A Fersommling (plural, Fersommlinge) (also spelled Versammling or Fersammling) is a Pennsylvania Dutch social event in which food is served, speeches are made, and one or more g'spiel (plays or skits) are performed for entertainment. "A high degree of theatricality and ceremony is involved, especially in the groundhog lodges: pledging loyalty to the lodge and the groundhog, listening to a weather report, singing patriotic songs in Deitsch, and ending every meeting by asking God to allow them to keep their way of life and their merriment." as described by William W. Donner. Among these traditions is the singing of the German folk song "Schnitzelbank" and the patriotic "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", in Pennsylvania German, as translated by John Birmelin. " there is continual creativity, as curr