One winter, when I was about eighteen, my family went on vacation to Helen, Georgia, where there is a small town styled after a traditional German village. We invited our Aunt Brenda to come with us, and if there's one thing you should know about Aunt Brenda, it's that she is the most kind-hearted person I know. She's also an American-born German, who knows the ins and outs of German culture better than I ever will.

On this particular winter vacation, I remember we rented this huge wooden cabin, and my mother brought all kinds of Christmas decorations to spruce the place up. But honestly,...

Please subscribe to keep reading.