by Dr. Viktor Pratscher
Translated by Brad Schwebler

     On Easter the children went to their godparents "zammetran." Already the children went early in the morning in droves with beaming faces from one godparent to another and told what the Easter Bunny had brought them all.  Everywhere they were given presents: the boys received the (Lebzelter?) horses and the girls received (Lebzelter?) dolls, in addition to toys, apples, nuts, figs, and of course beautiful colored Easter eggs and a coin.  On the occasion of the confirmation the child asks his baptismal godparents to be there and receives a valuable gift in memory of it, at which the "Zammentragen?" also stops.  The confirmation was always on Green Thursday in the first hundred years but in the last decade it's been done on the day of the Ascension of Christ.  On this day the church is crammed full.  On the second Easter day the girls are sprayed by the boys.

     The mischief with which the girls formerly had water poured over them is rather subdued today and a sensible understanding exists.

     On the second Whitsunday the girls were spread before the gates. But the real point of this spread was only seen if it appeared with flowers.   In the night on the first of May the May trees were formerly set out.  Five or six years ago the commandant of the fire brigade still put a tree out.  The May tree is on a high perch with a green branch above on which colorful ribbons and bottles are fastened.  In the course of the month of May many manors held May celebrations at which good acquaintances or the youth were invited.  There it was a jolly time.

     On the occasion of the completion of the threshing work the workers went singing through the village pulling their threshing machine decorated with flowers.  There was no special harvest festival.  The cold midday meal in the vineyard tasted excellent.  The effect of the many grapes and cider first comes later.  Instead of the former stomping on the grapes (Treten (Trippeln), today these are ground and pressed.

     The largest holiday is on the last Sunday in October: the Kirchweih (consecration of the church.) Already the drive of the whole "Kerweih Week", left the presentiment of things to come.  In the shops there is a lot of activity, in the homes everything is turned upside down to clean them thoroughly, there is cooking, baking, roasting.  Then everything must be finished to a "t" by Saturday.  The skirts were starched, ironed, and soon they had to run to a tailor to try on a "Kerweikleed" (Kerweih clothing).  Then soon the shoemaker had to be asked to accelerate his work because without Kerweih shoes there is no Kerweih.  The "Kerweihsäuche" was done, there Kerweih wine cared for, and the "Kerweihgäschte" (Kerweih guests) were invited and called up.  Children, parents, or relatives who lived in other villages, or are serving, come from the neighboring villages in wagons or are picked up at the train station.  The train station is too small for the many wagons that wait here for guests.  The buses are crammed full and return two or three times.  Long lines of traffic streamed in from a good distance in the summertime to the village.  The traffic and the joy increased even more the fact that the Kirchweih coincided with the autumn market.  In former times everything already poured into the market on Saturdays.  Today everything is hurriedly brought to market on Sunday in the morning and then all the guests go to the church before noon.  Shortly after noon the pubs are filled and the Kerweih dance starts.  All of the girls are by the side of the "Barsch" to get the first dance, if he has not been unfaithful to his people (Mensch).  There it was decided from so many rounds if something would come from it, or if "they would fall in the dirt" (nothing would come of it).  The curious must "un wann es Mischtgavle reent" from it.  Formerly the singles "Hujja gebott" was about 9 o'clock.  They had to make the married place which they then had to endure until sunrise.  On the second day it went about the same as the first.  Meanwhile a crowd devoured the finest food at meal time, it was all eaten, and "wenn der Maa e' Krippel werd."  In view of the many good foods ones have sighed: "If only I had "e' Maa wie e' Strohsack" (my strawsack now).  Formerly there was still free music and free food on Thursday.  The liveliest left in the morning playing the music on the music on the way home.  - On Saturday the Kirchweih begins in Sekitsch, where for so many it already continued.

     The pig slaughter was regarded as a family celebration.  The butcher was the farmer himself whose customers were guests from the surrounding area and he was famously known.  Wursts, salami, ham, etc. left nothing remaining to be desired in perfect preparations and durability.  The lard, the soap, etc. praise the competence of the steadily assisting women at the slaughter.  The "Quellfleisch" (meat) was served up in the morning hours and replaced the midday meal.  In the afternoon the worst was prepared and the know-it-all children, who about this time have had "Krachdärm" (growling stomachs) which have growled all along. - the "Wärschtcher" presumed, this appeared so, that the butcher could not drive anything from one ear to the other of the suspicious youth with his fat finger.  The "Metzelsupp" (bloody soup) is a "Kapitel" (asset) for you.  The worst of his goods were examined and these did not turn out so well, so the butcher could take along the worst.  Then came the rosy doughnuts newly baked in lard.  Meanwhile the atmosphere kept getting cheerier.  Throughout the day the many greasy things were washed down with grape juice.  Not infrequently the "Metzel" soup was put into the "Hävler".  These were disguised with soot and chalk painted shapes. - Acquaintances and farmhands from near and far who had fine noses and with their vessels, "Tepsen und Topsen" (pots and pans) they made such a big racket to no small fright of the children.  With disguised voices they say their verses here, with which they receive an ample portion of the rest of the "Metzel" soup.  One familiar verse of the "Häwler" read:

   "Häwle, häwle, Wurscht, Wurscht, Wurscht,

    Ich habt gehört, ihr habt geschlagt

    Und habt so gute Werscht gemacht

    Gebt mer net so klaner

    Liewer zwa far aner."

     The verses are also often funny and not infrequently jokingly take on one or other corny character weakness of the caretakers.  Much ado is quickly made of it and they go through all the trouble to protect their identity. - After the evening meal a card game follows, or an accordion (Uf un' zu) is available for a real cheerful dance.

     On the farm "Jeritag" (Jeri Day?) and "Michaelitag" (Michaelmas) are of importance.  On these days the farmhands and "Salasch people" (field hands) come and go.  Debts and interest are due on these days.  On the occasion of the state holidays a procession with music took place in the evening hours the day before.  The windows are lit up and the flags are hoisted at the homes.  On the day of the holiday the music took place at the square.

     At Christmas time the children go "Zammetran?" just like at Easter time.  Already on the evening before the Christ child comes, or the "Starrnickel?", but today the tenderly raised children are not so energetic as in earlier times.  The Christmas trees of our grandparents were much simpler than today.  Usually a blackthorn branch was replaced with some apples and nuts on the Christmas tree.  On the Christmas tree (Boxing Day) the lads ride out and receive from the girls ribbons in a row.  

     Besides the reverence for Sylvester in the church, no events take place in the passing of the last days of the year.  In the night one can still encounter the "Stornickel?".  He has a large felt cap, the "Schlaraffegsicht" (Cockaigne face), horns and a shaggy "Bunda?" on and his appearance with rattling chains and the "Bumschell?", as well as his "Scheerestang?" (pole), he also hunts the courageous children whose legs are trembling.

From the book "The Germans of the Community of Feketitsch" by Dr. Viktor Pratscher