Rummelpottlauf
Rummelpottlauf ( Low German Rummelpottlopen ) is a widespread custom in Northern Germany and Northern Schleswig (Southern Denmark) , in which, on New Year's Eve, children go from door to door in groups with make-up and disguised with a Rummpott (also humming pot, Danish rummelpot or rumlepot ) and characteristic Sing rumble songs or recite rhymes.
description
The Rummelpott or other vessels are used to attract attention and to accompany the sung songs rhythmically. As a thank you for this, they receive apples, sweet baked goods such as willows (futjes) and other sweets from the residents . If neighbors are unwilling to donate something to the children, a mocking song like Witten Tweern is sung instead . The disguise is supposed to prevent the rumble runners from being recognized.
The name comes from the rumbling pot, also known as the humming pot, which produces a rumbling sound (Low German: rumbling ≈ rumbling ). In earlier times during the so-called Rauhnächten around the turn of the year, winter spirits were likely to be driven away with the help of rumbling . In popular belief, the world of spirits was open on the rough nights. Even Odin's Wild Hunt took place on New Year's Eve. The variant of the Rummelpottlaufen common today probably goes back to the 16th century. Instead of the now very seldom found rumble pot, other vessels or instruments are often used today, with which corresponding noises can be generated just like with a rumble pot. Younger children in particular usually only sing without accompaniment.
Today, Rummelpottlauf is still known in large parts of Schleswig-Holstein , Hamburg , Lower Saxony and Sønderjylland . A similar shape is known as the Hulken on the North Frisian island of Amrum . On the neighboring island of Föhr , the custom is known as Kenknen ( Ütj tu kenknin in the Föhr Frisian ), and the rummage potters are accordingly referred to as Kenkner. In some regions, adults also have fun. However, instead of sweets, they usually get a glass of schnapps , sometimes they wear an empty schnapps glass around their necks, which is then filled at every house. Therefore, the Rummelpott is also known there as Rumpott .
Songs
Singing together is an essential part of running around the funfair. The classic rumble song is Fru, maak de Dör op , which is reproduced here in its Low German , High German and Danish version ( Sønderjysk ).
|
Fru, maak de Dör op! (low German) |
Woman, open the door! (high German) |
Fru, fru, lok e døe op! (sønderjysk) |
Regionally, there are other variations and songs that often allude to the little wickets baked and begged on that day (northern German futjes ).
|
Rummel rummel rusch, |
Rummel, rummel, ruttje, |
Also known is the song I am a little king , which can be sung as a two-part song in High and Low German. As is often the case, this Rummelpottlied has also been modified in countless variations.
|
I'm a little king, |
I am a poor king, |
Other regionally widespread songs are Rummel, rummel rögen ( Südschleswig ), Rummel, rummel, rum, de Rummelpott umeiht um , Ik bin en lütten König (Bremen) and rarely also Rummel, rummel, Fledermuus . Once the Rummelpottläufer have received a gift, traditionally songs like Hau de Katt de Schwanz aff or Ik seh de Schosteen roken are sung. If nothing was donated, the mocking song Witten Tweern, swatten Tweern, giezig Lüüd, de geevt nich geern is sung instead . Depending on the region, the songs are sung in Low German, Frisian or Danish.
Rummelpott in art and culture
The painter and graphic artist Willem Grimm recorded the custom of rummeling in as a recurring motif in many of his woodcuts . The children's book author Kirsten Boie , who comes from Hamburg, also addresses the hype in the children's book A New Year in the Seagull Walk , published in 2008 . In 1992, the artist Gerhard Brandes depicted three children playing Rummelpottlauf with a sculpture, which is set up in Hamburg-Bramfeld on Haidlandsring in front of house number 22.
Similar customs
There are also comparable customs around the turn of the year (Rauhnächte) in other regions. For example, the Perchten are out and about in the Alps between December 4th and January 6th . In parts of Switzerland, chopping is widespread. In Austria and parts of Bavaria there is Innocent Children's Day on December 28th , during which the children go from house to house collecting gifts while undisguised but reciting various sayings. New Year's Eve Rummelpott also takes place in the Netherlands. There are comparable custom with martinis singing (also Matten Matten Mären or similar) in connection with running lanterns on Martin's Day on November 11th.
A great competition for the Rummelpott running and other local customs is composed of the United States known Halloween (the evening before All Saints' Day , October 31) with his "Trick or Treat" (Eng. "Trick or treat"), which is now also in children Central Europe enjoyed great popularity.
literature
- Joachim Stave: Rummelpottlaufen - children's stories from Blankenese . Deutsches Lesewerk, 1954
Web links
- More information about the fun fair running
- Hanswerner Röhr: Rummel, rummel, ruttje, krieg ik still a Futtje? (PDF file; 1.03 MB)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hanswerner Röhr: Rummel, rummel, ruttje, krieg ik still een Futtje? (PDF file; 1.03 MB)
- ↑ Julia Buchmüller, Anette Schnoor: Fru maak de Dör op! New Year's Eve customs in the borderland. Schleswiger Nachrichten, December 29, 2012, accessed December 30, 2012 .
- ^ Rummelpottlaufen - Children's stories from Blankenese, by Joachim Stave, Deutsches Lesewerk (January 1, 1954)
- ↑ New Year's Eve forever in the taz of December 30, 2008