Thursday, Dec. 19, 1957 University Daily Kansan
Page 3
CHRISTMAS PLAY—The three Wise Men are presenting gifts to the Christ Child Mary is
Jane Ziesenis, Lawrence senior, and Joseph is David Dodds, Lawrence graduate student.
German Nativity Play Presented
A choir, singing in the German language, provided the background between scenes of "Die Heilige Nacht," an old German Nativity play, presented by first and second semester German language students in Fraser Theater Wednesday night.
and the choir, the play, and poems and songs by Lawrence public school students were all a part of Weihnachtsspiel, the German department's annual Christmas program. The music and play were representative of performances in Germany during the Middle Ages.
A visit from St. Nicholas during the songs and poems of the school children was refreshing. St. Nicholas, dressed as a German pearant, had his traditional bag of toys which he distributed to the children.
A wide selection of traditional and modern German carols were sung by the choir under the direction of Gerald Carney, associate professor of music education.
The play was a simple presentation of the birth of Christ. Under the direction of Allen Crafton, professor of speech, it followed the lines of the old European miracle plays.
Antiphonal choral singing by a small group of students in the Russian language portrayed Christmas in a Russian village church preceding the play.
Tinkling, delicate music was
played on three blockflutes and a harpsichord by the recorder players. They played Handel's "Fugue." The blockflutes are wooden instruments which sound like flutes, but resemble clarinets. A responsive audience, directed by Mary Jo Woofter, Colby senior, sang four German Christmas carols throughout the program.
29 Students Plan Vacation In Mexico
A group of 29 American and foreign students will leave from the Student Union at 12:30 p.m. Saturday for a Christmas vacation tour of Mexico sponsored by the International Club.
Chairman of the trip is Takis Pamiyotopoulos, Athens, Greece graduate student. Sam Anderson, instructor of German, will chaperone the group.
The group will travel by chartered bus. They will visit Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Vera Cruz, and Acapulco. They will leave Mexico City Jan. 3 and will arrive in Lawrence Jan. 5.
Foreign Students Miss Christmas At Home
Christmas more than 4,000 miles from their families and loved ones will be a new experience to many of KU's foreign students.
And not being able to spend Christmas eve gathered around a candle-lit tree and sing Christmas carols is what most said they would miss.
This is the first year many of them will not be with their families on Christmas. Instead they will travel, catch up on school work or spend the vacation with friends.
Helga Sommer, Villach, Austria, graduate student, has been invited to spend Christmas in Chicago with a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
"I was surprised and happy to be invited to someone's home for Christmas," Miss Sommer said. "Not very many Europeans would invite you to their homes."
Miss Sommer has noticed that Americans are much noisier about Christmas than the Austrians.
"What I will miss most is the quiet," she said. "and not being home with my family."
Prettier Decoration Here
Joyce Jurgens, Assen, Holland,
special student, agrees with Miss
Sommer that being with her family
will be missed most. She too will
spend Christmas in an American
home. Miss Jurgens will be in St.
Louis with a female with whom she
stayed earlier this year under the
"People here really do something with Christmas decorations," she continued. "They spend more time and money on decorations which are prettier and more gay."
Experiment in International Living program of her country.
"We always had a party at home on Christmas," Miss Jurgens said. "Gifts were exchanged on St. Nicholas eve, Dec. 5, and we would have nuts and candy and other nice things Christmas eve."
"Americans make more of Christmas," Miss Jurgens said. "They have caroling at hospitals and sing at homes. I think that is very nice. They also have more big parties. In Holland Christmas is more of a religious observance."
Going To Mexico
Frode Jorgensen, Chabotten, Denmark, graduate student, also will miss most not being with his family. He is going with the International Club to Mexico.
"It's nice to see the whole family and have meals of goose and duck. Of course, I'll miss most my fiancee but is would be nice to see the whole family.
"We celebrate Christmas eve. We usually have a tree and sing Christmas carols as we walk around it, eyeing the presents. Then we exchange gifts."
"There's no difference in decorations. If you go downtown in Lawrence or Kansas City you might think it was Copenhagen. You would see the same thing there.
"One of the biggest differences is the many colored lights you see on trees. We just have candles and they're always red and white."
Ursula Klein, Berlin, Germany graduate student, admits she has been so busy she hasn't had much time to think of Christmas. She plans to go to New York to visit friends.
Official Bulletin
Debate squad meeting 7:15 p.m., 134 Strong.
Sigma Xi, Kansas Chapter, 7:30 p.m.
124 Malott Speaker, Dr. Gardner Murphy,
director of research. Meninger Foundation.
"Trends in Research in Extra-
Le diner de la Fete des Rois aura lieu mercredi le huit janvier A 5. h 30 mans Union. Ceux qui desient y assister sont prie de s'ercier dans le bureau, 103 FF.
sensory Perception." Election of new members.
Christian Science Organization, 7:30 p.m.
Theater of Dramatic Arts Building. Everyone welcome.
Debate staff meeting, 5 p.m., 116 Strong
Items for the Official Bulletin must be brought to the public relations office, 222-A Strong, before 9:30 a.m. on the day of publication. Do not bring Bulletin to the Daily Kansan. Notice should include name, place, date, and time of function.
"If I were home I probably would be going to the Bavarian Alps to ski and relax.
KU Jazz Club, 8 p.m., Student Union.
FRIDAY
Museum of Art record concert, 11 a.m.
and 3 p.m. Poulenc "Mass in G." Britten "Ceremony of Carols." Tchaikovsky "Nutcracker Suite."
She Likes Candles On Tree
"What I don't like about American trees is that they don't have candles on trees. Our family has had a tree as long as I can remember and nothing has ever caught fire. Very rarely does anything happen.
SUNDAY
*Museum of Art record concert* 2 p.m.
South Beachethnich-Historie*. English
Medieval Medical School
Andre Waldmann, Faris, France graduate student, said is was difficult to say what he would miss most. Waldmann also is going to Mexico with the International Club.
The fourth largest state in the Union, New Mexico, is 350 miles wide (east to west) and 390 miles long (north to south). The altitude varies form 2,820 to 13,160 feet above sea level.
on a family basis. His family also observes the French tradition of the reveillon.
"We had oysters and snails. Tell that to your American readers," he said. "I didn't put shoes by the fireplace. I used boots."
"I miss the general atmosphere.
"Last year I was in Mexico. This year I expect Christmas to be more empty."
In France, Bonnavaud said there is less street and outide Christmas decorating. He said it is done more
Speech and drama department 4-5-20
painting & dramatic Arts Building
Christmas coffee
TODAY
Pierre Bonnavaud, Féletin Creuse, France graduate student, agrees with his countryman that the atmosphere here is different. This is his second Christmas here and he said he plans to work on his thesis during the vacation.
"In France many people go to Christmas Eve midnight mass. Then they have reeveillon, a big supper for the whole family.
YOUR EYES
should be examined today. Call for appointment. Any lens or Prescription duplicated
LAWRENCE OPTICAL CO.
1025 Mass.      VI 3-2966
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR