Roanoke Times file photo

Correction – This event is on Sunday, Dec. 11 rather than on Saturday, Dec. 10, as was previously reported.

Back in 2007, I wrote a feature about a couple in Floyd who honor their roots each year by following some of the same Christmas traditions they learned to love while growing up in Germany. Among other things, Barbara and Clemens von Claparede-Crola and their children make an Advent calendar, use real candles on their tree, fill shoes with gifts for St. Nicholas Day and build an elaborate gingerbread house.

I think about the von Claparede-Crola family every year around this time, so it was a nice surprise when I recently got an email from Barbara. She wanted to tell me about a fundraiser that will allow others to experience some of their family holiday traditions.

On Sunday, Dec. 11, Clem and Barbara will host a German Christmas Cocktail to benefit the Jacksonville Center for the Arts in Floyd. She is on the board of directors there.

The party will include about 20 different varieties of German Christmas cookies, Dresdner Christstollen (a fruit-filled cake famous in Germany around the holidays – but better than American fruitcake), heavy hors d’oeuvres and German Christmas punches. A young singer from Opera Roanoke’s youth group will be there to sing Christmas carols in German and explain German holiday traditions.

All of this will take place in the family’s beautiful and unusual home, which will be decked out in mostly German decorations, including Barbara’s German nutcracker collection.

Tickets for the fundraiser are $55 per person and $100 per couple. As of now (Monday), there are about 40 tickets left for this event. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 540-745-2784.