July 2015
Kinderzeche is a strange name for an annual reenactment in Dinkelsbühl of a day in the 30-Years' War. (the worst war in German history that took place from 1618 until 1648) According to legend, the Swedes had surrounded the city, and threatened to break down the fortress walls surrounding the town. That would lead to the usual atrocities including raping and pillaging. The city fathers didn't know what to do, their defenses being exhausted. Unknown to them, a young woman named Lore took matters in her own hands. She gathered all the children in the town around her, and she walked out of the city walls into the hands of the enemy, where she begged for mercy for the children. The Swedish commander took pity, and agreed not to destroy the town if the city fathers surrendered, which they did.
Today, the children of town still play the dominant role in the 11-day celebration. They are celebrated as the heroes of the town, and they parade from the city hall, out to the Swedish encampment just outside the city walls, then back in with the soldiers to meet today's city council. Every aspect of the parade has to do with some detailed aspect of the city's history. Nothing is without meaning.
The parade starts with the children, who are led by Lore out to the Swedish encampment. The legend has it that Lore heard of the recent death of the Swedish colonel's young son, so the boy she leads by the hand was chosen because he resembled the colonel's son. Apparently, this had the desired effect on the colonel.
The children meet the Swedish soldiers, who have been waiting outside in their encampment.
... which is just outside the city walls.
By the way, they have been eating very well, and tourists get to sample the roast suckling pig as well. While we felt sorry for the piglet, it was very tasty!
The children and the soldiers march into the city, where they are greeted by the young ladies of the town, who offer them flowers as a symbol of peace.
... then the Biedermeier club in their white dresses with hoop skirts; in Germany, the Biedermeier period was between 1815 and 1848 during which the middle-class grew and arts appealed to common people. It was a bit like the 1950s in America. It ended with the failed revolution in the 1840s when people turned away from political involvement and concentrated on their own lives; (I can hear Julie Andrews singing "... girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,"
During the parade, the bystanders run out to give the children little bags of candy, and the men get little bottles of alcoholic spirits or flowers.
The parade ends in front of one of the oldest buildings in town, where the viewing stands have been erected. The flag of the city is given to the Swedish forces. The marching band then plays a song written in the 1800s for this occasion. Everyone who knows it sings along. It was also printed in the program we had, so we tried to sing along as well. The opening lines are, "Let songs of joy resound from south, north, east and west" and it goes on to praise innocence, the jewel of youth. It is a song of joy and friendship and ends asking for God's blessing on the country.
It was a wonderful "feel good" day. Maybe because of the emphasis on the kids, maybe because of the flowers being passed around, maybe because of the good food and beer, maybe because of the nice weather and beautiful costumes, maybe because of the setting (I forgot how colorful the buildings in Dinkelsbühl are.)
Kinderzeche is a strange name for an annual reenactment in Dinkelsbühl of a day in the 30-Years' War. (the worst war in German history that took place from 1618 until 1648) According to legend, the Swedes had surrounded the city, and threatened to break down the fortress walls surrounding the town. That would lead to the usual atrocities including raping and pillaging. The city fathers didn't know what to do, their defenses being exhausted. Unknown to them, a young woman named Lore took matters in her own hands. She gathered all the children in the town around her, and she walked out of the city walls into the hands of the enemy, where she begged for mercy for the children. The Swedish commander took pity, and agreed not to destroy the town if the city fathers surrendered, which they did.
Today, the children of town still play the dominant role in the 11-day celebration. They are celebrated as the heroes of the town, and they parade from the city hall, out to the Swedish encampment just outside the city walls, then back in with the soldiers to meet today's city council. Every aspect of the parade has to do with some detailed aspect of the city's history. Nothing is without meaning.
The parade starts with the children, who are led by Lore out to the Swedish encampment. The legend has it that Lore heard of the recent death of the Swedish colonel's young son, so the boy she leads by the hand was chosen because he resembled the colonel's son. Apparently, this had the desired effect on the colonel.
The children meet the Swedish soldiers, who have been waiting outside in their encampment.
By the way, they have been eating very well, and tourists get to sample the roast suckling pig as well. While we felt sorry for the piglet, it was very tasty!
The children and the soldiers march into the city, where they are greeted by the young ladies of the town, who offer them flowers as a symbol of peace.
Then everyone parades through town, starting with the victorious Swedes,
... including the wounded,
... then the children,
..
...then the Knabenkapelle (boys' marching band),
... then the Schäferreigens, representing the importance of the wool trade to the city's economy (schaf means sheep); they wear the simple everyday clothes of the sheep farmers, wool handlers and weavers
... then the Tracht (traditional costume) club from Segringen, wearing the traditional costumes of a farming village; these clothes are the Sunday best,
... then another group representing the colorful, cone-shaped goody bag that all the participants in the parade receive; the four girls in front are carrying a giant version of the goody bag, called a "Gucke" (it's a traditional name - if you look it up, you won't find the goody bag definition)
... then the smiths' and weavers' guilds' dancing clubs in their tracht; the smiths' guild performs a sword dance and the weavers' guild has their own unique dance. The two guilds competed for precedence in the 17th century.
Lastly, the mayors (all 3 of them; they each ruled for 4 months of the year) and the city council.
During the parade, the bystanders run out to give the children little bags of candy, and the men get little bottles of alcoholic spirits or flowers.
The parade ends in front of one of the oldest buildings in town, where the viewing stands have been erected. The flag of the city is given to the Swedish forces. The marching band then plays a song written in the 1800s for this occasion. Everyone who knows it sings along. It was also printed in the program we had, so we tried to sing along as well. The opening lines are, "Let songs of joy resound from south, north, east and west" and it goes on to praise innocence, the jewel of youth. It is a song of joy and friendship and ends asking for God's blessing on the country.
It was a wonderful "feel good" day. Maybe because of the emphasis on the kids, maybe because of the flowers being passed around, maybe because of the good food and beer, maybe because of the nice weather and beautiful costumes, maybe because of the setting (I forgot how colorful the buildings in Dinkelsbühl are.)
