Kowelenzer
Originale
(Koblenz
Originals)
In this blog we are going to write about the so called 'Kowelenzer Originale' which can be translated as 'Koblenz originals'.
Koblenz, the city we study at has many interesting personalities to offer.
We will present you six of them who managed to stay in mind and who are being displayed in the form of statues all over the city.
- Dat Schängelsche
Probably
the most famous of all these statues is 'dat Schängelsche' (nickname
for any young boy) which does not actually represent a person who has
once lived but is dedicated to a local writer.
The
term 'Schängel' has its origin in the 1920's. Primarily, it was used
to describe children from german women descended from french men.
Back then, the most current names were 'Hans' or 'Johann', or 'Jean'
in the french way. German people had troubles with pronouncing
'Jean', thus it ended up being called 'Schang'.
Once
in a while, it was transformed to 'Schängel' which initially was
considered as an insult. However, nowadays 'Schängel' is an
honorific title and every man born in Koblenz is proudly engaged to
call him- or herself a 'Schängel'. Frequently, they even add a
belittlement and make it 'Schängelche'.
The
famous Schängelfountain is dedicated to the poet Josef Cornelius
(1794-1814). Obviously, this monument will always remind us of the
Schängel's jokes and, of course, the vitality of Koblenz' townsmen.
Another
popular reminder is the Koblenzer national anthem 'Dat Kowelenzer
Schängelche'. Only to get an impression of it, we will show you a
small part of it:
'Et
es bekannt doch iwweral,
Et
waiß och jedes Kend,
Dat
närjens en der ganze Welt
Die
Schängelcher mer fend
Als
hei bei ons am Deutsche Eck,
Wo
seit uralter Zeit
Dat
Kowelenzer Schängelche
Am
allerbest' gedeiht.
Et
es vur kainem bang
On
singt sei Lewe lang:
(Chorus)
E
lustig Kowelenzer Schängelche ich sein,
Gedaaft
mit Rhein- on Musselwasser on met Wein,
Gesond
an Herz, an Lewer on der Lung,
On
sein och meiner Modder allerbeste Jung …..'
- Das Pfefferminzje ( the peppermint)
Annemarie
Stein was her civil name. Her nickname ‘Pfefferminzje’ occurred
because she sold peppermints for subsistence. Clearly, she had a
sassy mouth as she set out to old pubs every evening in case to get
her snifters and cigars, which she favored to smoke.
Moreover,
it is rumored that at Christmastime she went gratefully to the crib
at the ‘Liebfrauenchurch’ and thanked Jesus for all the snifters
and cigars. Her gratitude was heard by the sexton who then answered
with manipulated voice: ’Does it compulsively have to be hard
liquor? Can’t it just be water?’ Thereupon the Pfefferminzje
ranted and raved and abused the child in the crib: ‘What does a
rugrat like you know about the needs of an old woman?’
Another
aspect of her manner was that she danced and sang after her fictive
role-model Queen of Saba. At carnival sessions she inspired with her
poetry skill. The Pfefferminzje passed away last war.
- Dä lange Gummi (the tall gum)
'Dä
lange Gummi', his real name Peter Schneider, once was a hawker who
walked from door to door trying to sell braces, laces and newspapers.
His admittedly funny name comes from a certain diesease he suffered
from; a form of neuropathy which affected his way of walking, causing
strange looking movements of his limbs. People were reminded of
caoutchouc and therefore named him 'the tall gum'.
- Spitals Andun
'Spitals
Andun' became famous because of a certain habit/or even ritual he
used to cultivate each year on his name day.
He
would walk through the city with cardboard boxes and cigarette packs
under his arms, his hat beautifully decorated with ribbons and
flowers seizing the day. Everyone knew him and especially the young
shoutet at him in acknoledgement so that his name day turned out to
be a festive event.
- Dat Blemersch Klär – Mrs Ringelstein
Mrs
Ringelstein represents a typical market-woman; one of those who kept
squatting at her stand all day hoping to sell her goods (mostly
vegetables) but always managed to keep a smile on her face. Also she
mothered the soldiers providing food and beverages.
- Dä reche Henrich (the crispy Henry)
...is
seemingly the most popular original in Koblenz.
As
the grandson of Blemersch Klär his profession was being a shoemaker.
Henrys favorite trick was to alert the 8th battalion. According to
this, as an ancient reel he pretended to tramp the general march
through Koblenz whereupon every citizen assembled at the place of the
plea. For such jokes his penalties were six weeks under strict
arrest.
Furthermore,
Henry was very favored by the ‘Schängelcher’ because he tramped
the general march drumming and bumbling through the streets with
boldfaced bloated cheeks. Those endued him with the song ‘....Resch,
Resch, Resch Eise eß kai Blech Blech eß kai Eise datt wolle mer
demm Resch beweise ....‘.
Whether
producing boots with heels on the front for the prison wardens'
daughter or ringing the master shoemaker out of bed in the middle of
the night only to ascertain if he is wearing his cylinder even while
sleeping, Henry was always the man for jokes.
As
there were lots of rumors about crispy Henry, the Lord mayor Lottner
threatened him with workhouse in case he would not change his
lifestyle. Obviously, his answer was of naughty nature : 'Herr
Owerbergermeister, glawe Sie denn alles, watt su gefaselt wird? Von
Inne hiert mer och su allerhand munkele ... Awer ich glawe su ebbes
alles nett, von Inne nett.', which means ' Mister Lord mayor, do you
really believe everything that is maundered? There are lots of rumors
said about you too...but I do not believe in such stuff, not about
you.'
Everytime we walk through the city and see those statues we get reminded of their impressing and funny stories. Koblenz can be glad to have them!
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