Carnival
After having attended many Carnival festivities in Las Vegas for several years, Frieda Sonksen and Georg Breitling started the Germania Carnival Group in 2001.
The carnival season is celebrated every year, starting on the eleventh day of the eleventh month and ending on Ash Wednesday in February. Our group holds a traditional Costume Ball at our club house which is always well attended.
The Carnival Group is a member of German-American Mardi Gras Association (GAMGA), an umbrella organization for all the carnival groups within the U.S. and Canada. Every year this association holds a big carnival event in Las Vegas, which is attended by approximately 1400 carnival lovers coming from as far as Germany.
We also have other get-togethers with good food and dancing, enjoying each other’s company.
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Choir
Supporting the great German choral heritage through group singing has been a major activity in the Germania Verein since its inception 150 years ago. The Germania Choir traces its roots back to the early 1900’s, beginning in the form of a men’s choir which can be seen in wonderful old group photos hanging on the upstairs rooms of Germania Hall. The choir history includes some prize-winning appearances in San Francisco in the 1910’s and 1920’s.
In our present form we have been carrying on the best of German classical and folk musical tradition since 1973, when the Germania Women’s Choir and Germania Men’s Choir combined into one choir. The Germania Mixed Choir is presently enjoying an especially creative period under the direction of our new directress Diana Mayper. With over 30 women and men singers, we have been impressing listeners all around the Bay Area.
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Kaffeeklatsch
The Kaffeeklatsch group meetings have been held for many years and are enjoyed by all. Our board members Edith Meyer, Anna Hoegel, and Tillie and Walter Lucht arrange for a nice afternoons with coffee, cakes and sandwiches. We forget to count the calories and enjoy all the goodies.
As recorded in historic documents, the "Germania Frauen Verein" was founded in 1923, by invitation of the men of the Germania Verein. It was an independent club with its own constitution until 1966, when it was incorporated into the Germania Verein as a department.
There were 16 original members led by Emilie Wichert as President, Magd. Lener as Vice President, Aug. Lochner as Treasurer, and Elisabeth Bolwin as Secretary. The presidents who followed in the years thereafter were Helen Bielefeld, Mizi Bohnhoff, Irma Wolf, Lina Eipper, Ingeborg Angerhoefer, and Edith Meyer (at present).
The department had to overcome difficult times during and after WWII, after the fire of our club house, and also financially. Thanks to our members who have worked so hard to preserve our club house we have been able to meet for more than 83 years.
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Language Group
The Language Group is a roundtable group that meets twice a month at a German restaurant for a few hours of conversation, grammar, friendship, fun, and "Gemütlichkeit", while practicing speaking German.
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Schützen Verein
The Schützen Verein was founded in 1992, with the purpose of providing social comradeship through target shooting using air rifles. Georg Breitling led fourteen charter members in forming this department of the San Jose Germania Verein.
The highlight of the shooting year is the presentation of our king or queen. Our royalty reigns over our annual King’s Ball, hosts social events including the Summer King’s Party, and represents our club at other shooting events. In addition to our king or queen, we annually recognize our top shooters as well as the accomplishments of our individual members.
Each fall, the Germania Schützen Verein hosts a traditional dinner dance. We do not miss the opportunity to enjoy food and companionship at our monthly meetings and target shooting. The Schützen are also very active in supporting the Germania Verein and its many social functions.
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Skat
Skat has probably always been played at the Germania! Wherever there is a group of Germans, Skat cards are not far away. At the annual meeting in December 1979, our group officially became a part of the Germania Verein. We are a small, but dedicated and active group. Members have participated in tournaments from Portland to San Francisco, down to Anaheim and San Diego, as well as in Las Vegas and Braunsfeld, Texas. We have participated in World Championships in Anaheim, Las Vegas, Dortmund, Kitchener, Canada, and even Sydney, Australia. Before that, we played on a Skat Express train through Germany. One of our players even played at the top of the Zugspitze to represent the American team! There is a lot of fun and camaraderie in playing Skat.
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Wandergruppe (Hiking Group)
The Hiking Group was founded by Maria and Walter Brand around 1987. What could be more German than exploring our San Francisco Bay Area on foot, the area we all call home.
We meet once a month and take a two to three hour hike. Place, date and time is announced in the Germania Newsletter. Sites of various interests are, for instance, an architectural tour of San Francisco, a hiking tour at Angel Island, nature trips in Santa Cruz Mountains and beaches, Pinnacles, etc. The group hikes on hot, cold, rainy, and sunny days - up and down many hills.
At the end of each hike the camaraderie with coffee cakes is still going strong. On special occasions we are invited to a member’s house for celebrations such as Valentine's Day or Christmas. We will walk strong as long as we have friends that enjoy the outdoors and a nice walk on Sunday afternoon.
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