On Saturday, the 10th of January we got to go to our very first Hexentaufe or witch baptism with our good friends and next-village-over neighbors, the Weigands. Each year the equivalent of the village Lion's club does an initiation for new pledgers where they are baptised by immersion (we of course couldn't support it if it was done any other way!) in a farm manure spreader full of semi-warm water with buckets of dog food, real chicken and goose parts, feathers, and other unmentionable wastes. Here I must add that these "lion clubs" are sometimes referred to as drinking clubs which may be the only way they can pass through the initiation ordeal and then return year after year to wear their quaint dresses (yes, the men too) and scary masks for hours in below freezing weather. The Hexentaufe is the start of Fasching, a Catholic tradition which was explained to me as a month you try to sin as much as possible before repenting during Lent.
If I've explained this incorrectly, that's how a Catholic explained it to me, and besides, it sounds more interesting that way! Anyone up to celebrating Fasching?
On Saturday, the 10th of January we got to go to our very first Hexentaufe or witch baptism with our good friends and next-village-over neighbors, the Weigands. Each year the equivalent of the village Lion's club does an initiation for new pledgers where they are baptised by immersion (we of course couldn't support it if it was done any other way!) in a farm manure spreader full of semi-warm water with buckets of dog food, real chicken and goose parts, feathers, and other unmentionable wastes. Here I must add that these "lion clubs" are sometimes referred to as drinking clubs which may be the only way they can pass through the initiation ordeal and then return year after year to wear their quaint dresses (yes, the men too) and scary masks for hours in below freezing weather. The Hexentaufe is the start of Fasching, a Catholic tradition which was explained to me as a month you try to sin as much as possible before repenting during Lent. 
If I've explained this incorrectly, that's how a Catholic explained it to me, and besides, it sounds more interesting that way! Anyone up to celebrating Fasching?
5 comments:
Mmm, that last picture was tasty.
Okay, that's the nastiest version of Mardi Gras ever. Somehow I just don't think baptism in offal is a good adaptation of the ordinance. . . why do people do this again?
That looks disgusting!
That is so wrong!LOL. I think Garrett should get "Baptized" ;)
WTF? (the f stands for fraggle rock) This sounds like my kind of celebration!! At least the "sin as much as you want" part. This is very strange!
Post a Comment