By: Maria Toth

Forwarded by Chicago Donauschwaben

          Jugendleiterin Rose Hauer and I departed Chicago on June 13 to attend the second Donauschwaben Welttreffen (World Conference).  Individuals and groups from throughout Europe, Brazil, Canada, and the USA (Chicago Donauschwaben, Chicago American Aid Society, Cincinnati, Detroit, St. Louis) would meet in Harkány, Hungary from June 16 through June 28.  We attended workshops, lectures, and toured southern Hungary (Baranya County) in order to learn more about our Donauschwaben heritage and preserve our unique traditions for future generations.  Along the way, we built friendships and experienced moments that we would never forget.

          Rose and I arrived in Harkány, Hungary on June 16, after a three and a half hour bus ride by coach bus from the Budapest airport.  We met Stefan Ihas, the representative for the Donauschwaben youth groups in Europe, as well as other individuals from all over the world who had come to represent their clubs and take part in this second World Conference.  Our group numbered about 65.

          While in Harkány, Rose and I stayed at “Pension Otto” a charming bed and breakfast located in the heart of town.  We were within walking distance of the famous mineral spa and pools, small cafés, restaurants, ice cream shops, and the flea market.  Harkány is a small town of about 4,000, located in southern Transdanubia, in Baranya County (“Branau” in German).  Baranya County has the largest number of minorities in Hungary (more than twice the country average) – 34% of the German minority lives there.  We were able to speak German in many of the shops and restaurants.  While in Hungary, we were videotaped and some members of our group were interviewed by a Hungarian television station (MTV videótár).  Each week, this station produces half-hour “video magazine” programs in the German language for its viewers.   The programs are close-captioned in Hungarian as well.  To view the program about our trip, see:  

http://videotar.mtv.hu/Videok/2011/07/19/14/ Unser_Bildschirm_2011_julius_19_.aspx

          We were taught traditional folk dances in dance workshops led by Judit Mausz, Eva Treitz from the Babarc Tanzgruppe, and Peter Schweininger from the Saar Tanzgruppe.  In addition, we sang and learned new songs from the Wemender Quartett.

          One of our group’s first outings was to the Schwabenball in Görcsöndoboka, also known by its German name of Ketsching.  After a meeting and photo opportunity with the town’s Mayor, we strolled around the streets of this small farming community before returning for dinner, various singing and dancing performances, and a night of dancing to a German Blaskapelle (brass band).  Many of the local women were dressed in their finest Trachten (traditional costumes).  They wore long-sleeved white embroidered blouses topped with black vests and red fringed Halstücher (shawls).  Their knife-pleated silk skirts reached down to their mid-calves and were worn over four very stiffly starched Unterröcke (petticoats).  A few of the older women wore black hand-knit Patschker (slippers) which were embroidered with small flowers and red trim.

          We also drove to Mohács (Mohatsch) on the Danube River.  Our group of Donauschwaben sent its greetings to the “alte Heimat” as a wreath was lowered into the Danube.  We all watched as it floated downstream.  From there, we drove on to Babarc.  Our group was invited to the 30^th Anniversary celebration of the Babarc (Bawarz) Tanzgruppe.  We attended Mass in the town’s church, celebrated by Pfarrer Peter Zillich.  The members of the choir were occasionally accompanied by Pfarrer Zillich on his accordion.  Under the direction of Eva Treitz, the Babarc Tanzgruppe performed their most popular folk dances for the large crowd.

          We attended lectures on the history of the Donauschwaben by Franz Heilig and the Memorial Monuments Erected in the Extermination Camps of the Former Yugoslavia by Josef Jerger.  Herr Jerger reminded us that the importance of these monuments is two-fold:  to honor those who died in the camps; and to raise awareness of the current residents of those towns so that they know that the Donauschwaben once inhabited their lands and of the atrocities that took place against them.  We learned that the memorial monuments were built solely with private funds, costing between $14,000 and $17,000 to erect each one.

          Each morning, one of the organizers, Anna Fernbach, would read her Wort des Tages to get the group in the proper mind-set for the day’s activities.  On the morning of June 22, Anna read a poem about the Heimat and the unspeakable tragedies that occurred to the Donauschwaben in the labor camps.  We then boarded our bus and drove from Hungary through a portion of Croatia into Serbia until we reached the Massenfriedhof (mass graves) in Gakowa, Serbia.  This was one of Tito’s worst concentration camps; over 8,000 innocent men, women, and children lost their lives in this forced labor camp and are buried together in a mass grave.  This part of our journey had particular meaning for me.  My father was held in this camp as a young boy along with his Oma and Opa.  His grandparents died of starvation and are among the thousands buried there.  Our Donauschwaben group placed a wreath at the foot of the towering memorial cross and recited prayers in German for those who lost their lives at this camp. 

          Our group also went to visit a now-retired Meister Blaufärber (master blue fabric-dyeing craftsman).   János Sárdi lives in a town called Nagynyárád (Groβnarad).  He is known throughout southern Hungary for his beautiful fabrics which are used in many restaurants, wine cellars, and private homes.  Herr Sárdi is 91 years old and is one of a dying breed – his craft is no longer taught or practiced.  He welcomed us into his home studio where he explained the intricacies of his craft and led us on a tour of his shop.  He has a room filled with molds (copper pieces which he meticulously nailed and imbedded into a wooden base).  These molds were used in a fashion similar to rubber stamping.  He demonstrated by dipping the mold into a colored wax-based resin and then “stamped” the image onto white cotton fabric and allowed it to dry.  The fabric is then dipped numerous times into deep vats of indigo-blue liquid dye.  Once the fabric is dry, a chemical solution is used to remove the wax-based resin.  The area where the wax impression formerly was is now white against the dark blue fabric.  The yards of fabric that were dyed are stretched and heated on large roller machines, giving them a glossy finish.  This blue fabric was sewn into clothing, aprons, table coverings, napkins, curtains, and accent pieces.

          We also attended workshops on Donauschwaben healing methods and superstitions; learned to knot the silk fringe on the bottom of traditional shawls (Franzen knüpfen); and created Kukuruz Puppen (cornhusk dolls).

          My companions and I also witnessed a re-creation of a schwowische Hochzeit (Donauschwaben Wedding) as it would have taken place during my Oma’s time.  Our group watched older Donauschwaben ladies of the town of Véménd (Wemend) dress a young woman from the Wemend Tanzgruppe in a Hochzeitstracht (Wedding costume).  Accompanied by a brass band, we marched from the bride’s house to the town’s church and then to the dance hall, where we had a traditional dinner of Sarma (stuffed cabbage) and watched folk dancing and a demonstration of how the wedding gifts would have been presented to the newly married “couple”.

          One of our side trips took us to the city of Pécs (Fünfkirchen).  Pécs was designated Europe’s Cultural Capital for the year 2010.  We were fortunate to have a local serve as our tour guide; he took us on a walking tour of the city, sharing many interesting pieces of trivia and history with us.  We learned that the Ottoman Turks ruled Hungary for 150 years and that Pécs was one of their main cities.  There are still many remnants of the Turkish empire to be seen.  A former Moschee (mosque) has been renovated into a Christian church, with most of the Muslim architecture still visible.

          Another day trip took us to the town of Liptód.  We were greeted with Schnaps, wine, chamomile tea, and pans of freshly-baked Zwiebelbrot (onion bread).  Here, schwowisch-speaking men and women showed us how to make Saueres (a hearty soup using many different parts of the butchered pig), Ungarische Bratwurst (Hungarian sausage), Sarma, and three kinds of Strudel (apple, cheese, and cherry).  We were encouraged to help out in the kitchen, walk through the vineyards, explore the town, and climb up the steep hills to Herr Markesz’ private wine cellar (and sample some of the region’s finest wines).  The view from his wine cellar to the town below was breath-taking!

          This trip was an unforgettable learning experience for Rose and me.

          The culture and heritage of the Donauschwaben people is unique and I am proud of my ancestry.  The chance to step back in time and experience life as it was for my forebearers living in southern Hungary (the maternal side of my family are from Tolna County – Tolnau Bezirk) is one that I will always treasure.

          There was a nice balance to the amount of workshops, lectures, and tours.  The presenters at the dancing and singing workshops and the various lectures were outstanding!  They wholeheartedly shared their expertise with us, were enthusiastic, and always happy to answer any questions.

          The second World Conference was a success and helped me to very concretely visualize so many of the stories I have heard from my grandparents and parents over the years.  Stepping back in time to experience the old Heimat was a privilege.  I have personally shared my experiences with my three daughters and Rose and I have put together a visual presentation for our Vorstand, Jugendgruppe, and Frauengruppe.  Although they were not able to join us, we want them to be able to share in our multi-faceted experiences.

          Many thanks to our Vorstand  and the Frauengruppe for their financial support; and to the Donauschwaben Weltdachverband for encouraging members of their various cultural groups to partake of this second World Conference! 

2012 Sechzig Jahre Donauschwaben in Brasilien

Forwarded by Chicago Donauschwaben

          Die Donauschwaben in Brasilien feiern im nächsten Jahr ihr sechzigjähriges Einwanderungsjubiläum nach Entre Rios. Dazu sind Landsleute, Verwandte und Bekannte herzlich eingeladen. Unter dem Motto „Innovation“ bieten die Landsleute in Entre Rios den Besuchern aus der ganzen Welt vom 4. bis 8. Januar 201 2 einFestprogramm. Das Festzelt wird vor dem Sitz der Genossenschaft Agraria in Vitoria in Entre Rios aufgebaut. Auf dem Programm stehen unter anderem kulturelle Darbietungen, eine Musikshow, kulinarische Spezialitäten, Tanzabende, ein Festumzug mit Maschinenausstellung und vieles mehr. Die Einladung zur Teilnahme am Jubiläum geht an alle Vereine mit der Bitte um Bekanntgabe unter ihren Mitgliedern. Die Einladung mit dem offiziellen Festprogramm folgt.Entre Rios freut sich mit Ihnen dieses Jubiläum feiern zu dürfen.

JORGE KARL, Präsident, PAUL ILLICH, Vizepräsident

Kontakt: Cooperativa Agraria Agroindustrial, Praca Nova Patria Vitoria Entre Rios, Guarapuava PR

Brasil 851 39-400, Fax 00 55 42 3625 8365, E-Mail:andrea@agraria.com.br

Das Logo der "Cooperativa Agrária"
	Das Wappen der Banater Schwaben in Eintracht mit der brasilinischen Flagge