Leaf man
The leaf man is a custom from pagan times, which is celebrated every year in Langenbach im Taunus on Whitsun . For this purpose, the oldest boy of the last school year is professionally wrapped in fresh May green very early in the morning. The swaddling from toe to head is done according to the old tradition and takes a few hours, after all you can no longer recognize the boy through the leaves at the end. The other children block (block) the streets with a tape and only allow vehicles to continue after they have paid a small toll . In the early afternoon the leaf man is placed on a handcart and pulled from the forest into the village. Then he marches independently through the village streets in a pageant, partly supported by helpers from the same year. He is also accompanied by two tree carriers. On the left and on the right of the leaf man they each carry a small fir tree, adorned with paper flowers as a sign of winter death and a fresh birch tree, adorned with spring flowers as a sign of spring. The oldest schoolgirls go from house to house and collect eggs in a basket, and another boy, the “bacon carrier”, calls for bacon with a long knife . At many points in the village people stopped earlier and sang the old spring songs “ Now the spring wants to greet us ”, “Grüß Gott you beautiful May” and “ Winter has passed ”. Today the Langenbach fanfare parade accompanies the parade and provides a musical frame for the fun afternoon. After the move, the eggs are fried with bacon and the popular “egg eating” begins.
Origins
The “Laubmann” is a custom that has been preserved in a few places to this day. Whether from the Germanic or Celtic times is unclear. But it says in an explanation: In the "Laubmann" the personified spring is to be understood or the old Germanic light god or spring god Baldur , who died in winter, has now been awakened to new life.
See also
Web links
- Website of Langenbach im Taunus on longbach-info.de (information about the Laubmann)