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For some, it was walking the path of memory.
For others, it gave them a glimpse of their heritage.
And for a moment, I wanted to go home.
Heemet Fescht brought culture to life. Saturday’s annual event at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University included traditional artisans, folklore classes, cooking demonstrations, performances by folk musicians and entertainment.
“The good thing about this event is that you can find something to enjoy there, even if it has nothing to do with the German culture of Pennsylvania,” said Patrick Don Moyer, director of the Heritage Center. . “It is not just a celebration of the past, but a celebration of the cultural traditions that we still have today.”
Don Moyer explained that Heemet Fescht in Dutch, Pennsylvania, will be translated into a home festival in English. The festival celebrates the successful end of the harvest season with local members meeting in local churches.
The popularity of Saturday’s event is proof that the ongoing pandemic has been partially stimulated and that there is a growing demand among locals to learn more about these traditions, Don Moyer said. Declared. He said his stay at the home sparked new interest in learning about past beliefs and habits.
“The Heritage Center strives to be a resource for this,†he said.
Karen Shuey – Reading Eagle
Sara Edris, a senior at Kutztown University, tries to complete the hex sign during Heemet Fescht on Saturday. Edris is studying Anthropology and Pennsylvania German at KU.
Glenn and Margitta Stevens believe the Heritage Center is a great resource for the region.
The couple, who live in Newling Gold, take a short hike from their home in Schuylkill County to Helmetfest almost every fall. They also regularly participate in Christmas and Easter celebrations at the Heritage Center.
“It’s like a home for me,†said Marghita.
Marghita was born and raised in Germany. As such, she said, these events showcase her language skills and give her the opportunity to participate in activities that remind her of her hometown. And that’s what she can share with her husband.
Glenn and Marghita met in Germany while stationed in Germany during their military service. In fact, he said he had spent so much of his career in the country that he often replaced what he knew in Pennsylvania Dutch with German.
“When you come here you have the opportunity to see it like it used to be,†said Glenn. “It gives us the opportunity to go back in time and meet the friends we made along the way. I’m really looking forward to it. “
Karen Shuey – Reading Eagle
Glenn and Marghita Stevens (left) offer Pennsylvania Dutch lessons to Heritage Center volunteer Richard Riley. They rarely miss the celebration of Heemet Fescht.
Craftsman Matthew Vardjan is also a regular at Heemet Fescht. He studied the family paper art business from an early age and began attending German festivals with his father.
“It’s a family tradition that I want to keep alive,†said a man from Oley Township when his hands folded a piece of paper into a small star-shaped pattern. “I’m the fourth generation of German folk art from Pennsylvania and I love showing people what we can do. “
In addition to the Moravian star, Valjan uses the equipment from 1890 to create postcards adorned with intricate block designs carefully carved by his mother. Some models are hundreds of years old, relics of the past.
Karen Shuey – Reading Eagle
Artist Eric Claypoole displays a hexagonal sign designed for Heemet Fescht.
Eric Craypool is another artist who followed in his father’s footsteps.
Residents of Ren Heartsville said he painted the first hexagonal barn sign when he was twelve. And a few weeks ago, at the age of 60, he completed the 100th hexagonal barn sign.
“It’s funny,” he said when asked why he continued. “I don’t think it will stop soon because it’s in my blood. I will continue to show people this wonderful craft for as long as I can.
Perhaps the most interesting hexagonal sign is that no one is sure why colorful patterns began to appear on the sides of the barn.
“You can ask 10 different people what they mean and you’ll get 10 different answers,†he said with a big laugh. “It’s so funny.”
Karen Shuey – Reading Eagle
Lydia Al-Khal (3, left) and her sister Laine, 6, paint their pumpkins on Heemet Fescht. The girls were there with their grandmother to learn more about their heritage.
Laverne Passman comes to Heemet Fescht every fall to hear such stories. And she brings her daughter and two granddaughters so that they can better understand their heritage.
Pasman, who lives in Schnecksville, told his family he would be traveling from Lehigh County to Kutztown to get a glimpse of his past.
“It is very important for me to attend an event at the center here,†she said. “This is what we do to keep tradition and history alive. “
“We’re all Pennsylvania German, so I love talking to girls about their roots,†added her daughter, Erie Alcal, as she watched her decorate a pumpkin on a nearby table.
According to Don Moyer, Heemet Fescht is one of the many opportunities that the Heritage Center offers to those who wish to explore culture and learn more about the past.
Located on the campus of the historic Shaladin Farm, the Heritage Center offers public access to historic buildings, seasonal events, and classes in the Pennsylvania German dialect. We also offer a research library for those who wish to study genealogy, history, language and culture.
“The Heritage Center is a way for people to experience college and for the college to serve people,†he said. “This exchange is the main reason why heritage centers are so important. “
Source link Celebrating German heritage and folklore at Kutztown University
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