A Remembrance of the Past; Building for the Future." ~ Eve Eckert Koehler
Remembering Our Danube Swabian Ancestors
Danube
Swabian Easter Customs
by Jacob
Steigerwald
Published at DVHH.org 16 Mar 2005 by Jody McKim Pharr
At my
birthplace of Banat Topola, the church bells in the steeple
remained silent from 'Gründonnerstag' (Maundy Thursday)
until 'Karsamstag' (the day after Good Friday), for
figurative recharging. As children, we were told that they
had flown to Rome for spiritual renewal.
While the bells were 'absent,' the function of summoning
worshipers for masses and to remind the faithful that it was
time for praying, so-called 'Ratscher-Buben' ran from house
to house along each side of different streets shouting, 'mir
ratsche zum erschte, zum zweite, zum dritte Mol in die Mess'
(we are rousing for the morning, noon, or evening mass).
The message of the boys was underscored with a few
revolutions of the Ratsche each boy was carrying. Some of
them were genuine heirlooms! This wooden instrument makes
the sound of a rapidly clicking ratchet. Alternately, the
gizmo is also called Rätsche, Schnarre, Klapper, and
Karfreitagsrassel.
The word 'gerewelt' that has been correctly interpreted by
participants in some discussions alludes to the activity of
ratschen.
After mass on Karsamstag, two Ratscher-Buben were designated
as hoarders, with painted faces for identification.
Together, they carried a large utility basket, into which
the collected goods were placed as the group of boys walked
from house to house to receive their rewards for having
served as Ratscher-Buben. Donations generally consisted of
money or eggs, with occasional cups of flour, which was
placed into a linen sack.
To announce themselves to village residents, the group of
boys sang a ditty that went like this (in the local
dialect):
LOCAL DIALECT
Stipp, stipp Staab aus dr Katz gehn die Hoor aus Summer, Summer Mai aus, die Veigle un die Blume, dr Summer werd bald kumme. O Leit, o Leit, ihr liewi Leit, do kummt die heilichi Oschterzeit. Gibt uns Ajer, gibt uns Geld, alles, was ihr wollt, nor khe Schlää, die tun weh. Ecku, ecku ruschafeh, heit is torus tambure, Ajer raus, Glick ins Haus!
CONCEPTUAL TRANSLATION:
Commence
spring cleaning, for cats are already shedding fur. With May in the offing, Summer is approaching. Violets and (other) flowers signal the imminence of Summer. O people, dear people, Easter-time is upon us. Give us eggs or money - anything you want, except beatings,
for they hurt.
No
particular meaning was associated with the words in the next
two lines, but their mystifying sound may have conjured up
supernatural notions. These 'magic' words were followed with
best wishes in return for gifts received.
Upon departing, the boys would sing (partly in high German,
for reasons of rhyme:
Wir danken für die Gaben, die wir empfangen haben. Lebt wohl, lebt wohl, bis uffs anri Johr!
(We thank you for the gifts that were bestowed upon us. Fare
well, fare well, until next year.
Alternate versions of this custom can be found in many a
Heimatbuch.
