Pepper

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The peppers is a custom that especially in Catholic areas in the period after Christmas is maintained.

Children pull willow branches through the villages to playfully beat adults or children on the legs and recite a saying. In return, they receive pastries, sweets or money from the families they visit.

Points in time

The times and procedures differ:

Boys

On the day of the innocent children (December 28th) the boys wander through the village with a willow rod (decorated with red bows in some places) and have the local women in their sights. Her saying when it comes to pepper is:

“ Does the pepper taste good? "

The peppering continues until the victim replies " Yes, it tastes good, yes it tastes good " and hands out a small gift.

girl

The girls on the other hand go to the New Year (January 1) men and boys with a rod of birch twigs or spruce branches on the legs . Her saying is:

“ Does the New Year taste good? "

The peppering continues until the peppered person explains that it tastes good and also gives a small gift (mostly candy, sometimes money).

history

The custom is documented as early as the 18th century . For example, the Zedler Lexicon , which was published in the middle of the 18th century, reports on the custom of pepper.

Regional variants

The following sayings are used in the Upper Palatinate :

  • “ Pepper, pepper stalks are as beautiful as an angel. You are as beautiful as milk and blood, when I see you I am good. "
  • “ Pepper, pepper bouquet, just put out the same mark. "
  • " Is there pepper good and da Zohla a, if I grech 'take it a. "
  • “ Pepper, pepper, crown, I don't only pepper out of wages, I also pepper out of courtesy, for your and me health. "
  • " Pepper, pepper Ofakrukn, if I have to jerk ummi, jerk ummi the same, throw the bed room from there. "

In the Upper Franconian villages of Effeltrich and Serlbach, for example, the saying goes:

“ Does the pepper taste good, is it salted or fat? "

To which the peppered person has to answer:

“ It's salted and it's greasy. "

In Lichtenfels in Upper Franconia , the saying goes: “ I am a little king, don't give me too little, don't let me stand too long, I have to go a little further ” or in Michelau in Upper Franconia: “Pfeffer pfeffer König, don't give me too little "Don't let me stand too long, I have to go a little further". In Roth district of Lichtenfels, the following variant has been handed down: "I pepper my Mr. Nachber, if I like it, he laughs. My Nachber is a good Mo, he gives more to good Pfefferloh."

An even older version reads: “ Pepper, pepper whips, I come stepping over here, with my fresh courage, does the pepper taste good? "

In the villages of Lahm / Hesselbach / Effelter of the Wilhelmsthal community in Neufang / Birnbaum (all LKR Kronach) it is also celebrated on the days of boys / young men on December 28th and girls / women on January 1st.

There are more verses here: Three roses, three roses that grow on one stem. The man is beautiful, the woman is beautiful, the children are like angels.

Angel, villain Rosenbam, I thought you are ka Nocht deham; run down the Döffla until you find the Schatzla again. (For non-Franconians: Engel, brat, Rosenbaum, I think you won't be home night. Run up and down the village until you find your sweetheart again.)

Engel, Dengel, Heuer, the brandy wine is expensive, I want to be satisfied with another glass of glass.

When peppering, a decorated goose wing is stroked over the leg beforehand with the slogan: “ I will turn away the worries of the old year. “It was celebrated as a great event in these villages. The Pfefferer consisted of:

“ The three white men ”, neatly dressed in black trousers, a white shirt, and a decorated hat - they took over the part of the sayings and then a dance with the women / girls of the house followed.

A musician was there, if possible , if not at least a cassette recorder.

" Des Frala " - A man dressed as a woman in traditional costume with a traditional basket on his back, in which the gifts / material donations were collected.

" The Bear " - A man completely involved with Stroß who had a " Bear Guide ".

" The black man " - a man dressed like a chimney sweep "who smeared soot on everyone's face. In the houses he often fetched more soot from the wood-burning stoves there.

On the evening of December 28th, the entire community was invited to the village inn with the money raised.

literature

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