Mitteilungen A publication of the Sacramento Turn Verein German-American Cultural Center - Library

Volume XIX, No. 2 , May, June 2020 Adieu, Shirley! Rest in peace! Our own Shirley Riemer left us on March 31, 2020. A Turn Verein member since 2004, and a GACC-L member for much longer than that, many of us remember her as a tireless advocate and volunteer for the library, the school, and the Turn Verein, but few may know how accomplished a women she was. “No” or “I can’t” was not in Shirley’s vocabulary. Early childhood Polio threatened to cripple her for life. “The doctors said I would never be able to walk,” she once told me. Don’t tell Shirley she can’t do something! Her entire life she walked with difficulty, but she did walk! I believe her determination and stamina were a result of that experience. Shirley’s craft was the English language. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh she earned her Master’s Degree in the English language from Carnegie Mellon University. Degrees in Shirley had several obsessions: One was opera. hand, she taught English at Penn Hill High School When I knew her she would disappear to New York in Pittsburgh, PA for ten years, until a job offer City for a week every year at the beginning of opera lured her to Harrisburg where she served in the season to binge on opera. “One a day” was her goal, Communications Division of the Pennsylvania sometimes two. Another obsession was newspapers. State Education Association. There she worked in Life without the New York Times, which she read publications, and in parent-teacher relations during from cover to cover daily, was unthinkable to her. teacher negotiations. After retirement she accepted During our travels in the first order of an offer to work as Director of Communications for business every day was the hunt for a copy of the the California State Teachers Association, which Times Herald and oh the horror if she couldn’t fortunately for us all, brought her to Sacramento in procure one. 1987. Continued on page 11

The Sacramento Turn Verein’s German-American Cultural Center is dedicated to preserving the same proud German heritage that was instrumental in the founding of the Sacramento Turn Verein in 1854. The Sacramento Turn Verein, a member of the German-American Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, meets in the old “Turner Hall,” at 3349 J Street in Sacramento where its German-American library is housed. Visitors are welcome. April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library Frühling/Spring Traditions

Spring…Frühling…a season that rejoices and full moon following the spring equinox. revels in new life, in blossoming flowers, emerging Some etymologists have traced the English word crops, chirping birds, baby animals, and in a sun “” and the German “Ostern” to the same that warms body and soul after a cold winter. In language root in Old Germanic, “Austro” or , throughout millennia, more traditions have “Ausro,” meaning “Morgenröte,” referring to a evolved in Spring than in other seasons. Many red morning sky. Others believe that the tradition rituals practiced by pre-Christian people, or pagans, derived from the pagan festival of Ostara and the were assimilated into Christian practices. New Anglo-Saxon spring goddess “Eostra” in . customs emerged In the area around to combine with Köln (Cologne), old traditions and as well as in the eventually became northwestern part an intrinsic part of of Germany where society. Some of Plattdeutsch (low the major traditions German) is spoken, are presented here, the Aramaic term as gleaned from of “Pascha” is still various sources on used. the internet and in books. Several customs and symbols are Spring officially starts with the vernal, or spring associated with Easter, such as the rabbit and the equinox around March 20-21. One of the first rites egg. The Easter rabbit wasn’t mentioned in German of Spring is the Christian celebration of Easter, areas until 1678, and not until the early 1900s did which always falls on the first Sunday after the first people begin to refer to egg-laying rabbits. Before that time, other animals were tasked with this job in Mitteilungen various areas: a cuckoo bird, a fox, a stork, or most Quarterly newsletter of the Sacramento Turn Verein’s commonly, a so-called Easter bird. Children believed German-American Cultural Center - Library that these birds flew to Rome on Gründonnerstag 3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 (Maundy, or Holy Thursday), fetched the eggs, and flew back on Karsamstag (Holy Saturday), German-American Cultural Center - Library dropping the eggs randomly in gardens and fields OFFICERS: for the children to seek on Easter Sunday morning. President: Olaavi Solander; Secretary: Susan Pelz; Treasurer: Peter Peterson; Publicity: Carlos Miró; It is also usual in Germany to hide several eggs Programs: Committee; Membership: Pat Rogers; together in an Easter “nest.” Gradually, the religious Librarian: Uli Pelz; Historian: Helga Hecht; celebration of Easter became commercialized so STV Representative: TBA that there are now tasty chocolate rabbits and eggs.

EDITORIAL STAFF Regional Easter customs include blessing certain Ingeborg Carpenter foods in parts of Austria called “Fleischweihe” Susan Pelz (blessing of meat, such as traditional Easter ham Markus Geissler special sausages, tongue). Playing “Eierpecken” is quite popular: participants each hold a decorated, Volume XIX, No. 2 hard-boiled egg in their fist so that either the round Page 2 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020

bottom or pointed tip is showing, then two players the form of glowing tongues. In some areas there tap first one end or tip and then the other—the are “Pentecost Horsemen” and associated games, unscathed egg wins! probably stemming from antique Rome military Another favorite custom is the Osterfeuer (Easter practices. Fire), when an effigy of winter is burned on a pyre. Between Easter and Pentecost other fascinating This practice emerged from the Christian practice customs include Walpurgisnacht, the Dance into of gathering outside a church on Holy Saturday and May, and the Maibaum (Maypole), all at the end lighting a small fire to burn the holy oils from the of April or beginning of May. Walpurgisnacht, also previous year. From this fire, the priest blesses the known as Hexenbrennen (the burning of witches) Easter candle as a personification of Christ as the began as a for St. Walburga, an English light of the world and carries it into the darkened Benedictine nun, whose monk brother, a missionary church. This practice has evolved into a favorite in eighth century Germany, requested that she join Holy Saturday practice among the populace. their mission of converting pagans. She eventually The fires have become popular social gatherings, became abbess at a of nuns and accompanied by grill specialties and beer. A fire monks in Heidenheim, Germany, and was declared truck and firemen a saint on May 1, are always present, 860. Soon after and nowadays her death in 779, usually a permit people confused her must be issued memory with that and the number of Waldborg, a pre- of fires allowed Christian fertility has been reduced goddess. On due to possible air Walpurgis Night, pollution, among the eve of May 1, other concerns. witches are believed Variations on this to rendezvous in practice include the Harz mountains a huge three-day on the famous celebration after Blocksberg Easter (sponsored mountain, popularly by the old guilds) known as the in Zürich called Sechseläuten, or Sächsilüüt. It . The nine culminates in the burning of a huge snowman (the days before this wild night are known locally as Böög) filled with fireworks in downtown Zürich, as Walpurgistage, or “Walpern,” when the bells ring to merchant guild members ride their Arabian horses ward off witches. around the fire. (Many bets are placed on how Many Walpurgis rites have survived in peasant long it will take for the head of the snowman to customs—e.g., one can protect property through explode!) One can find fascinating practices in the snapping a whip throughout the night, by laying Friesian Islands (Biikebrennen), in the Fulda region brooms out, and by bringing a Maypole into the (Hutzelfeuer), in the southern and western part of village to place before one’s love. The witches’ fire the Eifel (Hüttenbrennen or Burgbrennen). (also called the Tanz in den Mai, or May fire) is The end of Easter is fifty days after Easter Sunday celebrated throughout Germany. Once the lit fire with the celebration of Pfingsten (Pentecost), has burned down, in some areas, couples perform a when the Holy Ghost appeared to the Apostles in Maisprung (May jumping) over the fire. Continued on page 4

Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Page 3 April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library

Frühling/Spring Traditions, continued from page 3 in the day people dance around the Maibaum, as In modern times, the traditions around May 1 have is often seen performed by folk dancers. It is often little to do with burning witches or superstition and customary for villagers to raid a neighboring village, have become folk festivals. In Marburg, hundreds kidnap the Maibaum and then ask for a ransom. of people meet at the Rathaus (city hall) and begin Since the Middle Ages, it has been customary to singing exactly at midnight (singing into May). In crown the prettiest girl of an area as Maikönigin the Pfalz, the Eifel and Hunsrück (the Palatinate (May Queen), also called a Maibraut (May bride) or area) and in Saarland, youths dressed in costume a Maigräfin (May countess). After the crowning the surge through areas in groups, making noises girl would be auctioned off, and the money received (“Walpern”) and bewitching (much as might happen from the auction was given to less desirable girls at --such as moving door mats, garbage as a contribution to their dowries. There are many bins, garden items, etc.). In Austria, Bavaria, variations on this custom throughout German- Baden-Württemberg and in the Upper Lausitz often speaking lands. a Maibaum is erected in the night, or early in the Critical at this time in early June was the growth of morning and decorated with long ribbons. Later Continued on page 8 Side-by-Side Story Eine Professorenanekdote A Professor Anecdote Der berühmte Historiker Jakob Burckhardt wollte The famous historian Jakob Burckhardt never sich niemals fotografieren lassen. Aber einmal wanted to be photographed. With great difficulty his überredeten ihn seine Freunde mit großer Mühe zu friends persuaded him once to go to a photographer. einem Photographen zu gehen. Sie bereiteten alles They prepared everything very carefully and told ganz genau vor und sagten dem the photographer not to under Photographen er sollte den großen any circumstances keep the great Gelehrten auf keinen Fall warten scholar waiting. lassen. On the particular day and on An dem bestimmten Tag und time, Burckhardt came to the pünktlich zu der bestimmten photographer and said: “I have Stunde kam Burckhardt zu dem come to have my picture taken.” Photographen und sagte: „Ich komme, um mich fotografieren zu The photographer, who had lassen.“ never seen the professor, replied: Der Photograph, der den Professor “Unfortunately, this is not possible niemals gesehen hatte, antwortete: now. I am expecting a scholar of „Das ist jetzt leider nicht möglich. European fame.“ Ich erwarte nämlich einen Gelehrten “I’m sorry,” said Burckhardt, “in von europäischer Berühmtheit.“ that case I don’t want to disturb „Das tut mir leid,“ sagte Burckhardt, „aber da ich you,” went home, and never came back. will ich nicht stören,“ ging wieder nach Hause und kam nie wieder.

Page 4 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020 Famous German Authors Heinrich Böll (1917-1985)

Several of Böll’s novels and collections of short stories are available for check-out to members of the German-American Cultural Center - Library, including: • Gesammelte Erzählungen 1 (Short stories) 1981 • Gesammelte Erzählungen 2 (Short stories) 1982 • “Wanderer, kommst du nach Spa…” 1949 • “Fürsorgliche Belagerung” 1979 • “Gruppenbild mit Dame” 1971

Recently there seems to be a renewed interest in detailed personal experiences during and after World War II. The German author Heinrich Theodor Böll (1917- 1985) was one of several German writers trying to analyze the collective trauma of ordinary peoples’ struggle for survival during and after the war. This has become known as “Trümmerliteratur”, literature of the rubble. (publ. Kiepenheuer & Witsch) (publ. Kiepenheuer & Böll experienced both, war and post-war. He was born in Köln (Cologne) in 1917, was drafted into the German Army, and spent time on the Eastern and Western Front. He was wounded four times, contracted typhoid, and was finally captured by the Weisheiten American Army and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp. The war experience profoundly influenced his Allen Menschen recht getan writing. “Der Zug war pünktlich” (The train was on ist eine Kunst, die niemand kann. time) (1949) was his first novel. In 1972 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature for his collective work Pleasing everyone is an art and the novel “Gruppenbild mit Dame” (Group that is impossible to master. portrait with a Lady).

Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Page 5 April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library The Sections of the Sacramento Turn Verein - A Historical Perspective - When were they formed? Why were they formed? What role do they play? The Sacramento Turn Verein was founded in 1854 as one of 74 in the United States at that time, with the mission of educating the young to become physically, mentally, and morally sound adults. The main vehicles for accomplishing this were through gymnastics training, language education, and singing. Over the century, the STV started to sprout “Sections.” The Mitteilungen will dedicate the next several issues to featuring the various Sections of the STV.

The Active Turners As early as 1856, the STV kept a roster of “Active Turners” who participated in gymnastic exercises. The Active Turners trained under gymnastics teachers who had received their training in special “Turnerbund” (Gymnastics Federation) gymnastic schools. These Turners competed with other Turners

Turners in the Turner Hall in the late 1920s. across the nation and worldwide. Several thousand gymnasts competed in Frankfurt, Germany in 1908. Well into the 20th Century, the Turn Verein was actively offering physical education program and classes to those in the Sacramento community who wished to participate. The emphasis was on providing quality instruction and gymnastic training at a time where such recreational clubs were not commonplace.

Turners in the Turner Hall in the late 1920s. Page 6 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020

1950 Bylaws - Is this when the Actives became a Section of the Sacramento Turn Verein?

Women and girls also took gymnastics classes and participated in exercise events. Sacramento Turners did not just engage in gymnastics events and classes, but also went on social events such as the boat rides and picnicking on the Sacramento River.

Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Page 7 April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library Remember when...?

Do you remember when and where this was? Do you recognize any of these folks? Reach out to us via e-mail at [email protected].

Frühling/Spring Traditions, continued from page 8 dress parading through a village with his cattle, planted crops as well as naturally occurring bounty decked out with flower wreaths, going to higher in fields and meadows, thus people decorated country to devour rich, new grasses. wells, homes, stalls and even cars with bouquets Lastly, some advice for farmers and gardeners: Do and wreaths of flowers. In mountainous areas, the not plant anything before May 11-15, the days of the shepherds Eisheiligen (The Ice Saints: Marmertus, Pankratius, brought the Servatius and Bonifatius…and on May 15, die kalte stock (cattle, Sophie, or cold Sophie). After the threat of this cold sheep, goats) snap has passed it is safe to sow or set out certain to the “Alm”— plants. high country. Today one often sees Happy Spring! a farmer in traditional Hutzelhexen in Silges (Photo by Arthur Diebold)

Page 8 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020 Sacramento Turn Verein German Language School (GLS)

A Section of the Sacramento Turn Verein 3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 www.stv-germanlanguageschool.org [email protected]

All teachers at the STV German Language School are native German speakers, teaching German in the very midst of our “Little Germany” - the Sacramento Turn Verein. Visit our website at www.stv-germanlanguageschool.org.

German Language School News All formal GLS classroom instruction for the “Adult Spring 2020 Session” has moved to an online portal, with the exception of the cooking class. All Children’s Classes, including the new Heritage Speakers Class, were canceled. The GLS is considering a limited summer offering in June, providing the threat of COVID-19 has weakened considerably. For updates please refer to the GLS website at www.stv-germanlanguageschool.org.

GLS Scholarship Winners funded by the GLS Irmgard Schlenker Memorial Fund

Rustmann German Language & Culture Scholarship ($500; offered annually) Congratulations to Gillian Rae Gee of C.K. McClatchy High School! (Teacher: Inga Templeton) An excerpt from her essay: It has been nearly fifty years since my family immigrated to Germany (from the Philippines)…I want to become fluent enough to communicate with them. Learning German has made me more open-minded of new cultures, aware of other people, and wide-eyed in the hopes of discovering another part of the world and learning a whole new culture.

German Summer Language Study Scholarship: ($3,500; offered once every 3 years) Congratulations to Sooner A. Means! An excerpt from her essay: Learning German for me is not just about the grammar, the vocabulary or the rules of the language. It is also about the rhythm, and the feel, of the language. Learning a language is about having a respect for the culture and people who speak it. I love going to class and hearing my teacher speak German. It is so much more alive than on a video.

Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Page 9 April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library What’s Going On at the Turn Verein?

Tuesday, May 19 April 11:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Due to the Coronavirus-related restrictions the Turner Hall Wednesday, May 20 will be closed until at least April 30th. 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games For updates please visit www.sacramentoturnverein.com . 20:00 STV Member Meeting Thursday, May 21 May 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Friday, May 1 18:45 GLS Board Meeting 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Friday, May 22 Saturday, May 2 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 09:00 STV Library Open Saturday, May 23 Monday, May 4 09:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Monday, May 25 18:30 Harmonie Board Meeting 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal Tuesday, May 5 Tuesday, May 26 11:00 STV Library Open 11:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Wednesday, May 6 Wednesday, May 27 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 20:00 STV Member Meeting 19:00 STV Board Meeting Thursday, May 7 Thursday, May 28 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 19:30 GLS Member meeting 20:00 STV Actives Meeting Friday, May 8 Friday, May 29 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Saturday, May 9 Saturday, May 30 09:00 STV Library Open 09:00 STV Library Open Monday, May 11 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 17:30 Harmonie Board Meeting June Monday, June 1 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Tuesday, May 12 18:30 Harmonie Board Meeting 11:00 STV Library Open 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Tuesday, June 2 Wednesday, May 13 11:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 19:00 STV Soccer Meeting- basement Wednesday, June 3 Thursday, May 14 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 20:00 STV Member Meeting 18:00 #249 Stammtisch Thursday, June 4 18:00 STV Handball/Racquetball Membership Meeting 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 19:30 STV Library Meeting 19:30 GLS Member meeting Friday, May 15 Friday, June 5 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 19:30 GACC-L Special Program Saturday, June 6 Saturday, May 16 09:00 STV Library Open 09:00 STV Library Open Monday, June 8 Monday, May 18 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 17:30 Harmonie Board Meeting 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal

Page 10 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020

Tuesday, June 9 Adieu, Shirley Riemer, continued from page 1 11:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Her biggest obsession, though, was Germany. Wednesday, June 10 German wines, German history, German genealogy, 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games and the German people. This particular interest 19:00 STV Soccer Meeting - basement brought her to the Sacramento German Genealogy Thursday, June 11 Society when she first arrived in Sacramento, and 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 18:00 GLS Stammtisch to our Turn Verein. She became the publicist for 18:00 STV Handball/Racquetball Membership Meeting both organizations as soon as given permission 19:30 STV Library Meeting and brought both organization’s publications and Friday, June 12 publicity efforts up to her very high standards. 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games For the genealogy society Saturday, June 13 09:00 STV Library Open she turned an eight-page Monday, June 15 newsletter into the 48-page 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games national award winning 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal journal Der Blumenbaum, Tuesday, June 16 and the Turn Verein enjoyed 11:00 STV Library Open 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games her efforts in the form of Wednesday, June 17 Mitteilungen. She created 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games many other publicity pieces, 20:00 STV Member Meeting too numerous to mention. Shirley Riemer Thursday, June 18 Along the way she managed to coauthor two highly 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games 18:45 GLS Board Meeting regarded fact books on German Genealogy: the Friday, June 19 German Research Companion, in its third edition, 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games and Researching in Germany, in its second edition. 19:30 GACC-L Special Program Saturday, June 20 Shirley made many friends in her life, all of whom 09:00 STV Library Open respected her greatly. Wherever we traveled Monday, June 22 together, whether in the U.S. or Europe, people 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games knew and admired Shirley, and couldn’t wait to talk 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal to her. Tuesday, June 23 11:00 STV Library Open On a personal note: Let me share another amazing 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games fact. Since Shirley did not possess great physical Wednesday, June 24 strength, she was forced to be a minimalist traveler. 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games All necessities, even for a 4-week trip to Germany, 19:00 STV Board Meeting Thursday, June 25 had to fit into a carry-on size suitcase. Pens, papers, 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games and notebooks, her glasses and her camera were 20:00 STV Actives Meeting priority items. Everything else was superfluous, Friday, June 26 except the curling iron--Shirley never traveled 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games without it. Saturday, June 27 09:00 STV Library Open She held two strong personal convictions: 1. “We Monday, June 29 only go around once, therefore we have a duty to 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games contribute along the way.” And 2. “Never talk about 19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal Tuesday, June 30 yourself unless dragged into court to testify under 11:00 STV Library Open oath.” 16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games Adieu Shirley! You left a great void, and you are greatly missed! Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com Page 11 April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library Sacramento Turn Verein First Class German-American Cultural Center - Library U.S. Postage 3349 J Street PAID Sacramento, CA 95816 Sacramento, CA Permit No. 1315

Komm mit zum Turn Verein!

Check back here for upcoming events at the Turner Hall in the next edition of Mitteilungen!

Keep up with Sacramento Turn Verein events at www.sacramentoturnverein.com.

Want to learn more about German traditions and ways of life? You can help keep such memories alive by joining and participating in the activities of the German-American Cultural Center - Library. Membership is only $15 per year. To join, send your check for $15, payable to “GACC-L” to GACC–Library, Sacramento Turn Verein, 3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. We meet at 7:30 PM on the second Thursday of each month in the Turn Verein Library. Welcome! Join us!

GERMAN-AMERICAN CuLTuRAL CENTER - LIbRARy Library Hours: Tuesdays 10 AM to 2 PM and Saturdays 9 AM to 1 PM Telephone: 916-442-7360; E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://sacramentoturnverein.com/turn-verein-sections/cultural-centerlibrary/

Page 12 Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com