Enzian's Class Christmas Party

Celebrating Christmas is a little different when it comes to watching the performances put up by the children here in Germany. The party date/time is determined by the class teacher. The performances are choreographed by the class teacher. Children who attend music lessons, privately or in school, perform a few Christmas songs. Children recite poems, read and act out stories all in the theme of Christmas. Parents bring some Christmas cookies and fruits for the evening. The party is officially over in less than 2 hours.

In Malaysia, the year-end Christmas party is but the most celebrated and glamourous event. Children of each level from the entire school, including the kindergarten, perform songs and dances, music pieces and raps, fashion shows and sketches. Professionals singers, dancers or drummers are engaged by the school to hype up the show-business flavour of the event. Teachers usually contribute to one part of the performance. The masters of ceremony are dressed in tux and evening dresses. Everyone dresses up. Parents bring food, oh glorious food, to the concert venue. The party is over in 3 hours, and many more continue their after-parties in the nearby bistros.

Watching the children performing their best in their everyday clothes in front of their classroom before a roomful of proud parental audience, for a brief moment, I thought I had moved from an urban city to a sleepy countryside. But this is Munich, another urban city. But why so disappointingly boring? Perhaps, this is what being down-to-earth means? Perhaps, the private schools catered to the expatriate communities in foreign countries have an obligation to romanticise the event? Perhaps, this is how all educational institutions (at least the ground schools) in Germany celebrate Christmas all along? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.

Regardless, Enzian put up a good show for us and we, like the roomful of other parents, were very proud parents indeed. Perhaps, this is what matters most. Besides, the timing couldn't have been more perfect - Christophe couldn't have made it in time if the party was set a day earlier.