The Christmas Party Is Back—A Successful Comeback

Anyone who has been following Steinmühle for some time is likely familiar with the boarding school’s Christmas party. It’s a highlight every year, and after the pandemic years, it was once again held as the classic celebration. And although the last few Christmas parties—held as part of a cozy Christmas market in the boarding school courtyard—were a complete success, the students who have been living at the boarding school for some time were especially looking forward to this long-awaited comeback. As soon as the decision was made to revive the old traditions, outfits were planned and potential program items were developed. And so, weeks of rehearsals and anticipation were behind us, culminating last weekend in a successful Christmas party.

A sense of eager anticipation, a relaxed atmosphere, and a touch of nervousness—the curtain was closed, and the young people and guests in the audience waited, filled with curiosity, for the evening to begin. Soft Christmas music playing in the background set the stage for what was to come. Then the first notes of Etude Op. 8, No. 12 rang out on the piano, played by Mingzhou. “It was very impressive,” student Fabian said afterward. From that moment on, it was clear that the program would live up to every expectation. After a welcome speech by the boarding school administration, high school seniors Sarah and Fabian guided the audience through the program, which had something for everyone. In addition to a Christmas-themed tour of the Steinmühle, which transported the audience’s thoughts to a snow-covered landscape and thus set the mood for the celebration, some of the young people had prepared their own poems and poetry slams, which they performed. They gave the audience the chance to experience the many facets of the beautiful—and sometimes somewhat stressful—Christmas season. In addition, well-known fairy tales were reimagined in a humorous play and woven into a completely new and exciting story. Who could have guessed that a protest against wolves would suddenly break out while Hans and Little Hans were stomping through the forest together with Snow White? Time and again, hearty laughter could be heard from the audience as the dwarfs and the little goat ran through the hall shouting loudly. Andersen’s fairy tale “The Little Match Girl” was also adapted and given a completely new interpretation. With the help of a shadow puppet show, the guests were invited to follow the girl on her very personal journey to the stone mill.

A good Christmas party always includes a little music, and there was no shortage of it at the Steinmühle. Many musical performances and acts enlivened the evening and gave it a very special atmosphere. A small mini-orchestra sang about being home for Christmas, while another group performed a song by the Japanese duo Yoasobi, and of course, a dance performance was also part of the program.

After the successful performances, the assistant boarding school director—who was clearly thrilled with the program—invited everyone involved back onto the stage, where they were greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation. All the young people who had worked together to put on the evening’s performance were also thrilled. For Luisa and Janna, the stage show was the highlight of the evening.

Afterward, the guests made their way to the festively decorated dining hall, which was brightly lit by strings of lights and the glow of candles. A cozy atmosphere filled the room as the kitchen served a multi-course feast. The meal was accompanied by a quiz that included funny anecdotes from Steinmühle, among other things, and everyone eagerly joined in. In addition, the boarding school council had organized a Secret Santa exchange beforehand, so a small gift-giving ceremony could take place in keeping with the Christmas spirit.

Everyone was in high spirits at the party that followed as well. “The students were clearly having a great time,” said Sandrine, a teacher for whom this was also her first Christmas party, looking back. “And so were we as a team. It was just really wonderful.” Photos were taken, and above all, everyone danced happily.

The American author Edna Ferber once said, “Christmas is not a season. It’s a feeling.” And that contemplative and festive feeling of Christmas was everywhere at our boarding school celebration.

We would like to thank all the young people at the boarding school, the entire teaching staff, everyone who pitched in, the kitchen staff, and, of course, all our guests for a successful return of the Steinmühle Christmas party, and we are already looking forward to welcoming you back to the Steinmühle next year!