Christmas in the USA, 1950
Hermine Levien, originally from Schortens in Lower Saxony, makes the leap across the Atlantic in 1928. In New Jersey, she builds a new life with her husband Friedrich. This photo is taken more than 20 years after her immigration to the USA. Although she now celebrates Christmas on American soil, there is an element in the photo that falls under the category of “typically German” – the tinsel on the Christmas tree. Completely American, however, is the display of received Christmas greeting cards. In the snapshot, numerous cards can be seen hanging in the background. In the 1920s, it becomes increasingly popular in the USA to create such cards oneself. During this time, interest also grows in presenting the elaborately designed cards in the household during Christmas time, thus appreciating the intricate craftsmanship. This photo therefore showcases not only the traditions from the old homeland but also from the new one.
