The Journeyman years (Wanderjahre or Walz) are a time of travel for several years after completing an apprenticeship as a craftsman. The guild has died in the 1920’s, but made a comeback after the 1980’s. The journeyman is required to wear distinctive clothing named “Kluft “ Continue reading My Great-Grandfather, the Journeyman
Growing up in Bavaria, my Fasching memories were filled with Krapfen, children’s parades, and costume chaos at school. It wasn’t until I explored other regions of Germany that I discovered Weiberfastnacht, the spirited Thursday when women officially take over. This custom, celebrated mostly in the Rheinland, has always fascinated me. It’s loud, playful, a little rebellious — and deeply rooted in history. The idea that … Continue reading Weiberfastnacht: Where Fun, Chaos, and Tie‑Cutting Collide
A few steps behind the Catholic church in Hallstatt, Austria, stands the 12th-century Saint Michael Chapel (Michelskapelle). There is the famous Beinhaus with its approximately six hundred rows of rows of painted skulls. It goes back to 1700, when the Hallstatt cemetery became too small to give room for each person to have their own grave. The towns people came to a solution, digging up … Continue reading Beinhaus (Hallstatt) with Bones and Skulls
