In the United States, 25 percent of the American population is from Germany, and many of the German customs and food have been adopted by the American people, said Marjorie Wade, German professor and club adviser.

By joining the German Club at Sacramento State, Wade said, members of the campus community can be educated on parts of German culture that may be evident throughout the states.

“There is German food American people eat that they may not be aware of, such as sauerkraut, bratwurst, gingerbread cookies and Black Forest Cherry Torte Cake,” Wade said, which are some topics members can be educated about.

Neal Iverson, junior international relations major and club president, said he found his home at Sac State when he joined the club last year.

“The club is about providing a place for people to meet and have fun by sitting together relaxing and talking to new people as a group,” Iverson said.

He said they also try to take trips outside of Sacramento to experience areas related to German history or cultures.

Iverson said upcoming events for the club include visiting historical sites such as the Lola Montez Dance Hall in Grass Valley, Calif. and a German prisoner of war immigration building at Angel Island.

The club also attends Oktoberfest every year, Wade said, a German festival held in fall by a local German organization and Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht’s.

Toward the winter season, the German Club celebrates a German variation of Christmas called St. Nikolaus Day, where “naughty” children are taken away in a hamper.

St. Nikolaus Day is Wade’s favorite event that is hosted by the German Club.

“We hold it at my house,” Wade said. “Someone dresses up as St. Nikolaus and represents the man in the folklore and people in the club also play Christmas carols and folk songs at the celebration.”

Although the tradition is mere history now, said Wade, the club still enjoys learning and remembering German traditions.

“Since Sac State is a commuter school, people often come in and out of class and many people do not know anyone,” Iverson said.

Now as the German Club president, Iverson said he feels less estranged from the campus community because he frequently bumps into people he has previously met at the club.

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