Mutton dance
The mutton dance is a custom of young people, which is usually held at church fairs. A festival is held at which the young people from a village form dance couples in advance. As is customary with customs, the mutton dance is held differently at the different locations, which is why the procedures and customs described here may vary.
history
One of the oldest mutton dances is probably that in Onolzheim . According to old tradition, Barbara von Zipplingen is said to have donated the first mutton , closely connected with the founding of the chaplaincy in 1476 .
Utils
- A bouquet of flowers (or a sword or a staff)
- A table or wine barrel in the middle of the dance floor
- A closed box in which a candle burns down, which has a hole in a place unknown to the dancing couples through which a thread is passed. A bottle hangs from the thread below the box. Alternatively, a coin melted in the candle or a clock.
- One plate (or a few plates on reserve)
- Enough wine with wine glasses
- A mutton led by the mutton boy
- One or more ink drinkers
- A beer mug
The box with the bottle hanging on it is hung above the table / wine barrel and the plate is placed below the bottle. The wine with the glasses is also on the table.
sequence
The dance couples take the preparations for this dance very seriously. First of all, it is important to find the right dance partner, although couples who already belong together have a little easier time than singles. The girls usually buy a new dress especially for the occasion . Of course, the ink drinkers also have to be found, often they are single men who have not found a dance partner, or boys who are particularly good at drinking.
The parents are preparing for the upcoming celebration after the dance mutton, and draw a snack ready for the sheep society, in which should not be missed among others Alcohol.
dance
The dance takes place in a circle, which is marked with a line at one point, until the bottle falls on the plate. After each round, the bouquet is passed on to the subsequent dance couple, the couple who hold the bouquet in their hands when the bottle falls has won the mutton. During and between the breaks , the dancing couples, who are often very thirsty due to the strenuous dancing, enjoy a few strong sips of wine . The empty glasses are filled up by the ink drinkers. The couples who are just drinking often smash the plate with the beer mug in order to simulate that the bottle is falling, which should increase the surprise at the real finale. The plate is also replaced by an ink drinker.
Ink drinking
If the bottle has really fallen, it's time for the ink drinkers. Here plays chapel a fanfare for each couple. The ink drinkers have to toast each time with the respective couple and empty a wine glass to the bottom. Depending on the number of couples the ink drinkers must rally strongly after this procedure more or less passed .
Mutton celebration
After drinking ink, the entire dance company, including ink drinkers, music band, festival helpers and mutton and mutton boys, marches in a procession through the village to the parents of the winning couple to celebrate with a long snack. At the end of the day, the restaurants in town are crossed, which can take until late at night.
Mutton food
After a few weeks, the mutton dinner takes place. In the past, the mutton present at the mutton dance was slaughtered for this purpose and eaten by the mutton society. Nowadays it is customary for the mutton to be given life and instead a meal is prepared for society by the winners .
Piglet dance
As a piglet dance (also column dance ) is a festival that is held outside of the church fair for married couples. The procedure is similar to that of the mutton dance, with the difference that the prize for the winning couple is a piglet that is used as a suckling pig when the piglets are later eaten .