Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Freind

Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Freind

Photo taken in Spring, 2007

The Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Freind (Pennsylvania German Friends) group meets once a month to enjoy the Pennsylvania German dialect and cultural traditions.

Regular meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month, September—June (except May). The group hosts a Fersammling in May. The meeting place is St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 1933 Hanover Avenue, Allentown. All who are interested are welcome at the gatherings.

Various aspects of the heritage and dialect of the Pennsylvania Dutch people in the Lehigh Valley are highlighted. Refreshments and conversation follow the program, and then a business meeting is held. Most of the meeting discussion takes place in the dialect, but you don't have to be fluent in the dialect to attend or participate. If you wish to become a member, dues are $10 a year. Free-will donations are accepted for refreshments.

Enter the church by the ground-floor door to right of main staircase ("Office" entrance). Parking is available in the church lot across street. Meetings may be cancelled during inclement weather.

Pennsylvania German Broadsides and Fractur

Pennsylvania German Broadsides and Fractur



This photo came from the web site of the Penn State University Libraries – Pennsylvania German Broadsides and Fractur.
Another photo from the site is posted on the right-hand column of this blog.

For further information, click on link below.

https://secureapps.libraries.psu.edu/content/fraktur.cfm

(Quoted from their web site:)

This collection includes over 250 images from the holdings of Rare Books and Manuscripts in the Special Collections Library.

The term "Fraktur" (the word is both singular and plural) originally described a type of German printing similar to old English Gothic. The term today refers to drawings on paper made with pen, ink, and watercolor, using fancy penmanship and illustrations such as birds, hearts, flowers, and angels. They were commonly used in the 18th and 19th centuries to document births and baptisms, marriages, and house blessings, among other occasions.

The collection also includes broadsides (sheets of paper printed on one side only, such as commentaries on religious texts and political events) and German-language newspapers. These documents provide us with insight into the everyday life of German immigrants and show the process of acculturation of German settlers to their new environment.

"Three Sisters" August Guild Gathering

I received the following e-mail message from the Three Sisters Center for the Healing Arts in Kempton. A representative from their organization came to our Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch Freinds a few years ago to give a presentation, and it was very interesting!

The registration form was attached to the message, but I did not copy it here. More information is available on their web site - click on the link at the end of this message. Pasted below is a copy of the e-mail message I received:

Hello everyone!
I am writing to tell you about our Guild Gathering this month. We will be discussing some seasonal traditions, beliefs and practices among the PA Deitsch as a whole and the Braucherei community in particular.

I will be teaching this workshop, sharing calendar and traditional
information from the Oley Lineage as it was taught to me by Dennis Boyer. This is a workshop that I have had a very good response from in the past, people really seem to get excited about these seasonal practices we discuss.

If you are interested in attending, please fill out the registration form I have attached and send it in with your payment for the event.If for some reason this is impossible, please at least RSVP so I know you are coming! The gathering will be held from 10 am to 3 pm on August 29th at Indigo Natural Healing Center. Please let me know if you need the address or directions. You will need to pack a lunch, but drinks will be provided. The cost for the gathering is $45 ($35 for Subscribers to Hollerbeier Haven).

Here is the description for the workshop:

August 29th, 2009: Wheel of the Year, Part 2 During our August gathering we will discuss the dark half of the year, from Alleliebeziel (Halloween) to Walpurgisnacht (May Eve).

The information we will be sharing comes predominantly out of the Oley Braucherei Freindschaft
(the Oley lineage of Braucherei). We will focus on the major and minor feasts acknowledged in the Braucherei tradition during this part of the year. In addition to this we will explore the significance of each of the six moons, of this half of the year. We will discuss the significance of each moon from the perspective of the Greek Zodiac and the Oley-Pikeville moon Calendar.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Check out our website for other upcoming events, there are discounts for multiple registrations!

Blessings
+++
Jesse Tobin
Three Sisters Center for the Healing Arts
www.ThreeSistersCenter.com
Thr3sisters@aol.com
484-336-4611