by Sarah Hartley |

An annual tradition, the German Club held their famous gingerbread house decorating event after school on December 6 in room 406. It lasted an hour and a half with over 35 participants, including students from Park Hill South. It did not take long for the small room to overflow with colorful graham cracker creations.

Before the event could take place, however, the students and teachers had to have all of their preparations in order, which included purchasing the many supplies needed to satisfy the large crowd.

“Some people make their own gingerbread, and some people buy the kits and bring them, but I provide the gingerbread flavored graham crackers,” German teacher Cindy Biermann said. “I had to buy 12 boxes from Sam’s Club, so each student can have one package.”

Some of the students even went far enough to plan out their houses weeks before the event, so they could have more time to decorate on that day.

“Last year, I made a summer home with a pool in the back and there were gummy bears swimming around,” senior Lydia Davis said. “This year, I’m going to use starbursts, gummy drops, things that aren’t chocolate related and are more sugary. I’m excited to see how it will turn out.”

“I’m going to use lots of graham crackers,” junior Cheyanne Lamb said. “I’m thinking three layers of graham crackers and maybe a little bit of icing if I’m feeling crazy, but probably not. I love graham crackers.”

Though many gingerbread house decorating contests take place around the country during the holidays, this one in particular will never have a  competitive feel, it holds a much more significant purpose.

“It’s really laid-back,” Davis said. “That’s what we try to do in German Club, so everyone feels really comfortable. We’re trying to get the name of our German Club out there and to get people interested in a language outside of their own.”

It also gives students a way to meet and hang out with people who have the same hobbies and passions.

“It gives students a taste of the culture in Germanic speaking countries and brings students together who are interested in the same thing,” Biermann said.

The relaxed atmosphere helped ease new members into participating in the event.

“This was my first time doing it,” junior Connor Deiparine said. “And I was really looking forward to it.”

To help achieve this goal, they invited the Park Hill South German Club to join in the festivities this year for the first time ever, which was greeted with lots of enthusiasm.

“It was really cool to see if they act any different and if we get along,” Lamb said. “I love meeting new people.”

Other students shared this positive view.

“It was great meeting new students and not just because they’re in German, but because they’re from a different school. It was really exciting,” Davis said.

The German Club also went caroling the week before finals at nursing homes around Liberty. At some point after Christmas, they are going to dress up and attend a symphony or a German opera at the Kauffman Center.

“In class, we do a lot of activities because it is such a huge part of European culture that we sing Christmas Carols and make ornaments,” Biermann said. “The tradition of Christmas carols, writing Christmas cards, ornaments, Christmas Trees, candy canes, almost any American Christmas tradition you can think of originated in Germany.”

The gingerbread houses are on display in room 406.