kirche (keersha)
tv: fernsehen (foanze-n)
newspaper:zeitung (zi-toong)
good morning: guten morgen
roasted chicken: backhendel
baked: gebaken
hot: hiese (hise)
what is your name?: vash is du nama
what are you called?: ve heish du?
cold: kalt
friend: frond
night: nacht
potato salad: katauffle salot
coffee: kaffe
with sugar: mit zuker
water: wasser
dinner: abendessen
cream: ramma
cheese: case
salt: salz
pepper: pfeffer
breakfast: fruhkussed
pancake: pflannkuchen
Ask your participants to name the days of the week, the months, and numbers 1-20.
Being served a German dish is really a treat and there are many simple recipes. Following are just a sample.
Please click on the buttons below for the recipes!
