“You may ask, why did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you why – I don’t know. But it’s a tradition, and because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do”
—Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof
There’s a movie I like, Fiddler on the Roof. When I think back, my grandparents, Joe and Anna Hartmann liked this movie too. It’s a good movie and a great musical. Topol is Tevye. These and many others are reasons to like the movie.
But if I had to guess, I’d think that another reason they liked it could possibly be that even though the village and the people of the movie and so much of the story is Jewish, my grandparents saw a small European village community not unlike the ones they were born and reared in.
This story has also an oft repeated idea that’s also oft repeated in our club: tradition.
In my own head, whenever the word is mentioned or when I write it or say it myself, I can’t help seeing Topol in my head pointing up in the air: TRADITION!
Ok sometimes it is Topol and other times it’s a different guy all together. He says at the opening of the story that tradition is the way in which his people keep the balance. I think this could be transposed onto the German Hungarians quite easily.
And the Kirchweihfest is our most visible and real example of tradition in action. The fact that it is the most beautiful makes it what I like to call the most beautiful important day of our club calendar.
On Sunday, November 26, we gathered at the Phoenix Sport Club, members, friends, the Cultural Group, four generations of German-Hungarians.
This year the Rosmarein Strauss was donated, as well as constructed by Werner Fricker III. The bouquet was a combination of two medium sized plants grown in Ambler, Pennsylvania. The day before the festival, Werner and I arranged the Strauss and then some family and friends helped to do the decorations. Someone at the Kirchweih was heard remarking how it was nice, but needed work. Well, we will try harder next time.
Thanks also to the Trenton Donauschwaben for donating some additional rosemary for use as Sträussleins.
In 2015, Karina Fricker, wrote about the dancers preparations for the Kirchweih. This quote has been printed before in histories and further Kirchweih articles, but to me it still captures that anticipation on the day of our fest better than anything else:
“When the day finally arrived, the hall was set, the dancers prepared, and the German Hungarians ready for the evening to come. We buttoned our vests, tied our aprons and smoothed our handmade Tracht before, with smiling faces, greeted our friends from many different clubs near and far. Soon we were on the dance floor for the first polka of the night!”
Die Heimatklänge of course provided that polka and the bandleader himself was excited to hint to us before they played the first note that it would be one we all love. Still now, it sounded so good that I am humming the bum bum bums of that classic Egerlander song how many weeks later.
Later, when the Kirchweihgruppe was marched in we were led by Joseph Reiter who then gave a rousing rendition of his 2022 speech, Uns’r Kerweih. Of course he was preceded by our beautiful National Anthem. Calls of “Buwe was hammer Heit?, Kerweih!!!” were given by the boys, loud and with sincerity between the verses.
The platters of food coming out of the Phoenix kitchen were excellent. Each plate included roast pork with gravy and potatoes, green beans and one link of Hungarian Wurst. Sauerkraut was served in bowls family style at each table. I quite liked this, as it made the meal feel more like being at home, sitting next to family and sharing.
The Children’s group performed a selection of dances together after the first band set was finished. It’s wonderful to see the little shoes in little feet; the big smiles on small faces. Somehow our little boys look more like little men in their Leiwl (vest) and our little girls look much more grown up, poised, disciplined in their pleated skirts and colorful scarves.
When the dancing is finished however, there is no doubt this group has lots of youthful fun together, playing with small toy cars, selling raffle tickets with the bigger kids, and living the imaginative, exciting club childhood many of us have been fortunate to have had before them.
Our older group also performed some dances at the next break including Luneberger Windmueller, Hammerschmied, Schwingende, and Drah di Ruhm.
Music was enjoyed by the attendees. Many took an opportunity to take family photos with the Strauss and in front of our club flag. Soon, it seemed to be time for the Kirchweihgruppe to return for the exciting drawing of the raffle for the hat, the scarf, and the coveted Strauss.
We marched in once again with Reiter at the lead. This part always makes my stomach tingle with suspense. In a circle hands in hand, Bob Walter took the Strauss. Holding it high he spoke with a deep voice sharing a poem he had written about our club. One thing you can say about the German Hungarians is that we have people that know how to write, but also they have something to say. It was a perfect way to lead into the proceedings.
Congratulations to Teresa Vikari from the Delaware Saengerbund who was in attendance with her husband Klaus. The couple won not just the hat, but a few moments later also the scarf! (Next year make sure to buy your tickets from the same person Teresa buys from!)
Then it was time. For me it seemed like a hush fell over the room. Red tickets lay in strips at each and every table. Some folks held them up to the light so they could see better. Even a few of the dancers in the circle on the floor unfurled lengths of the red things to check. Michelle McFadden handed the ticket pulled from the extra large bowl to Joe.
In my head there was a drumroll but I don’t know if Johnny Reiter really did that or I imagined it. When the ticket number was read there was a pause, and then an unmistakable voice called out and my mother’s hand raised up. Standing up she said,
“This ticket was Werner III’s and he told me that if it was a winner he’d like to give the Strauss to Allyssa!”
Wow, I did not expect that to happen that way. Dancing with the Strauss, along with Allyssa and all the family and friends was beautiful! Though Werner III was not there in the moment having driven Karin, Vinzenz, and Louisa to catch a flight at the airport, he arrived shortly thereafter! Of course, we gave him a huge thanks for passing the winnings on to us. We did split the goodies from the basket of cheer 50/50. I suppose it was poetic that the day before, Werner & I built the Strauss in such a way that maintained part of the roots so it could be planted again. Maybe one day that same plant could play a part in our traditions at another Kirchweih.
So, you may ask, how did these many traditions get started?
I’ll tell you, I don’t know the complete answer to that. But there are places you can look. Another tradition we have as a club is making available these stories and histories about our club, our people and much more. All the while we are living the tradition.
And maybe because these are our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.
Michael N. Fricker
THE 2023 KIRCHWEIHGRUPPE
