last night(7 may) my sister was staying at an Inn inBad Honningen in Germany
when she was awakened at 2:30am by a mass of torch bearing youngsters, chanting something in the street.
she found it a little bit scary, but she did not think it was a pogrom, or anything Fuhrer related…
she fled the town at first light the next morning before she could ask what the hub bub was about…our google-fu has not yet helped us find what the event was about
do any of you guys know what was going on?
My guess would be something to do with this:
It was likely because of the Winzerfest (err… vintner festival?); that’s happening today, and at least last September was opened by a torch procession. (“Freitags wird das Fest mit einem Fackelzug zum Weindorf […] eröffnet” = “On Friday, the festival is opened with a torch procession to the Weindorf (wine village)”)
Is there a mad scientist in a spooky castle nearby?
Pentecoast this year is in two weeks, so not likely.
Lol, the "she fled the town at first light the next morning " made me think of that instantly.
But more with her as the misunderstood humanist.
Your sister can calm down, it was only the traditional May procession of Bad Hönningen’s bachelor’s club (“Junggesellenverein 1829 e.V.”). Here’s their event schedule. Btw., your sister missed out on a good opportunity to witness some clean good old German rural entertainment, as the procession ended in the club’s resident pub “Lindenwirtin”, “where the entrance was free and all citizens of Bad Hönningen and guests were warmly welcomed”.
Too late to edit: I just saw that your sister was awakened at 2:30am, so let me correct myself: it was not the traditional May procession, but I strongly assume the drunken aftermath of it and the following May ball in the “Lindenwirtin”. Still harmless.
with the torches? :eek:
What do they do, give the guests tunica molestas?
Torch processions are an old tradition on a variety of occasions; the Nazis abused this tradition like many others and twisted them so much that I do understand that someone might have some qualms with them.
But in case your sister hasn’t noticed: it’s the year 2011, we don’t burn witches any longer and books neither and any monster created in some lab is nowadays a welcome tax payer. And though I must admit that Neonazis do exist, they are a fringe group who are not about to take over the government and capture tourists.
Now you tell me!?
If you had bothered to read the German Ecological Awareness Act of 2009 by Baron Münchhausen, you’d know that witches produce so much greenhouse gases while ablaze that it was simply irresponsible to continue this tradition. Yes, there are voices that question the moratorium, just like our last dragons still oppose the catalytic converters shoved into their snouts, but I do agree that it is for the best, despite the disappointment of the tourists from beyond the sea.
I know, I know, we should at the very least cater for some good old book burnings by some horde but, well, see above; besides even the hordes can’t be bothered with books while TV is on and the Eurovision Song Contest is gearing up.
I suppose you’re leaving it up to us, then???
Best wishes,
hh
It’s just drunken young men waving open flames – what’s she so worried about!?
I think we need clarification on what is meant by “torch” in this thread. “Torch” in the American English sense of the word = flaming rags soaked in pitch atop a stick. “Torch” in the Queen’s English sense of the word = flashlight.
“Torch” can mean both things in British English, and in contexts such as “torch-bearing mob” it would mean the flaming stick kind of torch.
Torches used for such events in Germany look like this and this - wax plus wick on a small staff.
But the idea of a bunch young drunk brits wandering around Germany waving little flashlights in a case of bad wordplay is pretty funny…
And once again, time-honored Teutonic traditions succumb to political correctness… :mad:
The Kaiser would never have approved of these shenanigans!
