Wolf skipping
The Wolfauslassen in some places also, or Wolfausläuten called, is an old folk custom in the Bavarian Forest . A somewhat older term that is no longer used that often is driving out wolves .
origin
The custom dates from the time when shepherds had to protect cattle from bears and wolves in the mountain pastures and meadows of the Bavarian Forest . When the cattle were brought to the valley in autumn, the wolf was “left out” so that he could move around anywhere (including on the pastures). In the spring, before the cattle are driven back to the mountain pastures, the wolf is "rung out" (driven from the mountain pastures). All of this happens with a lot of noise and bells ringing. This is carried out by the youth of the village. In addition, bells were hung around the neck of the cows. Their bells drove away the wild animals, and lost animals were easier to find again. In addition, from time to time the shepherd hit with his "Goaßl" (a kind of whip), which caused a deafening crack. At the end of the “shepherd's year” (from March to the beginning of November) the shepherd drove the cattle into the local stables and demanded his annual wages from the farmers. In order to express their demands and to be happy about the successful pastoral year, the shepherds buckled their bells themselves and struck with their “Goaßln”.
Today's customs
Even today, on the evening before the Martini (November 11th), the young people of the village or the community meet year after year in order to cultivate this custom. To do this, they strap the 20–90 cm large and up to 35 kg heavy bells around their hips or shoulders and move from house to house in a row. The small cow bells that were originally in use have been replaced by larger and louder bells as the individual groups have competed over the years. The leader of the group is called the "Hi (a) rta", the entire group is called "Wolf". The wolf marches from house to house after his shepherd. There is a strong bell in front of every front door until the host opens the door. Then the shepherd lifts his stick and gives the order to stop the bells. Everyone has to be very quiet now, because the shepherd is now reciting his shepherd's saying (one of these shepherd's sayings, which can vary from place to place and even from family to family, can be found below). After the proclamation the bell rings again and the householder gives the shepherd the "shepherd's money". When all the houses are gone, you go to the village inn to ring the bell with a mug of beer until the early hours of the morning.
The custom of leaving wolves is still cultivated in several places, especially in the Middle Bavarian Forest. The largest meeting of this kind takes place in Rinchnach . In Arnbruck, Grafling, Kaikenried and Drachselsried the custom is called wolf ringing; the term then refers to the “ringing out” of the wolf, while “leaving out the wolf” means that the wolf is allowed to go back to pasture in winter, since no cattle are in danger.
Shepherd's saying (in the Lower Bavarian dialect )
“Come here Hirt with his Giart;
hod des Johr mid Freid;
27 to 28 weeks is a long time;
hana me scha sacred af Martini g'freid;
bine g'sprunga over thistle and thorn;
hods me scha sacred ind Zehan gfroan;
kime hoam, there is a griachal blue soup at the table;
sogtda wos von am bessan food;
haud da Bairin oane ei in'd Fressn;
sogt da wos vo on the print on Ko;
haut na da farmer oane afe afs tan;
Go Bairin mogst ned schnai einpringa,
and a Zwiemakl usabringa,
go, a Zwiemakl is na ned gnua,
duast na a Sackl Epfea, so hack
my stick at the
table , you know that heid Martini is! "
Call of the shepherd to the group (wolf):
Shepherd: "Buama?"
Group: "Jo!"
Shepherd: "Seid's oizam do?"
Group: "Jo!"
Shepherd: "Goes koana more oh?"
Group: "Well!"
Shepherd: "Locks it engg!"
Rohrmünz version (in Lower Bavarian dialect )
“Iatz is coming here with his Girt;
he hod dös Johr scho diligently retired.
I'm going to be boid for seven weeks, I
would like aa boid for partying and mocha.
Seven weeks a week has been a long time,
we've had a long martini.
Since shepherd has to renna through rain and wind,
that eam's Wassa over'n Oasch.
The shepherd has to renna through Distln and Dearn to
make him want to be foolish.
If he kicks he hot a kearbrown soup in da Rean, then
he has to desire it.
When he sucks for a druggas Koh,
haun's eam oane auffe auf's tan.
You peasants, you slim guys, want
no grass and no roe deer fencing in, if you want a piece of it aa no a weng krain.
With a knife there, with a sack, a
martini is custom on Hirta.
Iatz will be a farmer in d'Kammer springa,
will be brought to Zwanzga.
With the Zwanzga I have
no gnua, I would like a black piece of bread with it! "
There are many different local variations of the shepherd's saying.
Bells and Goaßln
A basic distinction is made between the normal wolf-out bells, which have a rectangular, straight tapered shape, and the frog's mouths, classic round cowbells , as they are also used in cows in the Alpine region , although the bells used for wolf-out are often much larger. In addition to new bells, old, almost historical bells that have been passed on from generation to generation are still used for wolf letting.
The bells are differentiated according to size, so a 35 cm is a bell with a height of 35 cm. From 20 cm to 90 cm (differentiated in steps of 5 or 10) all sizes are used, with the smaller bells being used more by the younger ones. The different sizes also result in different pitches. In the past the bells were forged (e.g. from brass ), nowadays they were cut from sheet metal and bent to form, then either galvanized or painted. Only the clapper is still forged. The straps are made of leather, depending on the bell size, widths between 5 cm and 12 cm are processed, and a buckle allows them to be opened or changed in length. In addition to simple leather straps, there are also richly decorated with woven colored ribbons.
Frog mouth bells are only rung in a few places, mostly together with normal wolf sounding bells. A sophisticated choreography has often developed there in order to bring out the timbres of the different bell shapes.
The way the bell straps are worn is different. While the shoulder-carrying method predominates in the Viechtach room , the bells in the Regener room are strapped around the waist, accordingly the strap lengths vary not only according to the bell size, but also according to the way of carrying.
The goassln (whips) consist of a round wooden stick serving as a handle to which the ropes are attached. The ropes are intertwined and a short, narrow piece of leather is attached to the tip, which creates the loud bang.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Deggendorfer Zeitung from 7./8. November 1987
- ↑ Bell Maker
- ↑ Goaßlschnalzer