Go light
Going light refers to an ancient form of carnival that is widespread in southeastern Upper Lusatia and is usually celebrated in the pre-Carnival period.
Custom
There are two parties involved in this custom, a group of people who walk in the light and their hosts. An anonymous letter is sent to the host announcing the arrival of the light walkers with the date and time. Before the visit, the visitors dress up beyond recognition. The goal of the host is to find out who the visitors are. He achieves this through a very well heated apartment, through hot and spicy food and through strongly alcoholic beverages. The light walkers are not allowed to talk during the visit, otherwise they would give themselves away. Only when the host has succeeded in unmasking the last visitor can the visit be ended.
Origin of name
The name to go to light or to go to light means something like going to light . This means a friendly visit that takes place after dinner, i.e. the time when the light is on. In earlier times, going light also referred to the evening meetings of several women or villagers in general in the spinning rooms. In the Silesian region these gatherings were called rocking , probably after the spinning machine rocking .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Overview of the manners and customs in Upper Lusatia. (PDF; 26 kB) (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on April 29, 2015 ; Retrieved April 15, 2010 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Deutscher Sprachverein, Society for German Language: Mother tongue . tape 27 , 1912 ( digitized [accessed April 15, 2010]).
- ↑ Philomathie zu Opole, Scientific Association of Wroclaw, Association of Silesian Gymnastics Clubs: Schlesische Provinzialblätter . No. 1168 . Gottlieb Löwe, 1862, p. 393 ( digitized version [accessed April 15, 2010]).
- ↑ Journal for German Cultural History . Bauer & Raspe, 1859, p. 39 ( digitized version [accessed April 15, 2010]).
