Hankel (ethnophaulism)
The word Hankel was the nickname for the residents of Herrstein . It comes from the first name Johann-Karl, which was often used there, which was abbreviated to Hann-Karl and finally Hankel.
In the opinion of the Hankel, the word describes a self-confident and educated, usually also somewhat conceited, member of the property bourgeoisie. The opinion in the neighboring communities deviates considerably from this.
At the so-called “Hankelbrunnen” in Herrstein, the adult figure represents the “Hankel”. The boy who splashed him with water symbolizes that the “Hankel” was often exposed to the teasing of his surroundings. The figures of the fountain were created by the artist Hans-Ulrich Pauly (Veitsrodt) based on an idea by Mayor Wolfgang Hey and cast in Sinn by the art foundry Rincker (1983).
source
- ↑ Information board attached to the Hankel fountain.