Page 42 - Vibrant Living Scrapbook

Let’s Have Coffee
Inviting someone over to have coffee or tea is a common tradition – another way of saying, “Let’s get together.”
“Kaffee und Kuchen”/Afternoon Tea Traditions
In Germany, it is a tradition to have kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake) in the mid-afternoon. It is a very special event and quite an honor
to be invited for it at someone’s house. Fancy plate ware, silverware and tea sets are brought out, and elaborate cakes are served. The English are famous for the similar tradition
of tea, as are the Australians. In fact, the afternoon break and refreshment is common all over the world.
Carmen’s Grandma Bernie was famous for
this very custom – inviting people over for coffee: “We all wondered what cookies and
bars she had waiting,” recalls Carmen. “And wouldn’t you know it, residents at Perham Memorial represent the same community my grandmother was from – mid-central Minnesota full of Scandinavians and Germans who all have afternoon coffee!”
Each Perham Memorial household has what they call “Social Time” religiously at 3 p.m. A little snack between lunch and supper hits the spot for many of us. Whether it is tea time, coffee klatch or even cocktail hour, a beverage and snack set the stage for taking a little time to check in with friends, share some news and maybe even a little gossip. This daily ritual is a treat for the household and yet another way to build bonds among its members.
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