PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

December 16, 2004

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Nau saagt, ihr liewe Leser, was meent sell Watt “Grischtkindel”? Ya, ihr habt’s gerode! Sell hawwich mir gedenkt. Ihr wisst’s!

   Der Ralph W. Berkey (Die Buschamschel) hot’s aa gewisst. In seim Gedicht “Schloof, Bewi, Schloof” hot er die do Linye gewschriwwe:

Die Hieder saage unner sich,
“Loss uns geh noch Bedlehem zu
Un finne die Maria un Yosef, ihre Mann,
Un imme Oxsedroog
Des Grischtkindel.

   Un der John Birmelin hot’s aa gewisst. In seim Gedicht “Grischtkindel” schreibt er:

Grischtkindel im Windel,
En Bettsche vun Schtroh;
Wie scheine die Schtanne
Vum Hummel so froh!
Die Engelcher schweewe
(Um’s Hittche un singe)
Vum Kindel gebore
Um Friede zu bringe;
Glicklich un freehlich,
Der Grischtdaag iss do.

   Ya, ‘s iss gewiss waahr: “Grischtkindel” bedeidt Yesus Grischdus!

   Nau saag, ihre liewe Leser, was bedeidt des Watt “Grischtkindel”? In seim Gedicht “En Brief zum Saendi Klaas” hot der Salli Holsbock (wie ihr schunn wisst, der Harvey Miller) mol gschriwwe ass er en gleener Schubbkarrich fer der Grischtdaag hawwe will, ass sei Schweschder Till en Bo hawwe will, ass sei Mammi en nei Biewel hawwe will, un aa:

En Grutzepeif un Schmookduwack,
   Sell deet der Daadi kitzle, schuur,
Noh hen mer all Grischtkindlin do,
   Un’s macht en Lood fer dei Haschfuhr.

   Un der Buhneschtiehl (ya, richdich, der Thomas Harter) hot in seim Schtick “Grischkindlin Kaafe” mol gschriwwe:

   Kannscht du noch zerrickdenke zu de Daage wie mir gleene Buwe beinanner waare? Sellemols hot die Mammi yeder vu nuns en Handvoll Keschde gewwe, un en Kuchegaul odder zwee gebacke. Was waare mer als gsaetisfeit mit unserem Grischtkindel.”

   Ya, ‘s iss gewiss waahr: “Grischtkindel” bedeidt en Gschenk, en Grischtdaagsgschenk!

   Awwer der Henry Harbaugh hot mol en Gedicht “Des Grischtkindel” gschriwwe, un in seim Gedicht iss “Grischtkindel” net der Yesus Grischdus un aa net en Gschenk. Neegscht Woch finne mer aus!

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   Now, tell me, you dear readers, what does the word “Grischtkindel” mean? Yes, you guessed it! I thought so. You know it!

   Ralph W. Berkey (The Woodthrush) also knew. In his poem “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” he wrote these lines:

The shepherds say to themselves,
“Let us go toward Bethlehem
And find Mary and Joseph, her husband,
And in an ox trough
The Christ Child.”

   And John Birmelin knew too. In his poem “Christ Child” he wrote:

Christ Child in diapers,
A bed of straw;
How the stars shine
So happily from the sky.
The angels hover
Around the hut and sing
Of the child born
To bring peace;
Happy and joyful,
Christmas is here.

   Yes, it is certainly true: “Grischtkindel” means Jesus Christ!

   Now tell me, dear readers, what does the word “Grischtkindel” mean? In his poem, “A Letter to Santa Claus” Solly Hulsbuck (as you already know, Harvey Miller) once wrote that he wants a little wheelbarrow for Christmas, that his sister Till wants to have a beau, that his mommy wants a new Bible, and also:

A corn-cob pipe and smoking tobacco,
   That would tickle daddy for sure,
Then we’ll all have presents here,
   And it’ll make a load for your deer-sleigh.

   And Boonastiel (yes, you’re right, Thomas Harter) once wrote in his piece entitled “Buying Presents”:

   Can you think back to the days when we little boys were together? At that time mommy gave each one of us a handful of chestnuts, and backed a horse shaped cookie/cake or two. How we used to be satisfied with our presents.”

   Yes, it is certainly true: “Grischtkindel” means a gift/present, a Christmas gift/present!

   But Henry Harbaugh once wrote a poem “The Grischtkindel” (no, no translation yet), and in this poem Grischtkindel is not Jesus Christ and also not a present. Next week we’ll find out!

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf