Garden City Public Schools

Fifty German students from Garden City Middle and High School traveled to Bethlehem, Pa., for a day filled with culture, history and holiday cheer. Upon arrival, they toured the Historic German Moravian Settlement, founded in 1741. Guided by hosts dressed in traditional 18th-century Moravian clothing, students stepped inside the buildings where early settlers lived, worked and worshipped.

Throughout the tour, students discovered that Bethlehem was once home to speakers of 15 different languages and learned how progressive the Moravians were for their time — believing in equal education for all, advocating for women’s rights within the community and emphasizing collaboration across race, gender and ethnicity for the common good.

After exploring the settlement, the group visited a local bookstore to enjoy hot cocoa, candies and unique gifts. In the afternoon, they visited the Christkindlmarkt, an outdoor German Christmas market set inside heated tents and filled with traditional foods, beverages and handcrafted holiday items from both the United States and Germany.

The trip was a memorable experience for everyone, and the annual Bethlehem visit remains a beloved tradition for German students and their families each December.