German American Society of CNY

Come join us for “Wednesday at the Weighlock!!”

The German-American Society will be exhibiting at the Erie Canal Museum Happy Hour on Wednesday, July 31 from 5 – 8 PM. The theme for this gathering is "Immigration and the Erie Canal,” with an emphasis on the contributions of immigrants in the creation of the canal, and the canal’s impact on immigration. Some of our members will be manning a table to greet attendees and distribute information about the club and our upcoming events.

There will be a cash bar with beer, wine, and cider from upstate New York breweries and vineyards like Middle Ages Brewing, Genesee Brewery, Common Roots Brewery, Lake Drum Brewing, Boundary Breaks Vineyard, and Budweiser. A local Syracuse food truck (Fast and Fusion) will be selling their fusion cuisine, and there will be free Gannon’s ice cream for the first 100 visitors. There’s no end to the entertainment with live performances by Flying Column, blacksmith demonstrations, and free tours of the Museum! At 6:30 PM, there will be a panel discussion exploring the topic of immigration in the Canal Corridor from the heyday of the Erie Canal to today. The Museum is located at 318 Erie Blvd East in Syracuse. Stop down and see us!

US: Famous s*x therapist 'Dr. Ruth' dead at 96 – DW – 07/13/2024 Ruth Westheimer, known around the world for her frank talk on s*x and s*xuality, has died in her New York home. A Holocaust survivor and Israeli sniper in her youth, she achieved fame as a radio host in the US.

Members and friends!! This coming Sunday 7/21 is our annual picnic!! Members are free and guests are $25. Food includes bratwurst, hot dogs, hamburgers and sides. Please email [email protected] to let us know you are coming so we can plan for food.

Details:
Sunday July 21, 2024
1pm to 5pm
Glen Pavilion @ Long Branch Park

See you there!!

We sold out of Black Forest cake at the recent International Taste Festival!! Maybe we’ll have some more at our Oktoberfest this year… 🤔

20 members (and guests) joined us today for some bowling fun. We are not going to post any scores…

Prost!! 🍻

Happy German Beer Day.

April 23, 1516 was the day that the Reinheitsgebot or Purity Law was adopted.

According to the 1516 Bavarian Law, the only ingredients that could be used in the production of beer were water, barley and hops.

Make sure you have a cold one today.

🌲Waldeinsamkeit is a German word describing the feeling of solitude and connection to nature when alone in the forest.

🏕️ Waldeinsamkeit isn’t just a word, it’s a state of being, enjoyed by tens of millions of Germans every year.

🌳 Germany is paradise for nature lovers. The right to explore nature is so valued that access to open landscapes, uncultivated land, forests, and bodies of water is protected by law in the “Betretungsrecht” or “freedom to roam”.

✨ Pictured: CG Kreibich in a state of Waldeinsamkeit

Happy eclipse day ☀️🌑

Join us at the International Taste Festival at the Center of Progress Building; today (Saturday, April 6) until 9 PM!

Frohe Ostern!

Happy Easter to all those who celebrate! We're closed today, but we've got a glimpse of history to share - check out this image of Easter shoppers on Salina Street from 1935!

The German-American Society will have a booth at this festival - we’ll be offering Bavarian pretzels, roasted candied almonds, German chocolate cake, and other sweet treats. The Syracuse Oktoberfest Dancers will also be performing. Should be a great event!!

Read about another famous German-American, Thomas Nast, below:

Thomas Nast was America’s foremost political cartoonist, publishing regularly in the popular journal, Harper’s Weekly. His work exposed political corruption and spread new ideas, both good and bad, to his ever-growing audience. He was active from the Civil War through the Gilded Age and the visual medium of his work made him and his ideas accessible to a large audience.

Perhaps because of his youth in Germany, Thomas Nast was the first person to capture our modern American idea of Santa Claus. He published his first version of the jolly old elf bringing presents to the Union army in 1863. Eventually, he would draw 33 versions of St. Nick, including this one which was published in 1881, entitled “Merry Old Santa Claus.” Although it seems like St. Nick is bringing presents to all the good little girls and boys, this is actually Nast using his Santa image to protest for higher wages for soldiers. The toy sack is a soldier’s backpack, the toys represent various aspects of military history, including the Trojan Horse, while the watch shows how little time is left for the government to make a decision.

Learn more about Thomas Nast and his influence on political cartoons and the Erie Canal at our upcoming Lunchtime Lecture on Thursday, December 21 at noon. This is a hybrid lecture by our museum education team members Ciarrai Eaton and Derrick Pratt and is FREE with a recommended donation of $10. Learn more and register at ErieCanalMuseum.org/event/political-cartoons/

Over 120 members and guests enjoyed our Christmas Party with a delicious dinner, entertainment by the Syracuse German Oktoberfest Band and the Edelweiss Schuhplattlers dance group, a silent auction, and a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus with gifts for the children. Merry Christmas!! 🎄

Pass bloß auf....? Many Alpine countries continue to celebrate the Krampusnacht with parades, where the townsmen dress like devils and run through the streets chasing after children and naughty parents alike. The Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure in the Central and Eastern Alpine folklore of Europe who, during the Advent season, scares children who have misbehaved. Assisting Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, the pair visit children on the night of 6 December, with Saint Nicholas rewarding the well-behaved children with gifts such as oranges, dried fruit, walnuts and chocolate, while the badly behaved ones only receive punishment from Krampus with birch rods. Krampus day itself, on the other hand, is on 5 December.

Join us, for the Bavarian Christmas Market at Freight Yard Brewing in Clay on Saturday, December 2, from 2:00 - 6:00 PM. Multiple vendors will be there with Christmas gift offerings, and our club will be serving Glühwein (warm spiced wine) and candied almonds (yum!) in the beer garden tents, along with Bavarian pretzels, popcorn, and hot cocoa for kids! Come have some fun!

Did you know that German immigrants introduced gingerbread houses to the USA? Stop down to the Erie Canal Museum to see this wonderful display!

It’s almost here!! OKTOBERFEST with the Bier Puppet, the Oktoberfest Band & Dancers, Stein Hoisting, food from Liehs & Steigerwald, and so much more! Saturday, Oktober 14, from noon to 8 PM at Freight Yard Brewing, Rte 31 in Clay. Who’s coming???

The world-famous Munich Oktoberfest begins tomorrow. From September 16 to October 3, millions of people will converge in the city to attend this annual festival.

Oktoberfest is the world's largest "Volksfest" (beer festival and funfair). Visitors get to enjoy traditional Bavarian music, food, and a wide variety of beer served in large tents, creating a festive and lively atmosphere. While it is recognized internationally as a beer festival for adults, designated areas within the grounds cater to families and children. These areas often include amusement rides, games, and family-friendly entertainment options, some of which you can see in this aerial photo from 2019! 🎡

If you've ever been to Oktoberfest, we'd love to hear about your experience. What was your favorite part?

Mark your calendars! The German-American Society will be partnering with Freight Yard Brewing to present Oktoberfest 2023 on October 14, from Noon - 8:00 PM. The Syracuse Oktoberfest Band and Dancers will be performing, the Liehs & Steigerwald food truck will be serving German specialties, and of course, the brewery will be offering their own Oktoberfest Bier. Takes place in the Biergarten at Freight Yard Brewing, 4975 Rte NY 31, Clay, NY… right next to the RR tracks. More details coming soon!

Happy 4th of July! If you're in the US, you may grill hamburgers at a BBQ today. 🍔 Many people wonder if the hamburger came from Hamburg, Germany. Here's what we know:

The hamburger, as we know it today, is widely believed to have originated in the US. However, there is a connection between Germany and the hamburger's name. The name "hamburger" is derived from the German city of Hamburg. In the 19th century, German immigrants brought a dish called "Hamburg steak" to the United States. This dish was made from minced beef and had similarities to the modern hamburger. Over time, the "Hamburg steak" evolved, and it is believed that the hamburger as we know it today emerged in the United States in the early 20th century.

So while the name "hamburger" has German roots, the invention and popularization of the modern hamburger took place in the United States.

So there you have it! 🍔

Join us at our meeting this Thursday, June 15, at 7:00 PM at the Syracuse Turners (619 North Salina St., Syracuse), where member Jim Heckathorne will present a discussion and photos of his recent trip to the Netherlands and Belgium. Interested in becoming a member of our club? Message us on Facebook or email us at [email protected].

Hi members and friends! Would anyone have information for someone wanting to join a German American Society in Long Island? Danke!

A couple days late but very interesting!

Intern Tanner here welcoming the summer months with a special friend, King Gambrinus!

The origins of King Gambrinus date back to the 1400s in Germany. Local folklore described Gambrinus as a jovial king fond of brewing and drinking. Although Gambrinus isn't a representation of a real person, there is a great deal of folklore and legends about the character, who is credited with many feats, such as the creation of beer or the idea of using hops. Gambrinus was proclaimed the patron saint of drinking, although this is unofficial because he was never canonized - probably because he never existed outside of stories.

The “King of Beers” became a drinking and brewing icon nonetheless and was an important part of German culture. Due to revolution in Germany in the 1800s, many Germans immigrated to America. Among them was Benedict F. Haberle, who settled in Syracuse, like many other German families. In 1854 Haberle was given his first salon license and opened a spot on North Salina Street that was welcoming for all, especially the German immigrant presence in Syracuse. Soon the Haberle family expanded to build their own brewery on the corner of North McBride and Butternut Street. They built the brewery here due to the resources of a natural spring that helped with their beer production.

The Haberle Brewers continued to improve and expand and used the statue of “The Beer King” Gambrinus as the symbol of their business. Before too long, the Prohibition era brought things to a screeching halt. In a parade to protest Prohibition and its effects on the economy and area, a march was organized through Syracuse with the statue of Gambrinus leading the way. The statue of Gambrinus was visible for all to see on the corner of the brewery for over eighty years and has been a symbol of jovial times as well as a strong spirit of immigration in the city of Syracuse.

Thank you to everyone that came out last month to celebrate our German Student College Scholarship recipients last month. It was another scholarship dinner for the books!! 21 years and over 100 students who received scholarships!

Interested in collector Hummels?? We have been contacted by individuals looking to sell Hummels and Hummel plates. Comment below if you want to connect with a fellow Hummel collector!