Weather cross
The weather cross , also Hagelkreuz or Wettermarterl is a cross , set up as a weather blessing . The weather column is also found regionally for the same purpose .
On symbolism and customs
In popular belief , the setting up of field crosses to protect against the rigors of the weather is as widespread as the worship of weather saints . Using the cross of Christ as a weather blessing refers to the passage from the Passion : “When the sixth hour came, darkness fell over the whole land” ( Mk 33.15 EU and Mt 27.47 EU ), and “the earth trembled and the rocks split ”( Mt 27.51 EU ) at the moment of Jesus' death. This is interpreted as protection against natural disasters (typically thunderstorms with lightning , storms or hailstorms ), as well as sudden death, therefore weather crosses are often crucifixes , i.e. crosses with the figure of the crucified. Sicardus of Cremona wrote around 1200: "At this time, when the fruits are still in tender bloom and the wars tend to begin, one implores God to keep hail and weather off and give his people a fruitful harvest."
Weather crosses were typically the regional target of supplication and penance processions .
As Deubler, Künstler und Ost point out, a local name as 'weather cross' is not yet proof of its function; the name can refer to the Middle High German bet for 'bet, quitt, bet' on the equally old custom of the oath and expiation cross . The extent to which the custom of the apotropaic crosses goes back to even older, for example Germanic Thor / Donar worship, is also controversial in the specialist literature. At least in Eastern Austria, St. Donatus , the patron saint against storms, lightning, hail and conflagration, is venerated in this context .
Examples of special weather crosses
Many weather crosses are striking landmarks. Since they are mostly in the middle of the field, many of the crosses fell victim to land consolidation . In addition to the numerous weather crosses in the agricultural area - some of which are memorial crosses for salvation from such dangers, but also those who died as a result - there are also weather crosses:
- on churches, for example with the compass rose or the weathercock
- the summit crosses widespread on mountain peaks in the German-speaking Alpine region , as well as pass or ridge crosses
Special, listed objects are for example:
- Hail cross, bees (Rees)
- Langenfeld-Hagelkreuz
- Hagelkreuz (Lendersdorf)
- Hambach an der Weinstrasse , Rhineland-Palatinate: Weather Cross (Baroque double cross in stone, inscribed 1717)
- Wachenheim, Bad Dürkheim district: Weather cross (stone cross from 1513, built by winemakers)
Weather crosses that are bordered by several districts are:
- Wetterkreuz (Tauberbischofsheim) , the pedestal was the boundary stone of the former districts of the five old communities Oberlauda , Lauda , Distelhausen , Dittigheim and Dittwar , whose coats of arms are depicted on it, after the community reform partly only districts and Dittigheim no longer directly adjacent
See also
Web links
- Weather crosses, also Wettermarter, Hagelkreuz etc. In: suehnekreuz.de → History & Research → popular names. Sven Gerth, accessed in 2010 (with excerpts from literature).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Elke Lehmann-Brauns: Heaven, Hell, Plague and Wolves: Basalt lava crosses of the Eifel . Cologne 1986, p. 13 (Quoted from Weblink History & Research ).
- ^ Heinz Deubler, Richard artist, Gerhard Ost: Steinerne Flurdenkmale in Ostthüringen . 1976, Our stone crosses in legend and history, p. 67 (excerpt from the web link History & Research ).
- ↑ For example in: Fred Weinmann: Kreuze zur Abwehr von Not . In: Palatinate Atlas . Text volume I. Speyer 1981, p. 302 .
- ^ Max Vancsa: About praying and thinking columns in Lower Austria . In: Reports and communications from the Altertums-Verein zu Vienna . tape XXXIX , 1905, p. 110 .
- ↑ Hambach (I). In: Germany → Rhineland-Palatinate → District-free city of Neustadt an der Weinstrasse. Retrieved June 15, 2010 .
- ↑ 300 years of the Wetterkreuz: Star march from the neighboring communities of Oberlauda, Lauda, Distelhausen, Dittigheim and Dittwar as well as Heckfeld: The response exceeded all expectations . In: Fränkische Nachrichten , September 16, 2014; accessed on December 29, 2014.
- ↑ The weather cross . hkvdittwar.de, Heimat- und Kulturverein Dittwar e. V .; accessed on May 16, 2015.