Deel Feierdaage im Hanning (Some Holidays in February)
Wann ich vun deel Feierdaage im Hanning denk, denk ich vun Grundsau Daag, Valentine’s Daag, un de Bresidende ihre Gebottsdaag. Awwer es sin viel meh Feierdaage im Hanning un ‘sis der katzlichscht Munet im Yaahr. Hanning heest aa ‘Schwatz Geschicht Munet’ un ‘National Dental Gsund Munet’ un meecht aa meh Naame gewwe.
(When I think of some holidays in February, I think of Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day. But there are many more holidays in February and it is the shortest month in the year. February is also known as ‘Black History Month’ and ‘National Dental Health Month’, and there may be more names!)
Im Hanning iss eens vun meine beschde Feierdaage‘sis National Schocklaad Daag!
Des waar am erschde Hanning gfeiert. Ich gleich as es en abbadicher Daag gebt fer mei siesser Zaah!
(In February is one of my favorite holidays- it’s National Chocolate Day! This was celebrated on February 1. I like that there is a special day for my sweet tooth! )
Noch en Feierdaag iss em Abraham Lincoln
sei Gebottsdaag am zwelfde Hanning. Hoscht du gwisst was fer Beinaame es gebt fer der sechszehscht Bresident? Ya, es gebt Naame wie der ‘Riggelschplidde Bresident’. Fer was? Ee Schtori iss, weil er en hocher Bu mit lange Erem waar, des hot gut gschafft fer ihn Bleck schplidde fer Riggele mache fer Fense. Noch en Beinamme iss ‘Ehrlich Abe’. Ee Schtori iss, wann er en yunger Bu waar, hot er amme Schtor gschaaft . Wann er der recht Wexel zu de Leit net gewwe hot, hot er alsemol viel Meile gloffe fer ihne der Wexel gewwe.
(Another holiday is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday
on February 12. Did you know what nicknames there are for the 16th President? Yes, there are names like the ‘Railsplitter President’. Why? One story is, because he was a tall boy with long arms, this worked well for him to split logs to make rails for fences. Another nickname is ‘Honest Abe’. One story is, when he was a young boy, he worked at a store. If he did not give people correct change, he sometimes walked many miles to give them the change.)
Es verschtaunt mich as net meh Leit wisse vum Yarick Washington sei Gebottsdaag der zwee un zwansichscht Hanningun
er waar unser erscht Bresident! Heitesdaag daer Gebottsdaag iss net uff viele Kalenner wie es waar Yaahre zerick. Fer was? Nau iss es de ‘Bresidende ihre Daag’, net yuscht fer em Washington sei Gebottsdaag feiere, awwer fer all die Bresidende. Der dritt Mundaag im Hanning im Yaahr 1971 waar en Federal Feierdaag fer Schaffleit gemacht fer en drei Daag Wochend gewwe un ‘s iss de Bresidende ihre Daag gheese warre . Un dann gebt’s en Schtori vum Washington wann er en yunger Bu waar. Hot er en Kaschebaam nunnerghackt? Ich muss die Schtori en annermol schreiwwe.
(It surprises me that not many people know about George Washington’s birthday on February 22- and he was our first president! Nowadays this birthday is not on many calendars as it was years ago. Why? Now it is ‘Presidents’ Day’, not only to celebrate Washington’s birthday, but for all the presidents. The third Monday in February in the year 1971 became a federal holiday to give workers a three day weekend and it was called Presidents’ Day. And then there is the story about Washington when he was a young boy. Did he chop down a cherry tree? I must write about this story another time.)
Yammer yeh! Ich hab der Super Bowl Fuussballe Schpiel vergesse! Des iss alsemol am erschde Sunndaag im Hanning gschpielt. Des Yaahr waar der Daag der siwwet Hanning.
(Oh, my goodness! I forgot the Super Bowl football game! This is always played on the first Sunday in February. This year the day was February 7.)
Sie sin viel meh Feierdaage im Hanning as ich net gschriwwe davun hab. Vielleicht en annermol.
(There are many more holidays in February that I did not write about. Perhaps
another time.)
Bis schpeeder… (Until later)… Yuscht es Bauereimaedel aus Kutzeschteddel, die Mary Laub
(Just the farm girl from Kutztown, Mary Laub)
Mary Laub is the author of the Uff der Bauerei (On the Farm) series. She taught in the Kutztown Area School District and in the Kutztown University Elementary Education Department for over 40 years. She teaches Pennsylvania German (Dutch) in the Early Learning Community, Inc. preschool. She can be reached at jmlaub@aol.com.