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How Did German Immigration Influence The Culture Of Texas

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Labor, social life, holidays, festivals, literature, and political decisions and actions in Texas was influenced by German immigrant culture in the 1830s when they immigrated to Texas. German culture was also influenced by Texas culture from the settlers that were already living in Texas. Both cultures assimilated together to form a German Texan culture. The German immigrants stuck to their political beliefs but also brought over new holidays, festivals, and literature that changed the life of many Texas in the German settlements. New literary ideas also sprouted when the German immigrants came over. Labor and social life was influenced by German immigrants to Texas. Women life was not the best for the German immigrants in Texas. Women were …show more content…

They could not marry their daughter off to a guy because in society their daughters were not socially good enough. Women were mainly working at home instead of out with real jobs like the men had. Most working women had jobs working in the home or as a stay at home mom. In 1970, there were 108 women, ages 12 to 17, that were not going to school in New Braunfels. 17.4 percent of that 108 women had summer jobs. The women had a change from their home in Germany and had to adjust to the New Braunfels life. It was more common to find a woman in Texas who was German that was not going to school and instead having a job. (Kattner). Political life was influenced as well when the Germans immigrated over to Texas. In July of 1846, two German Americans were elected county clerk which helped the other German Americans because most immigrants had little knowledge of the English language. The records were recorded in German, but the council meetings were conducted in the German language. German then began to be taught in school because it became important to politicians and others to know German to understand what was going on. With German being taught in school, …show more content…

They even had a day to day influence on normal society. Christmas was a big influence because the Germans had many different traditions than the Texans. Church services were added on Christmas. The Christmas mass element that was added was a Gottesdienst, or divine service in German. The Germans brought over the tradition churches have adopted of having a mass on Christmas. More Christmas traditions, like decorations and a Santa like figure were brought over by the Germans when they immigrated to Texas. Christmas trees would be decorated on December 24th which is Christmas Eve. After the German families would eat dinner, children’s parents would ring a bell. The children were told that the Weihnachtsmann came and left presents for them under the tree. Their Christmas presents in the settlements were paper bags full of fruits and sweets. The Weihnachtsmann was similar to Santa Claus. On Christmas, German families would read the Christmas Story from the Bible which has become a tradition in some Christian families. (Lich). One of the first immigrants, August Hoffman, immigrated over with his family. On one of his early Christmas’, girls would dress up as angles. Christmas carols were sung and they incorporated the Christmas tree and presents from Weihnachtsmann. Christmas food like Christmas cookies were present at one of his first Christmas’. Some traditions have been

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