The interdenominational “Thanksgiving Day” is traditionally celebrated on the last Thursday in November in the USA – as a general peace and harvest festival, which was first celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 after the first harvest in the colony of Plymouth in what is now the US state of Massachusetts. This custom was also revived in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district at the end of November in recognition of the connection with the “New World”. The German-American Society Siegerland-Wittgenstein (DAGSiWi e. V.) celebrated at the Dorint Parkhotel Siegen with a good forty members of the society and guests for whom transatlantic relations are a matter close to their hearts for a variety of reasons.
After a classical musical introduction by Christine Wahnschaffe (piano) and Susanne Wagner (flute), Volker Schüttenhelm, President of the Society, welcomed those present in the festive ambience of the hall and, in a brief review of the year that was drawing to a close, highlighted the special events of the Society’s life. The good tradition of providing tourist support for the descendants of Siegerland immigrants from the Germanna Foundation (Virginia) was continued this year. Schüttenhelm recalled the reception of the Americans in Freudenberg by Mayor Nicole Reschke and in Siegen by Mayor Steffen Mues and District Administrator Andreas Müller. The informal dinner in the traditional Siegen restaurant “Peuns” provided a wonderful opportunity to meet the Americans with Siegerland roots outside of the protocol setting.
Not to be left unmentioned was the award ceremony for the best year’s work at level Q1 of the grammar schools in the district, which took place in the historic Konventssaal of Keppel Abbey. The winner of first prize, Angelina Daub from Gesamtschule Eiserfeld, was present, as were Emma Schüttenhelm and Tristan Andrews (both from Gymnasium Am Löhrtor in the city of Siegen), who shared two equal third places. Leni Balzer (Städtisches Gymnasium), who was awarded second prize, was unable to attend.
After a brief introduction to the history and customs surrounding Thanksgiving and the so-called “Black Friday” by the association’s press officer, Eike Jungheim, the oven-fresh, obligatory turkey was cut in the presence of the deputy hotel manager of the four-star hotel, Mr. Kübler, was cut by Siegen’s deputy mayor Jens Kamieth (MdL) and club president Volker Schüttenhelm and was eaten with relish by the festive party along with sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce and various other side dishes to general praise. New York cheesecake and an apple pie provided a sweet finish.
After the meal, DAG SiWi guest Martin Horne, an enthusiastic traveler to America for many years, rounded off the evening’s program with an impressive photo presentation about the “Great Lakes State” of Michigan, its impressive coastal landscapes and charming small and medium-sized towns.