"It is going to be my second Christmas in America, and I am very excited about it," rejoiced Heidi Busch, freshman. "My two brothers, sister, father, mother, and I escaped from East Germany because we didn't want to live under Communism. We were very lucky. When we lived in Leipzig, we heard about how people here were free."

"Our family still celebrates Christmas the German way," explained friendly, petite Heidi. "The children put their shoes before the door on December 6, which is known as St. Nicholas' day. The next day the shoes are filled with candies and fruits. St. Nicholas is supposedly a relative of Santa Claus and wears brown instead of the traditional red.

"Each of the four Sundays before Christmas we light one of the four candles on top of an Advent wreath. White they are burning, we sing some Christmas songs and eat snacks. We also decorate the rooms with some fir branches. Not many people in Germany decorate the outside of their homes, but some of the stores do.

In Germany a neighbor played Santa every year and came to the houses on Christmas Eve, Last year my father played Santa Claus, and I had to help him get into his costume and put his makeup on. I also helped him with his beard while my mother kept my little brother and sister busy. My father had to change the sound of his voice so they wouldn't recognize him. After he had the bag full of presents fixed, he was ready to come in.

"My little brother and sister are a little afraid of Santa because he always tells them where they have been naughty or nice that year. After the children sing little Christmas songs, Santa gives them their presents. Now they are the best of friends. It is hard to say good‑bye, but Santa has to go to the houses of all the other children. So they go to the window and get their last look at Santa for that year.

"Last year my sister asked why Santa doesn't have any reindeer. We finally told her that Santa was busy, They recover from Santa's visit and be to open the gifts that. he 'oft. Later, when my father came home, they had to tell him how much they missed him, and they told him that. he had missed Santa."