Waiting nights
The Anklopfnächte or knock nights (also Klöpfelnächte , Kloplinsnächte , Klöpflesnächte , Klöpfleinsnächte , Kräflsnächte , Bosselnächte , Anglöckelnächte or holy nights called), and connected. a. with the Klöcklsingen are the nights of the last three Thursdays before Christmas in southern Germany , Austria and Switzerland . They symbolize as Heische- or stop domestic mostly the search for shelter by Joseph and Mary before Jesus was born in Bethlehem .
history
Knocking on the knitting nights has been documented in lottery books since the middle of the 15th century, but is still documented there as a secular custom that was not related to the Christian Christmas event. Rather, one wanted to research the future with this oracle custom by z. B. knocked on barn walls at the right hour to hear the pets talk about the dead of the coming year.
In Würzburg attracted young aristocrats, led by canon William of Wolfskeel 1472 in donrstag kloplins night through the streets of the city and explained their of troop guards certainly unwelcome action with "It who is a kloplins night, si giengen to the priests, trains in the ring outside the doors that give you in morn against the si nyemant harm ”.
First described as children heischebrauch in 1520 by Johannes Boemus , the practice was repeatedly banned or restricted because it either appeared to violate “public decency” or was perceived as unchristian. In the course of the Counter-Reformation, "finally a consciously Christian form of knocking began", which regionally, however, shows very large differences up to the present day.
As early as 1619 there was an instruction in an East Tyrolean prayer book “how to spiritually knock on the three Thursdays before Christmas”. In some areas of South Tyrol, on the other hand, for example in the Sarntal , the non-Christian elements still predominate today (requests for gifts, rebukes).
Essential elements of the knock-on usage
Up to our time, four elements have remained in the tradition of knitting: Congratulations and blessings (turn of the year, good harvest), asking or asking for gifts and hospitality, the reference to the Christmas events and in some places the reciting of verses and Counter verse between anklöpfler and housefather. But these four elements also shape the appearance of knocking or clinking in different regions. Mostly as a custom , but sometimes also as a retreat where one is invited into the room of a host.
Variations
In today's Upper Bavarian historical landscape of Berchtesgadener Land , the custom is known as Klöcklsingen , in the Tyrolean Unterland ( Leukental , Brixental ) as anklöpfln . Even today, children and young people disguised as shepherds go from house to house to recite songs and poems relating to the approaching Christmas Eve in the local dialect after knocking on the open front door - motivation for maintaining the custom can be the improvement of pocket money, but also collecting for a good cause.
Honors
In March 2011, the independent, to this day lively “ Anklöpfeln” in the Tiroler Unterland was added to the register of intangible cultural heritage in Austria .
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Klöpfelnächte, Klöpfeln, Bosselnächte , quoted from Ingo Schneider, University of Innsbruck , Institute for European Ethnology / Folklore, online at needumsseiten.de
- ^ Wolfgang Schneider: Folk culture and everyday life. In: Ulrich Wagner (Hrsg.): History of the city of Würzburg. 4 volumes, Volume I-III / 2, Theiss, Stuttgart 2001–2007, Volume 1 (2001): From the beginnings to the outbreak of the Peasants' War. ISBN 3-8062-1465-4 , pp. 491-514 and 661-665, here: pp. 499 and 663.
- ↑ Lived traditions, customs and culture (section: Christmas - Festival of Love ) , online at koenigssee.com
- ↑ Klöcklsingen in Berchtesgadener Land , online at berchtesgadener-land.com