PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

December 15, 2005

Ihr liewe Leit:

   “Des ‘Fattschritt’ iss en gudes Ding, / Mer kann net ruhich schtehne” hot mol der Ralph Funk (1889-1969) gschriwwe, “Doch guckt mer in Vergangenheit, / Kann oft en Sach mer sehne.”

   Un was fer en “Sach” kennt der Funk im Sinn hawwe? Mer lese in seim Gedich “Vum Grischtbaam” weider:

Zum Beischpiel, nemm heits Grischdaagsbaam
   Unechtlich, deet isch saage;
Guckt nimmi wie er hot zu uns
   In unser yunge Daage.

Was waar’s en Freeht – ihr wisst des aa –
   Der Zeedrebaam aagucke
In Parlor Grischdaagmarrigeds frieh
   Fer’n Zeit kann mer net mucke.

Paar rode Balle un Tinsel druff,
   Un gfaarebt babierne Kette:
Doch warn die inschlichlichder datt
   Viel scheener, deet ich wette.

Schur hot’s heit Lichder uff de Beem
   Die mit Eleckdrick brenne;
Doch kann ich vun Gedanke net
   Die Inschlichlichder drenne.

Wie alles schunscht, der Grischdaagsbaam
   Ennert sich mit de Yaahre:
So wisse net die Kinner heit
   Blessier mir hen erfaahre.

Nau habt ihr liewe Leser en Aageblick gschtutzt wie ihr sell Watt “Zeedrebaam” gsehne habt? Ya, die Deitsche hen oftmols en Zeedrebaam schtatts en Schpruus odder so ebbes geyuust. Der Arthur D. Graeff (1899-1969) hot mol die do Wadde gschriwwe; ihr die wadde zum Lied ‘O Tannenbaum” singe:

Der Zeedrebaam, der Zeedrebaam
   Wie grie sin seine Bledder!
Im Friehyaahr, Winder, Summerzeit,
   Er gebt gaar nix ums Wedder.
Doch ee moll’s Yaahr an Grischdaagzeit,
   Er dresst sich uff fer all die Leit.
Der Zeedrebaam, der Zeedrebaam,
   Der Keenich vun de Barrige!

Der Zeedrebaam, der Zeedrebaam,
   Der Keenich vun de Barrige!
Do schteht er in hoch Mayeschteet,
   Den hallich Grischdaagmarrige,
Im Schtuwwe Eck, wie schee bedeckt,
   Mit Gliddergold un Bauwoll gefleckt;
Der Zeedrebaam, der Zeedrebaam,
   Der Keenich vun de Barrige!

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   “’Progress’ is a good thing, / Once cant just stand still” Ralph Funk (1889-1969) once wrote “but if one looks into the past. / One can often see a situation.”

   And just what kind of a situation could Funk have in mind? We continue reading his poem “About the Christmas Tree”:

For example, take today’s Christmas tree,
   Not genuine, I would say;
It no longer looks as it did to us
   In our younger days.

What a joy it was – you know this too –
   To look at the cedar tree
In the parlor early Christmas morning –
   For a time one can’t move.

A few red balls and tinsel on it,
   And colored paper chains;
And the tallow candle on it were
   Much nicer, I would bet.

Sure, there are lights on the trees today
   That burn with electricity;
But I can’t separate from my thoughts
   The tallow candles.

As with everything else, the Christmas tree
   Changes with the years;
So children today do not know
   The pleasures that we experienced.

   Now did you dear readers pause for a moment when you saw the words “cedar tree?” Yes, the Pennsylvania Germans (Dutch) often used a cedar tree instead of a spruce or something like that. Arthur D. Graeff (1899-1969) once wrote these words; you can sing the words to the tune of “Oh Christmas Tree”:

Oh cedar tree, oh cedar tree,
   How green are your branches (leaves)!
In spring, winter, summer time,
   It cares not about the weather.
But once a year at Christmas time,
   It dresses up for all the people.
Oh cedar tree, oh cedar tree.
   The king of the mountains!

Oh cedar tree, oh cedar tree,
   The king of the mountains!
Here it stands in high majesty
   This glorious Christmas morning
In the corner of the room, beautifully covered
   With glitter-gold and flecked with cotton;
Oh cedar tree, oh cedar tree,
   The king of the mountains!

Take care,
The Old Professor

Click here to go to PA German Dialect archive page.

The Pennsylvania German Society
Located in the Zimmerman Cabin

at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center

22 Luckenbill Road

Ephrata, PA 19522

Our mailing address is:

The Pennsylvania German Society

P.O. Box 118
Ephrata, PA 19522
(484) 646-4227
Fax: (484) 646-4228
E-mail: pgs@kutztown.edu

updated 3-15-2007 paf