Hi there, we have been living in our house for nearly a year now and would like to invite our neighbours round one evening for some christmas drinks and nibbles. My husband and I are learning German but our 10 years old daughter speaks german very well so I am sure will get by OK. Ideally I would like to put a little note on the letter box of each unit in the two apartment blocks next to ours but I need a little help with what to put on the note please!

What I want to says is:

Drinks and Nibbles
Children Welcome
Time / Date / address etc

Any suggestions would be great! Many thanks in advance

EINLADUNG ZUM WEIHNACHTS-UMTRUNK
Alle Nachbarn sind eingeladen
Es gibt allerhand Getränke und essbare Kleinigkeiten
Auch Kinder sind willkommen
Zeit: Montag, ... . Dezember, ab .. . ...
Oertlichkeit: Hr + Fr ...., ....str. ....

Very nice idea.
Would you happen to know all this in French, too?

Aw, that's a nice attention !!! I wish you to have friendly neighbours....


If some people in the swiss-french part want to do it :

Boissons et Petits Fours
Enfants Bienvenues

Time / Date / address


For the Nibbles, are you going to do some of your country ?


Don't speak german at all, so I can't translate it in French....

Apero or Aperitif, would probably be more customary as this covers both drinks and finger food

excelent Idea. My whole building does a drinks party in the lobby every sixmonths. Infact before leaving the previous tenents had a drinks party to say goobye and introduce us to everyone. It was such a shock after arrving in CH and expecting well 'reserved' people.
they will love you for it. remember everyones friendly. The grumpyones just don't know how to express themselves and ned our help.

Aperitif is more in the idea of drinks with alcohol...... not good for the kids

ahhh!!!
well, this is my first post actually, i really don't know how people write in here. i have checked this forum out, and i don't know why i felt like joining here. i wish i lived next to your house(oh my god i don't even know your name). i haven't been invited to anybody's place since last 3 months.. well, i haven't been to any Christmas parties ever in my life, and i am really looking forward to join a real Christmas party this time.

Welcome!

Maybe introducing yourself to the introduction forum first?

This is such a nice idea. I'd love to do this, however my German is pretty terrible (although MUCH better than it was 2 years ago) and my neighbours speak no english whatsoever. They're also all rather a lot older than my boyfriend and I. I know they'd appreciate the intention but I'd be worried about standing around not being able to speak to anyone!

On the other hand - they have never held any drinks and invited us so maybe its not expected....

For the French text, I suggest

INVITATION POUR L'APERO DE NOEL
Tous les voisins sont invités
On y aura des boissons diverses + des choses à manger
Aussi les enfants sont bienvenues
Date: Lundi, ... Décembre, dès
chez: Mr + Mme......, Rue .....

Hey, my German is pretty bad aswell but I am hoping my daughter will provide the backup there! Been in the house under a year but still haven't really met the neighbours apart from the odd wave here or there! At least I can say I tried.......

Thanks so much Wollishofener!

Jennifer - Welcome to the forum! You are welcome to come but it is a long way to travel from Bangladesh

The party has already started I have now learn't how to multi-quote! Always wondered how you guys did that!

I think this is a great idea and even if only a few come, the fact that you've organised and invited others still looks good!!

When we moved into our new house, I sent round a home made card with a photo of us on (yes, cheesy I know!) and an introduction of who we were....plus I attached some home made cookies in a little bag. I got a few "thankyou and welcome" gifts back, which was unexpected but lovely. I think the neighbours knew from then on that we were friendly! I'm really glad I did it.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Welcome Jennifer 123
i hope you will be invited to a Holliday s Party
are you going to come to live in Switerland?
as i can see the location say Bangladesh
Have a great day

Hi all, I thought I would let you all know how my christmas drinks with my neighbours went.

Heavy snow started falling here around 3 pm and our drinks with neighbours started at 5pm. I invited around 10 families - I just popped the little note that you guys helped me put together through their letter boxes about a week beforehand. By Saturday I had had three families let me know they couldn't make it. In total 5 familes came round for drinks and nibbles, most of them spoke a little English and their company was easy. We had also invited some expat familes to arrive a couple of hours later for a proper party just in case none of the neighbours turned up and due to the snow a few of these arrived a little early so we had a great mix of families. One elderly couple who spoke no English even stayed for nearly three hours - I really do think they had a lovely time and I am so pleased I did it. I will definately be doing this again in the summer and again next christmas!

I now need more help please. The elderly couple mentioned (through someone who spoke better German than me) that they would love to try English Christmas pudding. Well I made mine a couple of months ago and also did a spare one. I would really like to give this to these neighbours of mine and although it is already cooked I need to write the re-heating instructions down!

Here is what I want to say - Can anyone help me with the translation please!

Place on a upside down saucer in a saucepan and fill three quarters of the way up with water.

Bring to boil and simmer gently for one hour.

Serve warm with custard, Ice Cream, Brandy Butter or Cream

Enjoy!

Any help would be gratfully appreciated.
Wishing every EF member a fantastic holiday.