Happy June to all my friends and readers
New Calendar picture with this
beautiful watercolour painting by Frank Koebsch
"Abends am Strand von Kühlungsborn"
"In the evening on the beach in Kühlungsborn"
If this isn't an incentive to go to the sea, I don't know what is. Sitting in such a lovely beach chair and looking at a beautiful sundown, brilliant!
* * *
The official name in Low German is "Broakmaond"or "Braakmaand", depending how they spell it in the area. "Broak" means Fallow, when you leave arable without sowing for a vegetative cycle so that the land and relax and recover. And "Maond", of course, means moon or month.
There are no official holidays in Germany in June. Of course, sometimes Pentecost falls into June and then there is Corpus Christi but it's not a day where people are given time off work.
We used to celebrate the 17th of June as German Unity Day before reunification. In 1953, there was an uprising in the German Democratic Republic because people were dissatisfied with the rulers (and they had every right to be). It was put down by the German People's Police with the aid of Soviet troups and many people died, officially 55 but who knows how many were hushed up. In the following year, the day was declared "Day of German Unity" and celebrated in the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. the Western part of the country until 1990. Since then, we celebrate it on the day of reunification, 3rd of October.
* * *
Of course, that doesn't mean we can't celebrate. Many villages and towns have their "Schützenfest" (shooters festival) in June. Guys in hunter's uniforms get together and shoot targets. The best shooter is the king for the year. And they hold a parade with the king and queen from last year and their whole court, shooters from neighbouring villages, but also marching bands.
But for most participants, it's just a way of getting together. Smaller villages might just have a tent where you can drink beer, a shooting gallery, so men can shoot a flower for their beloved, a sweets booth and a carousel, larger towns often have several festivals in the separate communities or a large one with lots of attractions. The largest Schützenfest of all is in Hannover in the capital of Lower Saxony (my state) with over 200 booths and attractions and around 10,000 shooters plus 150.000 to 300.00 visitors every year. The second largest takes place in our town. Here are 2.800 active shooters. Of course, due to Corona, the festival couldn't take place last year and again this year. All the fans hope that it will take place in 2022 again.
When I was little, we were always looking forward to the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul on the 29th of June because that was usually the time when the blueberries were ripe and we could go into the forest to gather them.
* * *
Weather lore (or farmers' rule) for June:
Menschensinn und Juniwind ändern sich oft sehr geschwind.
Human senses and June winds often change very quickly
Das Wetter am Siebenschläfertag sieben Wochen bleiben mag.
The weather on dormouse day may stay seven weeks. (June 27th is dormouse day)
The weather is getting better again, we had some wet spells in between but nothing too serious or too cold.
I wish you all well.
* * *
Have a happy June with this beautiful watercolour painting by Frank Koebsch. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
You can find many more wonderful pictures on their website here.
You can also have a look under my labels Artist: Frank Koebsch and Artist: Hanka Koebsch where you can find all my posts about them.
New Calendar picture with this
beautiful watercolour painting by Frank Koebsch
"Abends am Strand von Kühlungsborn"
"In the evening on the beach in Kühlungsborn"
If this isn't an incentive to go to the sea, I don't know what is. Sitting in such a lovely beach chair and looking at a beautiful sundown, brilliant!
* * *
The official name in Low German is "Broakmaond"or "Braakmaand", depending how they spell it in the area. "Broak" means Fallow, when you leave arable without sowing for a vegetative cycle so that the land and relax and recover. And "Maond", of course, means moon or month.
There are no official holidays in Germany in June. Of course, sometimes Pentecost falls into June and then there is Corpus Christi but it's not a day where people are given time off work.
We used to celebrate the 17th of June as German Unity Day before reunification. In 1953, there was an uprising in the German Democratic Republic because people were dissatisfied with the rulers (and they had every right to be). It was put down by the German People's Police with the aid of Soviet troups and many people died, officially 55 but who knows how many were hushed up. In the following year, the day was declared "Day of German Unity" and celebrated in the Federal Republic of Germany, i.e. the Western part of the country until 1990. Since then, we celebrate it on the day of reunification, 3rd of October.
* * *
Of course, that doesn't mean we can't celebrate. Many villages and towns have their "Schützenfest" (shooters festival) in June. Guys in hunter's uniforms get together and shoot targets. The best shooter is the king for the year. And they hold a parade with the king and queen from last year and their whole court, shooters from neighbouring villages, but also marching bands.
But for most participants, it's just a way of getting together. Smaller villages might just have a tent where you can drink beer, a shooting gallery, so men can shoot a flower for their beloved, a sweets booth and a carousel, larger towns often have several festivals in the separate communities or a large one with lots of attractions. The largest Schützenfest of all is in Hannover in the capital of Lower Saxony (my state) with over 200 booths and attractions and around 10,000 shooters plus 150.000 to 300.00 visitors every year. The second largest takes place in our town. Here are 2.800 active shooters. Of course, due to Corona, the festival couldn't take place last year and again this year. All the fans hope that it will take place in 2022 again.
When I was little, we were always looking forward to the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul on the 29th of June because that was usually the time when the blueberries were ripe and we could go into the forest to gather them.
* * *
Weather lore (or farmers' rule) for June:
Menschensinn und Juniwind ändern sich oft sehr geschwind.
Human senses and June winds often change very quickly
Das Wetter am Siebenschläfertag sieben Wochen bleiben mag.
The weather on dormouse day may stay seven weeks. (June 27th is dormouse day)
The weather is getting better again, we had some wet spells in between but nothing too serious or too cold.
I wish you all well.
* * *
Have a happy June with this beautiful watercolour painting by Frank Koebsch. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!
You can find many more wonderful pictures on their website here.
You can also have a look under my labels Artist: Frank Koebsch and Artist: Hanka Koebsch where you can find all my posts about them.
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