A Little Christmas in German

I studied German in high school.

In 2016 I started taking a 

conversational German class 

at my local library. 

Here is my most recent 'assignment.'

Seit vierzig Jahren sammle ich deutsche Ornamente.

Einige von Geschäften, 

einige von Geschenken,

einige von Familie aus Deutschland 

und einige von Gebrauchtwarenladen.  

Der erste kommt von der Mutter eines Freundes!

Ich habe Raucher,

Nussknacker,

Teller (Waechtersbach)

und

Pyramiden.

Nicht von Deutschland, 

aber aus China,

habe ich Alpine Village Häuser gesammelt. 

Alpine Village erinnert mich an 

Schwäbisch Hall

in der Nähe von Stuttgart. 

Vor fünf hundert Jahren 

ist die Familie Hägele

von Schwäbisch Hall gekommen.

Heir ist das Bild 

der Familie Hägele aus Deutschland. 

Die Frau und der Mann 

sind die Urgrosseltern 

meines Mannes. 

(August, immigrated alone in 1926. He was 18.)

Heir ist ein Bild 

von Schwäbisch Hall 

im Jahr 2017. 

Ich habe einige deutsche Ornamente

im jeden Zimmer!

Danke Frau Frohner

und

Upper Dublin Library!

 

A Promise Kept

In my last post I shared the beauty of Ettal Abbey. 

Today we will visit the village of Ettal which has a population of just about 800 people.  

What really puts Ettal on the map is the Passion Play. 

A Sample of the Lüftlmalarei painted on houses.

The Passion play is performed once every 10 years going back to   

1633 when the villagers prayed for protection from the plague 

during the time of the 30 years war. 

They promised God if he would spare them from the plague

 they would perform a play about the life of Christ. 

Today, the play is still performed by the local villagers. 

Now that is what I call keeping a promise! 

We were not there during the year a of the performance, 

that will occur next in 2020. 

But Ettal has beautiful Lüftlmalarei* adorning the houses. 

*painted scenes on houses

And the area has a strong tradition of woodworking and handcrafts. 

If you are in the area, it is worth a visit. 

It is a good place for souvenirs as well. 

In fact in all our travels in Germany, 

we noted they value handwork. 

I don't recall seeing anything made in China. 

What a welcome change from the USA. 

A woodworker working on Christ. 

Oh...and here is something else you don't see in America...

sausage vending machines. 

Imagine that? 

As beautiful as these places are...

I still haven't shared my favorite location! 

Stay tuned! 

http://www.tompgalvin.com/places/de/bayern/1_de_by.htm

Yesteryear's Technologies

Goshenhoppen.  

(Say that 3 times fast.)  

Kitchen Work 

Goshenhoppen, PA is said to be the "oldest 

continually existing German community in America." 

 Adventure Stories

A Germanic folk culture unique to Pennsylvania, 

called Pennsylvania Dutch,  

evolved from early German immigrants in the region.  

The Tramp

For almost fifty years, 

the people of Goshenhoppen 

have brought to life the trades and skills 

of the 18th - 19th century 

Pennsylvania Dutch 

during an annual folk festival 

at the Antes Plantation 

in Upper Frederick Twp.

Working the Lathe

One thing that sets this living history re-enactment apart from others 

is there are no modern day, commercial vendors 

under big, ugly tents.

Announcing Mealtime

Everything here looks authentic, 

including what you can buy from the trade's people.  

With a Knapsack on My Back

After tasting the handmade peach ice cream, 

I remarked, 

"They sure don't make ice cream like they used to." 

(Which is probably a good thing for my waistline.)



Throughout the festival grounds
generations come together and
pass their skills on to the young.

Spinning

As you speak with the knowledgable re-enactors,
you too, will likely learn interesting facts.


Just like Daddy Does

If you only make time for one living history festival a year,
this is one not to miss in 2014.


Making Music 

Goshenhoppen Folk Festival

My Festival Flickr album is here.

Little German Schoolhouse

It was a BEAUTIFUL day,
and enroute to my destination

I had an urge just to drive down a random country road.

Lo, and behold....



I heard angels singing.



A German schoolhouse was on this sight since the early 1700s
and run by the Deep Run Mennonite Church.
This structure was built about 1842.



If you peek inside a window,
there remain the old desks
and the wood stove.

I fell in love.
Cue Angels.

Amusing historical information can be found here.

http://communalglobal.blogspot.com/
http://www.projectalicia.com/
http://liveandloveoutloud.com/
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

Fastnacht Day

Or, the Night (Nacht) before the Fast (Fast) 

is celebrated in German cultures.

American Germans celebrate it 

the day before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.
That will always be on a Tuesday.

My husband's family 

operates a German bakery in Philadelphia, 

Haegele's Bakery.

And Fastnacht Day is a big deal.
Several news venues cover the event
at Haegele's Bakery each year.

In fact it is so popular, 

that the bakery opens on the Monday before Fastnacht Day 

to help alleviate the lines on Tuesday.

The Fastnachts made at Haegele's 

are diamond shaped and covered in sugar.  

Haegele's Fastnachts are handmade entirely from scratch!
Below, Aaron Haegele coats donuts in sugar.



Then two donuts are tapped together to remove the excess sugar.



He is assisted by his Great-Uncle Erich Haegele.

Erich and his brother, Richard, have been doing this
for over half a century
since they were children.
That's a lot of Fastnachts.



The Bakery was started in 1930
by the brother's German parents,
August and Helen Haegele.
It is still going strong today.




And one thing I love...besides the dirndls the ladies wear,
they still box your items and tie the box up with string...
just like the old days.



Now if you'll excuse me,
 there is a Fastnacht waiting for me.
More bakery photos can be viewed here.

Haegele's Bakery
Glen and Cheryl Haegele
4164 Barnett Street
Philadelphia, PA 19135
215-624-0117

http://www.haegelesbakery.com/


Be sure to read about 
Washington Cake too!

Peter Wentz Farmstead, Worcester, PA

Here in Pennsylvania we are enjoying  

unseasonably warm weather. 

And I am liking it! 

Although today was designated as a recovery day 

from all the the holiday festivities we had, 

I had to get outside and do something!  

So...hubby and I took a ride north 

to the Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester. 

And guess what we learned...

George Washington slept here!  

No kidding, he really did. 

 

Fortunately, the farmstead was previously owned 

by people who appreciated that historical fact. 

Thus, many details of the period were maintained.

Today it is owned by Montgomery County, PA 

and is restored to reflect its residents earlier lifestyles. 

The Farmstead is an example of 18 century Pennsylvania German history. 

My heart pitter-patters over 18th century US history. 

Really, it does...just ask my husband. 

Interestingly, I just learned about these German stove designs
at Fonthill Castle in Doylestown!
They were used to inspire tile designs by Henry Mercer.

The details of this place exude history! 

OK, the food isn't real,
but we can pretend it is. 

 

Check out this original lock!!
This is a piece of art in itself.

That's hubby and our guide Erin...
he is a mechanical engineer.
Enough said.

The summer kitchen was used...

... to bake bread for George Washington!
Right there, in that bread oven!

You can find all of my photos in this gallery.


Visit this gem
on Shearer Road in
Worcester, PA.
Long/Lat 40.200805, -75.338187
Or find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peterwentzfarmstead

Peter Wentz Farmstead Hours of Operation:		Click on map for larger view.
Tues.- Sat.	10:00 - 4:00 PM
Sunday	1:00 - 4:00 PM
Last Tour	3:30 PM
Closed Mondays and major holidays.
Reservations are required for group tours. Admission: FREE!

All they suggest is a small donation of $2.
Now that's a bargain!