Sunday, January 6, 2019

Germany's daring Epiphany traditions

Across many regions in Germany, Epiphany is a day of traditions. Caroling children go from house to house, the ice levels of the River Weser are tested in Bremen and in the southwest Carnival begins. Here's an overview.

Bavarian horn sled racers, Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa.


Carols: "Sternsinger," or star singers, are one of the oldest Catholic customs for Epiphany. Around January 6 children commonly dress up as the Three Magi from the Bible, who followed a divine star to visit Baby Jesus after his birth. The children go from house to house collecting money for charity projects and write "C + M + B" on each door as they go. The abbreviation stands for the Latin phrase, "Christus mansionem benedicat" (Christ bless this house).


Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht: In the southwest of Germany, January 6 means the beginning of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht. Costumes and masks are dusted off for the festivities, with people dressing up to represent many fabled figures from history, unique to each town or village.


Weser ice test: Thousands watch on as a 99-pound tailor is sent to test the ice levels on the dyke of the Weser River on Epiphany, also known as Three Kings' Day. His job is to asses whether the river is "geiht" or "steiht" - whether it flows or is frozen. According to the statutes, the tailor must walk across the Weser with a hot iron in hand - a tradition dating back to 1829. However, the answer has been clear for decades and doesn't change each year: The Weser River flows.


Bavarian horn sled race: The traditional horn sled race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen involves speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour as the traditional wooden sleds hurtle chaotically down the "Hohen Weg" path. This year, 89 teams have signed up for the 1,000 meter race. However, for the first time in the race's history, helmets are mandatory this year.

ej/ka/kbm (dpa)

Wolfgang Hampel's very witty book 'Satire ist mein Lieblingstier' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) is No 1 Buecher de TOP List.

Wolfgang Hampels sehr witziges Buch ' Satire ist mein Lieblingstier' ( Satire is my favourite animal ) ist No 1 Buecher de TOP Liste.


Many greetings - viele Grüße

Mats 

buecher.de - Schnell, Günstig, Versandkostenfrei




Ich habe dieses Buch gekauft, weil Krimi-Königin Ingrid Noll Wolfgang ... sehr, daß wir die monatliche literarische Veranstaltung Vita Magica von Wolfgang Hampel bald einmal besuchen können.


Wolfgang Hampel's Satire ist mein Lieblingstier in Buecher de TOP list 



Satire ist mein Lieblingstier - Satirische Gedichte - Wolfgang Hampel
Informationen über die Kultveranstaltung "Vita Magica" der Akademie für Ältere in Heidelberg  

Wolfgang Hampel - Satire ist mein Lieblingstier ( Satire is my favourite animal )

Betty MacDonald, a very special politician and a year ago 
 
Roger Cicero - ESC winner 2007  

Many ESC fans from all over the world are so very sad because we lost Joy Fleming - one of the best singers ever. 

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel sings  'Try to remember' especially for Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund at Vita Magica September

you can join 



Betty MacDonald fan club



Betty MacDonald Society  



Vita Magica  



Eurovision Song Contest Fan Club 



on Facebook


Vita Magica Betty MacDonald event with Wolfgang Hampel, Thomas Bödigheimer and Friedrich von Hoheneichen



Vita Magica 


Betty MacDonald 

Betty MacDonald fan club 


Betty MacDonald fan club on Facebook


Betty MacDonald forum  

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( English ) - The Egg and I 


Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( Polski)   

Wolfgang Hampel - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - LinkFang ( German ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Academic ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel -   

Wolfgang Hampel - DBpedia  ( English / German )

Wolfgang Hampel - people check ( English ) 

Wolfgang Hampel - Memim ( English )

Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )

Wolfgang Hampel - Monica Sone - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )

Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French ) 


Wolfgang Hampel - Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle - Wikipedia ( English)

Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University

Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel 

Betty MacDonald fan club interviews on CD/DVD

Betty MacDonald fan club items 

Betty MacDonald fan club items  - comments

Betty MacDonald fan club - The Stove and I  
 

Betty MacDonald fan club groups 

Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund