BEGINNINGS

The San Antonio German Weihnachtsfeier can be traced back to the 1904 establishment of the German Evangelical Friedens Church in San Antonio, which in 1978 became part of the Bethany Congregational Church (UCC).

The Weihnachtsfeier began as a Sunday School exercise. Nationwide, the German language was being replaced by English, but a number of leading members of the congregation did not want to lose the traditional German Weihnachtsfeier. The vision and labor of Marie Helland and Emilie and Lena Heinrich reshaped the service and brought about the spirit and form of the present Weihnachtsfeier. No sermon is preached, and no particular doctrine of the Christian faith is advocated. Over the past four decades, the service has become increasingly ecumenical in nature.

“Die Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier” tells the Christmas story simply and entirely in the German language through Holy Scripture, German Christmas poetry, prayers, choral music, and congregational singing. Since 2004, Dr. David Heller, organist of the Margarite B. Parker Chapel at Trinity University, has provided the instrumental music. Indeed, the Weihnachtsfeier has become an important cultural event in South Texas.

1975 – 2000

From 1975 to 2000 Dr. Annelise Sellin Duncan, Professor Emerita of the German Language program at Trinity University, and the Reverend John B. Culver, Pastor Emeritus of Bethany Congregational Church - UCC, worked together to preserve and expand this annual Christmas celebration. Dr. Duncan brought in students and former students -- some of whom were teachers of German, themselves -- to participate in the Weihnachtsfeier as readers.

In 1979, Rev. Culver and Dr. Duncan organized the Weihnachtsfeier Committee, which worked with them to plan and continue Die Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier. The committee gradually grew to include representatives from not just Bethany Congregational Church and the German language program at Trinity University but also the German language programs at some public and private high schools, the Beethoven Männerchor, and the San Antonio Liederkranz.

With the passing of Dr. Duncan in 2000, Carolyn Gisler (German teacher at Roosevelt High School, now retired) and Sue Weber (German teacher at Robert E. Lee High School, now retired) assisted Rev. Culver until his death in 2014. The San Antonio Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier Society, with your support, plans to continue celebrating Christmas in the German tradition for many years to come.

MUSICAL CONTRIBUTIONS

For more than four decades, the voices of the San Antonio Liederkranz (est. 1892) and the Beethoven Männerchor (est. 1867) have sung for the Weihnachtsfeier. By mutual agreement, these two excellent German men's choirs would sing for the Weihnachtsfeier in alternate years. Since the Centennial Celebration in 2004, however, the two choirs have been singing together, accompanied by Dr. Heller. It has been the custom of the Weihnachtsfeier to reserve the singing of “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht” for the congregation during the candle lighting.

LOOKING AHEAD

In 2003, the German Weihnachtsfeier Committee was incorporated as the “German Weihnachtsfeier Society of San Antonio, Inc.,” a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

Sadly, in 2023, Bethany Congregational Church closed. But what began as a Sunday School exercise well over a century ago continues. Through the Deutsche Weihnachtsfeier annual celebration, a piece of our German heritage in South Texas has been preserved and can be enjoyed as a Christmas gift from past generations to generations yet to come.