The All Day Work
by Dr. Viktor Pratscher
Translated by Brad Schwebler
During the whole
past century the day bell called to get us up. In the winter the
first duty was to heat up the straw oven. In the old days the
women folk still sat every morning "tapr" at the spinning wheel,
spinning so quickly a bundle of hemp or wool just as the day was
beginning. Meanwhile the cattle must be fed, cows milked, and the
rooms straightened up (zusammenräumen?), then breakfast can be served.
Today the womenfolk still take complete care of the housework in the
morning. There is especially much work on washday which usually
falls on Mondays. After that the wash must be dried and ironed,
often they were also (gemangt?). Thirty-forty years ago there were
also "Kolossen?" and "Mangmaschinen?". Saturday was also
considered the big workday and at the same time the weekly market and
cleaning was done. During the winter months the women went to
early afternoon "maje". In the good old days they took their
spinning wheel with them, later they knitted during the visit, today it
is the custom to croquet and "Schlingen?" (loop), while now they
fluently spin tales- with their mouths. - Before sunset the cattle must
be cared for. - After supper the married couples went "in die Riehe"
(took turns). Each evening the neighborhood came together in
another home. The women did their needlework again while the men
discussed various matters or passed the time playing cards.
They usually had cooked or "splashed" corn with it and often had quite a
bit of wine. About 9 o'clock they left. With this taking of
turns the feeling of togetherness and belonging was expressed.
Already since the settlement the neighbors have helped one another where
it was necessary. Especially when building a house, or in cases of
sickness, misfortune, or death the help from neighbors is
understandable. The neighbor is also there for baptisms, weddings,
and pig slaughtering. First is the neighbor in front, then follows
in turn the neighbor behind, the garden neighbor, and finally the
neighborhood up to the street crossing. - the Salasch, or field
neighbors were also not forgotten. The neighborhood also took the
opportunity at weddings to invite the Hungarian neighbors and this
friendship was mutual.
Also the singles had their turn, but only the girls, went without parental
supervision, and usually very noisily so. - The youth club of the congregation
honestly endeavors to make the winter months usefully spent by the youth and
keep their morality along the way. Saturday evenings they went to club
meetings, lectures, etc.
The church attendance on Sundays was very good. When the service ended the
crowd went from one end of the street to the other to the shade of the next
house. The afternoons were spent with friends. They played cards,
bowled, or played pool (billiards).
[Published at
DVHH.org by Jody McKim Pharr, 2004]
