Apr 24, 2011

Easter Decoration in Germany

The tradition of decorating the local fountain near church for the Easter holiday might soon become extinct.

On our drive to Franconia in Northern Bavaria, we only passed two villages with a display of public Easter decoration.

Franconian village Easter decoration

One photo opportunity I missed as we were going around a tight bend in another village, and the third Easter display I found right here in my hometown village of Hambach (suburb of Dittelbrunn, near Schweinfurt).

Easter decoration in Hambach (Franconia)

Customs are bound to change with time.

Apr 24, 2011

Easter Traditions in Germany

During our weekend visit to my old hometown village on this Easter weekend, we encountered the Rappler group again.

The Rappler are a group of young Catholics, who make a lot of noise by turning the handles on their wooden Rappelkasten, while walking though the village at all times of the day.

This little village in Franconia even posted this reminder at its entrance:

"Achtung Rappler" posted in Rieden

The last time I heard them this morning was at 4:22. I glanced at the clock and figured they must have met at 4:15 at the nearby church to start their procession through the village.

This photo were taken yesterday evening as they came through Main Street once again.

Rappelkasten band in Hambach/Franconia

Nowadays, girls can join these church-organized groups as well.

Apr 8, 2011

Church Bells in Germany

If you have ever lived in rural Germany, then you are familiar with the sound of church bells ringing.

While growing up in a farm house on main street in rural Franconia (Northern Bavaria), I became so accustomed to hearing the bells at all times of the day that the bells’ sound went without perception.

Not until I left home and came back for occasional visits did I learn to appreciate their beautiful sound. Nowadays, when we stay for an overnight at my Elternhaus (parents’ home), I love to wake up to the sound of the nearby church bells.

The village main street on most any morning is filled with various sounds: farmers yelling directions to get the wagon into the barn, women gossiping in front of the house, along with the church bells ringing.

So I was delighted when I discovered Alexander von Halem‘s blog post about various church bells in Bavaria. Alexander has begun collecting the sound of church bells with an iPhone application called audioboo.fm:

Listen to the sound of various church bells on Zeilitzheim Castle in Bavaria, Germany.

Enjoy it.

Mar 2, 2011

Overnight on a Former Farm in Franconia

Although we have family in Franconia, it is not always possible to spend the night at a sibling’s place. Once in a while we have to rent a room or an apartment. For our last trip there, we decided to rent a vacation apartment in my hometown village Hambach (population: 2700), a borough of Dittelbrunn.

Zum Hühnernest, a former chicken farm, has been turned into a big family business. The owners’ grown up children have expanded its lines of service by adding accommodations (rooms and apartment), a guesthouse, a cosmetic studio, a nail studio, horseback riding, horse-drawn carriage rides, horseback riding camps, farm animals, a farmer’s market, etc.

We checked in on Saturday afternoon and found a very spacious apartment and comfortable beds to keep us warm at night.

Pension "Zum Hühnernest" in Hambach/borough of Dittelbrunn

But… when we came back late at night, we found the guesthouse totally locked up. We had forgotten to ask how to get in during after-hours.

It took about 10 minutes and a bit of slow panic crept in, before my husband located a door by going around the place on three sides, entering a former chicken coop, climbing an outdoor stairway, to reach a veranda door leading to the inside of the building.

My goodness, we made it in! With relief, we settled down for a good night’s sleep.

Pension "Zum Hühnernest"

Visit the Gasthaus und Pension Zum Hühnernest for more information. Recommendable, besides the key episode!

Jan 16, 2011

Bamberg Beer War

In 1907, there was a war over beer in Bamberg, a lovely city in Upper Franconia.

Bamberg, home to 70.000 residents, can also boast of eight breweries. In a way, this is not too surprising as I once read that Upper Franconia alone has 300 of the nationwide 1300 breweries.

Another noteworthy superlative – Franconia has the highest density of breweries worldwide.

Back to the Bamberger Bierkrieg – one day in 1907, the local breweries decided to raise the price for 0.5 L (1/2 quart) by 1 Pfennig (from 10 to 11 Pfennig)

Karl Panzer, a local book-keeper,  inspired the two inn-keepers, Georg Weierich and Anton Mohr, to go on strike. Instead of selling the more expensive local beer, these two offered the lower-priced one, available from another town called Forchheim.

This beer sold really well and after one week only, the Bamberg breweries had to give in and retract their price hike. The beer went back to 10 Pfennig for 1/2 L again.

Franconian Beer

If there is more you want to know about German beer in general, see Beer Guide Germany.

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