The Thedens To Celebrate Friendship The A Feuerzangenbowle Party (Page One)
Hans and Kerstin have again invited us to their beautiful home to celebrate the Christmas season with a Feuerzangenbowle. This is our fourth year of celebrating the day after Thanksgiving with the Thedens and friends and it is always a great affair.
My Friends Let Me Explain: Die Feuerzangenbowle ("The Fire-Tongs Bowl" or "The Punch Bowl") is a 1944 German film, directed by Helmut Weiss and is based on the book of the same name. It follows the book closely as its author, Heinrich Spoerl, also wrote the script for the film.
Both tell the story of a famous writer going undercover as a student at a small town secondary school after his friends tell him that he missed out on the best part of growing up by being educated at home.
The story in the book takes place during the time of the Wilhelmine Empire in Germany. The movie was produced and released in Germany during the last years of World War II and has been called a "masterpiece of timeless, cheerful escapism."
The movie stars Heinz Rühmann in the role of the student Hans Pfeiffer, which is remarkable as Rühmann was already 42 years old at that time. The title comes from the German alcoholic tradition of Feuerzangenbowle.
In Summary ...
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Let The Festivities Begin
Did You Know? - Germany has some of the loveliest Christmas and New Year's Eve traditions anywhere in the world. But one of my favorites has yet to catch on in this country, perhaps because of its daunting name: Feuerzangenbowle (literally "fire tong punch"). Pronounced "FOY-yer-tsahng-en-bowl-eh," this drink brings serious Gemütlichkeit to any gathering.
First, and most important, be sure your fire extinguisher has been recently recharged and is within easy reach. Feuerzangenbowle, like most great party drinks, involves an element of risk.
To make this delicious and heady punch, you set a cone of rum-soaked sugar aflame over some mulled wine. It melts into the wine, sweetening and strengthening it. Since you're adding a fair amount of sugar into the punch, it's best to use a very dry red wine.
Hans and Kerstin had to re-arrange the house to accommodate all twenty of us!
They were well prepared!
An Old German Saying:
Es ist Zeit zum Feiern und zum Versammeln.
Ich hoffe das du deine Zeit mit den Personen verbringen kannst die dir am meisten bedeuten.
Ein frohes und festliches Weihnachtsfest!
English: It is a time for celebration and gatherings.
I wish that you may spend your time meaningfully with the people close to your heart.
Have a wonderful and merry Christmas!
"What do you think?" Brian replied "I think I have died and gone to heaven"
Sue loves watching the reactions of the new arrivals
Quotation To Remember:
Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space. ~Dave Barry
"Do not worry... We had all the calories removed from each and every piece"
"Jeri and Paul (and Sue) worked together for many years at Boeing
"Jeri... It's been TEN years since we retired!"
Sue and Ed exchange wine tips!
Jan keeps and eye on the table
"Just wait until we pour the mulled wine"
Jan and Ed catch up... Great to have Brian and Jan back home!
Hans decided that Paul & Sue needed to try some "real sauerkraut"
Easy to make with the proper container
WARNING: Official sampler at work
Wine tasting well underway at the kitchen table
Jan loves the
blue skies and lack of rain...
The buzzards are circling the appetizers
"My glass has bubbles in it!"
Kerstin carefully marks the glasses
Swapping stories!
John just joins the girls... Best spot in the house!
The kitchen is always the meeting place!
Guess who has a new toy?
Great fun with delightful friends
The finer points of beer are being discussed!
"This crowd is easy... Everyone knows each other!"
"The Welch's grape juice is just fine...... hic"
Jan and Kerstin discuss the problem of running during the Winter...
They found the problem
Cyndy arrives... The party can now get underway
The serious look
"I am going to behave this year! AND... I know about hangovers!"
Quotation To Remember:
Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas
"Tis' the season of all smiles!"
Looks like beards are catching! Paul wants to put a beard on his head...
Is that possible?
Looks like Kerstin is surprised!
John in deep in concentration doing his "Thinker impersonation"
Jan checks the dinner...
Is this a Father-Daughter drink?
Bob reveals the latest Taco Bell secret receipt
Oh dear... What are they up to?
The wine glass was this tall.... No, really!
"Tough sledding on the freeway.... NO snow!"
"What? You ran out of beer?"
Quotation To Remember:
"Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever." -- Bess Streeter Aldrich (Song of Years)
We can't get away with anything!
Taking candid shots...
Caught in the act!
