sacramento turn verein german-american cultural center...

MitteilungenA publication of the

Sacramento Turn Verein German-American Cultural Center - Library

Volume XIX, No. 2 April, May, June 2020

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.

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 hand, she taught English at Penn Hill High School in Pittsburgh, PA for ten years, until a job offer lured her to Harrisburg where she served in the Communications Division of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. There she worked in publications, and in parent-teacher relations during teacher negotiations. After retirement she accepted an offer to work as Director of Communications for the California State Teachers Association, which fortunately for us all, brought her to Sacramento in 1987.

Shirley had several obsessions: One was opera. When I knew her she would disappear to New York City for a week every year at the beginning of opera season to binge on opera. “One a day” was her goal, sometimes two. Another obsession was newspapers. Life without the New York Times, which she read from cover to cover daily, was unthinkable to her. During our travels in Germany the first order of business every day was the hunt for a copy of the Times Herald and oh the horror if she couldn’t procure one.

Continued on page 11

April, May, June 2020 Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library

Sacramento Turn Verein, www.sacramentoturnverein.com

MitteilungenQuarterly newsletter of the Sacramento Turn Verein’s

German-American Cultural Center - Library3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816

German-American Cultural Center - Library OFFICERS:

President: Olaavi Solander; Secretary: Susan Pelz; Treasurer: Peter Peterson; Publicity: Carlos Miró; Programs: Committee; Membership: Pat Rogers;

Librarian: Uli Pelz; Historian: Helga Hecht; STV Representative: TBA

EDITORIAL STAFFIngeborg Carpenter

Susan PelzMarkus Geissler

Volume XIX, No. 2

Frühling/Spring TraditionsSpring…Frühling…a season that rejoices and revels in new life, in blossoming flowers, emerging crops, chirping birds, baby animals, and in a sun that warms body and soul after a cold winter. In Europe, throughout millennia, more traditions have evolved in Spring than in other seasons. Many rituals practiced by pre-Christian people, or pagans, were assimilated into Christian practices. New customs emerged to combine with old traditions and eventually became an intrinsic part of society. Some of the major traditions are presented here, as gleaned from various sources on the internet and in books.Spring officially starts with the vernal, or spring equinox around March 20-21. One of the first rites of Spring is the Christian celebration of Easter, which always falls on the first Sunday after the first

full moon following the spring equinox.Some etymologists have traced the English word “Easter” and the German “Ostern” to the same language root in Old Germanic, “Austro” or “Ausro,” meaning “Morgenröte,” referring to a red morning sky. Others believe that the tradition derived from the pagan festival of Ostara and the Anglo-Saxon spring goddess “Eostra” in England.

In the area around Köln (Cologne), as well as in the northwestern part of Germany where Plattdeutsch (low German) is spoken, the Aramaic term of “Pascha” is still used.Several customs and symbols are

associated with Easter, such as the rabbit and the egg. The Easter rabbit wasn’t mentioned in German areas until 1678, and not until the early 1900s did people begin to refer to egg-laying rabbits. Before that time, other animals were tasked with this job in various areas: a cuckoo bird, a fox, a stork, or most commonly, a so-called Easter bird. Children believed that these birds flew to Rome on Gründonnerstag (Maundy, or Holy Thursday), fetched the eggs, and flew back on Karsamstag (Holy Saturday), dropping the eggs randomly in gardens and fields for the children to seek on Easter Sunday morning. It is also usual in Germany to hide several eggs together in an Easter “nest.” Gradually, the religious celebration of Easter became commercialized so that there are now tasty chocolate rabbits and eggs.Regional Easter customs include blessing certain foods in parts of Austria called “Fleischweihe” (blessing of meat, such as traditional Easter ham special sausages, tongue). Playing “Eierpecken” is quite popular: participants each hold a decorated, hard-boiled egg in their fist so that either the round

Mitteilungen, German-American Cultural Center - Library April, May, June 2020


bottom or pointed tip is showing, then two players tap first one end or tip and then the other—the unscathed egg wins!Another favorite custom is the Osterfeuer (Easter Fire), when an effigy of winter is burned on a pyre. This practice emerged from the Christian practice of gathering outside a church on Holy Saturday and lighting a small fire to burn the holy oils from the previous year. From this fire, the priest blesses the Easter candle as a personification of Christ as the light of the world and carries it into the darkened church. This practice has evolved into a favorite Holy Saturday practice among the populace. The fires have become popular social gatherings, accompanied by grill specialties and beer. A fire truck and firemen are always present, and nowadays usually a permit must be issued and the number of fires allowed has been reduced due to possible air pollution, among other concerns.Variations on this practice include a huge three-day celebration after Easter (sponsored by the old guilds) in Zürich called Sechseläuten, or Sächsilüüt. It culminates in the burning of a huge snowman (the Böög) filled with fireworks in downtown Zürich, as merchant guild members ride their Arabian horses around the fire. (Many bets are placed on how long it will take for the head of the snowman to explode!) One can find fascinating practices in the Friesian Islands (Biikebrennen), in the Fulda region (Hutzelfeuer), in the southern and western part of the Eifel (Hüttenbrennen or Burgbrennen).The end of Easter is fifty days after Easter Sunday with the celebration of Pfingsten (Pentecost), when the Holy Ghost appeared to the Apostles in

the form of glowing tongues. In some areas there are “Pentecost Horsemen” and associated games, probably stemming from antique Rome military practices.Between Easter and Pentecost other fascinating customs include Walpurgisnacht, the Dance into May, and the Maibaum (Maypole), all at the end of April or beginning of May. Walpurgisnacht, also known as Hexenbrennen (the burning of witches) began as a vigil for St. Walburga, an English Benedictine nun, whose monk brother, a missionary in eighth century Germany, requested that she join their mission of converting pagans. She eventually became abbess at a double monastery of nuns and monks in Heidenheim, Germany, and was declared

a saint on May 1, 860. Soon after her death in 779, people confused her memory with that of Waldborg, a pre-Christian fertility goddess. On Walpurgis Night, the eve of May 1, witches are believed to rendezvous in the Harz mountains on the famous Blocksberg mountain, popularly known as the Brocken. The nine

days before this wild night are known locally as Walpurgistage, or “Walpern,” when the bells ring to ward off witches.Many Walpurgis rites have survived in peasant customs—e.g., one can protect property through snapping a whip throughout the night, by laying brooms out, and by bringing a Maypole into the village to place before one’s love. The witches’ fire (also called the Tanz in den Mai, or May fire) is celebrated throughout Germany. Once the lit fire has burned down, in some areas, couples perform a Maisprung (May jumping) over the fire.

Continued on page 4



Side-by-Side StoryEine Professorenanekdote

Der berühmte Historiker Jakob Burckhardt wollte sich niemals fotografieren lassen. Aber einmal überredeten ihn seine Freunde mit großer Mühe zu einem Photographen zu gehen. Sie bereiteten alles ganz genau vor und sagten dem Photographen er sollte den großen Gelehrten auf keinen Fall warten lassen.An dem bestimmten Tag und pünktlich zu der bestimmten Stunde kam Burckhardt zu dem Photographen und sagte: „Ich komme, um mich fotografieren zu lassen.“ Der Photograph, der den Professor niemals gesehen hatte, antwortete: „Das ist jetzt leider nicht möglich. Ich erwarte nämlich einen Gelehrten von europäischer Berühmtheit.“„Das tut mir leid,“ sagte Burckhardt, „aber da ich will ich nicht stören,“ ging wieder nach Hause und kam nie wieder.

A Professor AnecdoteThe famous historian Jakob Burckhardt never wanted to be photographed. With great difficulty his friends persuaded him once to go to a photographer. They prepared everything very carefully and told

the photographer not to under any circumstances keep the great scholar waiting.On the particular day and on time, Burckhardt came to the photographer and said: “I have come to have my picture taken.”

The photographer, who had never seen the professor, replied: “Unfortunately, this is not possible now. I am expecting a scholar of European fame.““I’m sorry,” said Burckhardt, “in that case I don’t want to disturb

you,” went home, and never came back.

In modern times, the traditions around May 1 have little to do with burning witches or superstition and have become folk festivals. In Marburg, hundreds of people meet at the Rathaus (city hall) and begin singing exactly at midnight (singing into May). In the Pfalz, the Eifel and Hunsrück (the Palatinate area) and in Saarland, youths dressed in costume surge through areas in groups, making noises (“Walpern”) and bewitching (much as might happen at Halloween--such as moving door mats, garbage bins, garden items, etc.). In Austria, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and in the Upper Lausitz often a Maibaum is erected in the night, or early in the morning and decorated with long ribbons. Later

in the day people dance around the Maibaum, as is often seen performed by folk dancers. It is often customary for villagers to raid a neighboring village, kidnap the Maibaum and then ask for a ransom.Since the Middle Ages, it has been customary to crown the prettiest girl of an area as Maikönigin(May Queen), also called a Maibraut (May bride) or a Maigräfin (May countess). After the crowning the girl would be auctioned off, and the money received from the auction was given to less desirable girls as a contribution to their dowries. There are many variations on this custom throughout German-speaking lands.Critical at this time in early June was the growth of

Frühling/Spring Traditions, continued from page 3

Continued on page 8



WeisheitenAllen Menschen recht getan

ist eine Kunst, die niemand kann.

Pleasing everyone is an art that is impossible to master.

Famous German Authors

Heinrich Böll (1917-1985)

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.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 American Army and sent to a prisoner-of-war camp.The war experience profoundly influenced his writing. “Der Zug war pünktlich” (The train was on time) (1949) was his first novel. In 1972 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature for his collective work and the novel “Gruppenbild mit Dame” (Group portrait with a Lady).

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

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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 TurnersAs 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

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 German language 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.

Turners in the Turner Hall in the late 1920s.



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

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.

Women and girls also took gymnastics classes and participated in exercise events.



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

planted crops as well as naturally occurring bounty in fields and meadows, thus people decorated wells, homes, stalls and even cars with bouquets and wreaths of flowers. In mountainous areas, the shepherds brought the stock (cattle, sheep, goats) to the “Alm”—high country. Today one often sees a farmer in traditional

dress parading through a village with his cattle, decked out with flower wreaths, going to higher country to devour rich, new grasses.Lastly, some advice for farmers and gardeners: Do not plant anything before May 11-15, the days of the Eisheiligen (The Ice Saints: Marmertus, Pankratius, Servatius and Bonifatius…and on May 15, die kalte Sophie, or cold Sophie). After the threat of this cold snap has passed it is safe to sow or set out certain plants.

Happy Spring!Hutzelhexen in Silges (Photo by Arthur Diebold)



A Section of the Sacramento Turn Verein3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95816www.stv-germanlanguageschool.org

[email protected]

Sacramento Turn Verein German Language School (GLS)

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 NewsAll 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 Winnersfunded 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.



What’s Going On at the Turn Verein?AprilDue to the Coronavirus-related restrictions the Turner Hall will be closed until at least April 30th. For updates please visit www.sacramentoturnverein.com .

MayFriday, May 1

16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court gamesSaturday, May 2

09:00 STV Library OpenMonday, May 4

16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:30 Harmonie Board Meeting19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal

Tuesday, May 511:00 STV Library Open16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games

Wednesday, May 616:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Member Meeting

Thursday, May 716:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 GLS Member meeting

Friday, May 816:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games

Saturday, May 909:00 STV Library Open

Monday, May 1116:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games17:30 Harmonie Board Meeting19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal


Wednesday, May 1316:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:00 STV Soccer Meeting- basement

Thursday, May 1416:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:00 #249 Stammtisch18:00 STV Handball/Racquetball Membership Meeting19:30 STV Library Meeting

Friday, May 1516:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 GACC-L Special Program


Monday, May 1816:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal


Wednesday, May 2016:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Member Meeting

Thursday, May 2116:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:45 GLS Board Meeting



Monday, May 2516:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal


Wednesday, May 2716:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:00 STV Board Meeting

Thursday, May 2816:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Actives Meeting



JuneMonday, June 1

16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:30 Harmonie Board Meeting19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal

Tuesday, June 211:00 STV Library Open16:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games

Wednesday, June 316:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Member Meeting

Thursday, June 416:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 GLS Member meeting

Friday, June 516:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games

Saturday, June 609:00 STV Library Open

Monday, June 816:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games17:30 Harmonie Board Meeting19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal




Wednesday, June 1016:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:00 STV Soccer Meeting - basement

Thursday, June 1116:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:00 GLS Stammtisch18:00 STV Handball/Racquetball Membership Meeting19:30 STV Library Meeting



Monday, June 1516:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 STV Harmonie Rehearsal


Wednesday, June 1716:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Member Meeting

Thursday, June 1816:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games18:45 GLS Board Meeting

Friday, June 1916:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:30 GACC-L Special Program




Wednesday, June 2416:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games19:00 STV Board Meeting

Thursday, June 2516:00 STV Handball/Racquetball court games20:00 STV Actives Meeting





Her biggest obsession, though, was Germany. German wines, German history, German genealogy, and the German people. This particular interest brought her to the Sacramento German Genealogy Society when she first arrived in Sacramento, and to our Turn Verein. She became the publicist for both organizations as soon as given permission and brought both organization’s publications and publicity efforts up to her very high standards. For the genealogy society she turned an eight-page newsletter into the 48-page national award winning journal Der Blumenbaum, and the Turn Verein enjoyed her efforts in the form of Mitteilungen. She created many other publicity pieces, too numerous to mention. Along the way she managed to coauthor two highly regarded fact books on German Genealogy: the German Research Companion, in its third edition, and Researching in Germany, in its second edition.Shirley made many friends in her life, all of whom respected her greatly. Wherever we traveled together, whether in the U.S. or Europe, people knew and admired Shirley, and couldn’t wait to talk to her.On a personal note: Let me share another amazing fact. Since Shirley did not possess great physical strength, she was forced to be a minimalist traveler. All necessities, even for a 4-week trip to Germany, had to fit into a carry-on size suitcase. Pens, papers, and notebooks, her glasses and her camera were priority items. Everything else was superfluous, except the curling iron--Shirley never traveled without it.She held two strong personal convictions: 1. “We only go around once, therefore we have a duty to contribute along the way.” And 2. “Never talk about yourself unless dragged into court to testify under oath.”

Adieu Shirley! You left a great void, and you are greatly missed!

Adieu, Shirley Riemer, continued from page 1

Shirley Riemer



First ClassU.S. Postage

PAIDSacramento, CAPermit No. 1315

Sacramento Turn VereinGerman-American Cultural Center - Library3349 J StreetSacramento, CA 95816

Komm mit zum Turn Verein!

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 - LIbRARyLibrary 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/

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

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

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