|
Ihr liewe Leit:
Dei Englische saage "Shrove Tuesday," die Pennsylvaanisch Deitsch saage
die Faasenacht, Faasnacht, Faschtnacht, Fassnacht, odder sogaar Pannekuchedaag.
Un was die Englische "donut" heesse, nenne die Deitsche Faschtnacht (un so
weider) Kichelcher. Wie gsaat, sie sin awwer net echt wann sie graad wie
donuts aussehne. Meh vun dem schpeeder.
In deel Gegede hen die Kinner als der Schulmeeschder nausgschpatt. (Ya,
sell hen sie als geduh vor em Grischtdaag!) Die Kinner wu's aerscht in die
Schul kumme sin hen die Leede zugemacht un die Dier gschlosse. Dann wann en
Schuler kumme iss, hen die Kinner gegaxt un gegreeht, hen dann "(Halloo,
Faasenacht," gegrische, un noh hen sie der Schuler reigelosst.
Sell hen sie geduh bis der Schulmeeschder kumme iss. Dann hen sie
widder gegreeht un gegaxt, hen dann Schulmeeschder entwedder neigelosst odder
nausgschpatt - der Gebrauch waar unnerschidlich in unnerschidliche Gegende.
Un widder wie gsaat, wann die Kinner heemkumme sin, hen sie
nadierlich ihr Faschtnacht Kichelcher grickt. Un sie waare nadierlich
viereckich -ya, viereckich - net rund! Un in der Mitt hen sie graad en gleener
Schlitz ghatt. Ya, gewiss, sie hen ken Loch ghatt! Ich saag's noch ee Mol:
richtiche Faasnacht Kichelcher waare viereckich un hen ken Loch ghatt!!
Nau, bischt du Deitsch odder net, du musscht an der Faasenacht
Faasenacht Kichelcher esse. Ferwas? Wann du ken Kichelcher esse duscht, dann
bischt es gans Yaahr net glicklich. Die Flax watt gewiss net waxe. Dei
Grautkepp bleiwe gans glee, dei Oier warre net ausbriehe, un du watscht
Gschweere griege. 'S iss waahr, un yeder Deitsche weess des!
Un bischt du en Meed, dann nemmscht es aerscht Kichelcher as
gemacht hoscht, duscht's unnich dei Schatz, un nemmscht's naus zum Brunne. Der
aerscht Mannskall wu mit dr schwetz watt die Mann warre. Un witt due es gans
Yaahr Glick hawwe, dann nemmscht die aerscht drei Kichelche un duscht sie uff
en Fenschdergschtell - awwer saag's ken Mensch! Dann kummt en gleener Mann,
nemmt sie weck un esst sie - awwer saag's yo ken Mensch!
Un was macht mer middem Fett wu mer die Fettkuche drin kocht hot?
Mit dem Fett wu mer die Fettkuche drin kocht hot? Mit dem Fett kann mer ebbes
Wehes heele (wie, zum Beischpiel en Axschnitt). Ya, un wann mer's fer
Waageschmeier yuust, dann bleiwe die Geil immer schee ruhich, un Radde warre
net die Aern fresse wu in denne Wegge iss.
Un wann etliche Kichelcher am Mittwoch iwwerich sin dann ess graad
weider. Waarrem odder
Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer
|
Dear people:
People who are not Pennsylvania German say "Shrove Tuesday," the
PGs say Faasenacht, Faasnacht, Fassnacht, or even Pancake Day. And what
the non-PGs call "donut" the PGs call Faschtnacht (and so forth) cakes. As
we were saying, they are however not genuine if they just look like
donuts. More about that later.
In some sections (of the PG area) the children used to bar out the
school master. (Yes, they used to do that before Christmas too!) The
children who were the first to come to the school closed the shutters and
locked the door. Then when a pupil got there, the children cackled and
crowed, the called "Hello, Faasenacht," and then they let the pupil in.
They kept doing that until the school master arrived. Then they
crowed and cackled again, then either let in the school master or barred
him out - the custom was different in various areas.
And again as we were saying, when the children came home, the naturally
got their little Shrove Tuesday cakes. And they were of course square-yes,
square - not round! And in the middle they had just a little slit. Yes, of
course, they didn't have a hole! I'll say it one more time: genuine (real)
Shrove Tuesday cakes were four-cornered and did not have a hole!!
Now, whether you are PG or not, you have to eat such a Shrove Tuesday
cake on Shrove Tuesday. Why? If you eat no such little cake, then you will
not be lucky the whole year. Your flax will certainly not grow, your
cabbage heads will remain very small, your eggs won't hatch our, and
you'll get boils. It's true, and every PG knows that!
And if you are a girl, then you take the first fastnacht that you
have made, put in under your apron, and take it out to the well. The first
man who talks to you will become your husband. And if you want to have
luck for the whole year, then you take the first three fastnachts you make
and you put them on a window sill-but don't tell as soul! Then a little
man will come, take them away and will eat them-but don't tell a soul!
And what do you do
with the fat in which you cooked the fastnachts? With that fat you can
heal a sore (as, for example, and axe cut). Yes, and if you use it for
wagon grease, then the horses will always remain calm, and rats will not
eat the harvest that is in those wagons.
And if there are some little cakes left over on Wednesday, the just
keep eating. Warm or cold, they are at their best!
Take care,
The Old Professor
|
