Hedwig “Hedy” Hänzi is filling the hundred today. The pensioner, who was born in the canton of Bern in 1921, is celebrating a special anniversary on Christmas Eve. This fills them with great gratitude. Blick visited Hänzi at the Weiherweg Retirement Center in Basel. And met a woman who, despite her age, is still full of joie de vivre.
She is sitting on a green sofa, next to her is a Christmas tree, decorated for Christmas but simply. “I can’t remember every Christmas,” she says – but she still has many memories of past festivals.
Ball of yarn, dolls or socks
For example when she was a child. «My father brought the big fir tree out of the forest. You were still allowed to fell trees in the forest, ”explains Hänzi. She and her siblings would have helped the mother cook and bake. “We also decorated the tree,” she says.
There were also gifts: “I remember getting balls of yarn to knit, dolls or socks,” says the 100-year-old. At that time you didn’t have that much money for expensive things. But that has changed over time. “After the war, for example, there was an economic boom. But by then I was already married and had two children. “
Your best present
Hänzis continued the tradition with the fir tree from the forest. “My husband brought the fir from the forest,” says the 100-year-old. On Christmas Day, the men dressed up and went for a walk. Hedy Hänzi stayed at home and decorated the Christmas tree. “Then I prepared Christmas dinner. Mostly there were boiled potatoes with dried beans and rolled ham. “
Of course there were also presents: the sons were given wooden toys or construction sets. “The best present I received were cognac glasses from my husband,” remembers Hänzi. Her husband died early, which is why the glasses also have an emotional value.
Even a centenarian still has wishes
In the past few years, Hedy Hänzi celebrated Christmas with her sons. Depending on whether her state of health allowed it, Hänzi went to her sons – or they came to her at the old people’s home. Some things have changed over time. «In the past you still had real candles on the tree. Today it’s electric lights, ”she says.
Even a centenarian still has wishes, as Hedy Hänzi explains. But they are no longer of a material nature: “Above all, I wish that I can still walk next year without help.” Not more. This year she will spend the Christmas party in the old people’s home. She doesn’t want to make a big deal of it. But don’t miss out on a good dinner.