It turns out that I chose a very good weekend to arrive here. The day after I arrived was the local thanksgiving festival. We arrived at the local community centre around 13:00 to see 8 or 9 wagons decorated with flowers, corn, squash, and greenery. We piled into the wagons, and rode down the rode. We stopped at a large half timbered house, where we followed the marching band to the front door. A young couple presented the crowd the thanksgiving crown, which as one kid in the audience remarked, was more the size of a small tree than a crown!

After they presented the crown, we all drank some juice and beer and ate some cake. A little while later, the marching band started up again and led us back to the wagons. We drove around the countryside for an hour or so, drinking Sekt and coffee, and eating candy. I had lots of opportunity to practise my German! We ended the ride back at the community centre where a tent had been set up. The couple installed the crown there, with much fanfare, and more drinking.

After a bit more cake and coffee, marching bands from neighbouring counties started arriving. The local band, Spielmannzug Dolldorf, was started in 1957, so this year was its 50th birthday. Each band processed in and out of the tent; the youngest and oldest members all got a turn. Then it was time for the speeches. The leaders of the neighbouring bands, the fire chief, the mayor, and minor political dignitaries of all stripes had their turn at the podium. 5 hours later the speechifying was finally done. The bands processed a few more times, playing marching band versions of various popular and traditional songs. The spectators drank Sekt and beer and generally had a good time. When the bands were done, the DJ started playing music, and the party lasted late into the night.

It’s true what they say about a little alcohol helping with speaking a foreign language. I had the chance to talk to many of the neighbours, and the conversations were mostly auf Deutsch. It was a great introduction to the Dolldorf region! Now I can at least recognise most of the neighbours, even if I don’t remember their names.

Posted in Learning, just one more eurotrip blog |

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Trackback from your own site.