Saturday April 26, 2025: GTV Almrausch 100. Jubilaum
A large milestone was celebrated in Philadelphia on April 25, 26 & 27. The GTV Almrausch held their 100. Jubilaum at the Cannstatter V.V. Many gathered on Friday the 25th for a welcome in the Cannstatter Biergarten. The gathering included a bratwurst potato salad. Of course, there was beer. The main festivities took place Saturday, first with a re-dedication of the Almrausch flag at St. Katherine of Siena on Frankford Avenue. Thanks to Stephen Hargreaves we have a wonderful photo of our club’s Fahnentraeger Sasha Malofiy in the beautiful church.
The evening affair began with cocktail hour in the Crystal Ballroom at the Cannstatter followed by a banquet dinner. Music was provided by d’Blechdandler from Augsburg in Bavaria. The evening was of course peppered with dance performances by the guest dance groups and the hosts. The Almrausch did a fine performance of the Sternen Tanz. Our members performed the Ammerseer. Nice displays of history and photos of the Almrausch were available to view throughout the evening. It was a fitting celebration for a storied club and dance group like the Almrausch.
But of course it did not end Saturday. Fruhschoppen was held at the CVV on Sunday. Those who attended received Weisswurst and a German pretzel and of course, good German Weissbier. Congratulations to the Almrausch and cheers to the next 100 years!
Saturday May 4, 2025: Maifest at Brauhaus Schmitz
Forecasts threatened rain and clouds but the sun held out for a beautiful day in Philadelphia.
The German Hungarians made our way to South Street for Brauhaus Schmitz Maifest in our “Snow White” dirndls and matching blue checked-shirts. Shoes were buckled, hair was braided, and feathers were placed in hats. The Masskrugstemmen wrapped up with record times and Bill Galgon struck up our Heimatklänge (did you hear they’re playing the 30. Gaufest this July at the Delaware Saengerbund?!?)
In the breaks we performed two sets of folk and Schuhplattler dances. It is a testament to the strength of our group that we can send representatives to two events in the same day and not lose a step. (No “B Teams” here, Dougie!).
We performed a number of dances including the Traditional Maypole Dance, Tyrolean Bauerntanz, Kreuz Koenig or the “Flying Dance”, Drah di Rum, and Stern Polka with Joey Galgon the star of the show. After the last “Prost Prost” was sung and an encore of “Fliegerlied”, we made our way inside for a delicious schnitzel, kaesespaetzle and the Kentucky Derby!
We are very lucky to have a home on South Street with Doug, Erin, and the Brauhaus Schmitz family. They allow us the opportunity to showcase our culture and always take great care of us while we do it. Don’t miss us this fall at their Oktoberfests!
by Karin Schulz & Werner Fricker III
Saturday May 4, 2025: Hirshjaeger Fahnenweihe & 50. Stiftungfest
Amidst all of these celebrations we have shared, and how many were happening so close to one another, the German Hungarians were spread all around for such an action-packed weekend! While many were representing at Brauhaus Schmitz for their annual Maifest, a contingent of us packed up the flag, their families, and their cars, and made the trek out to Richmond, Virginia to celebrate SGTEV Hirschjäger’s 50th Anniversary and Fahnenweihe. In attendance for this celebration were Janet and Sasha Malofiy, Marlene Fricker, Alex and Jenn Blank, Michael Fricker and Allyssa Schulz-Fricker (and with them, the energetic Michael K and Penny made appearances!) Morgan Schulz, and Evan Wolz.
As is the norm with any flag blessing ceremony, a church service was held to present and christen the new Hirschjäger Flag, and we could see each exquisite detail in every stitch. On one side, a dancing couple in between the club name and the location, and on the other side, in beautiful maroon, an image of a golden deer inside the wreath you would also see on the Virginia state flag, to add a personal touch to this waving masterpiece. Out of support for our fellow Vereine, the U.G.H. flag was brought in the midst others who gathered to support this occasion. Sasha Malofiy carried our flag during the flag ceremony and during the Parade of Flags later that day. Everyone was brought to the Virginia Crossings Hotel, a set of separate colonial-style buildings, each connected via underground tunnels in case of inclement weather (which none of us would have known about, if not for one adventurous Michael K. wandering around and finding these tunnels for us!)
The main event on Saturday started with a happy hour, and getting the chance to talk to all of the other visiting clubs before the main ballroom opened up. There was representation from some local Washington DC clubs, a mass of people from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas, a couple from Gulf Coast Enzianer Florida, and even an individual all the way from St. Paul, Minnesota! We were introduced to the event with an original dance performed by our Virginian friends called the “Hirschjaegertanz”, which featured sections of plattlers, folk dancing, and figures all in one medley. At over 100 people in attendance, it was a quaint but mighty (and rowdy) crowd. The German Hungarians gathered up their dancers and performed the Ammerseer during the dance break and naturally had to do some social dancing a few more times while we listened to the wonderful tunes of the Maria & John Band throughout the night!
Sadly, by Sunday morning, we had to say “Auf wiedersehn,” to our friends, but not before some of the Hirschjägers said “We’ll see you all again soon in July!” as we are reminded that Gaufest draws ever closer, and we truly will see them again, because it is never “Goodbye,” it is always “See you next time!”
By Evan Wolz
