December 2001 - Nr. 12
Dick reports...
We’re Back on Track…
…with carnival! The season has officially started with the opening of the K. G. Blue-White Eintracht at the Galaxy Club in Oakville.
After suffering through this long time between Ash Wednesday and now, it’s sort of cool to meet all the other fools again that feel like I do about carnival.
Unfortunately they are not all there anymore. They are getting fewer every year and like old soldiers ‘they just fade away’ - but are not forgotten. You only notice their absence by how full the venues are.
In the past the opening at the Galaxy club was sold out. This year there were a few tables left empty. Not all the visiting clubs arrived in full strength either. Apparently some of the members are saving their energy for the opening of the new K.G. Ascendia in Hamilton, the next day.
This
year Friedhelm Krumme, vice-president of the hosting society, was the MC.
Despite a broken wrist – in a cast – he did a great job of keeping
things on track with only one hand.
However
his wife Marita helped in areas where two hands are better than one. She
also supplied a bit of gymnastic entertainment during one of the band’s
breaks. Even though it had really nothing to do with carnival, it was still
interesting entertainment.
The
Girl Guard of the K. G. Narragonia, Brantford with a guard-dance and a jazzy
show-dance provided other entertainment to great applause by the
guests.
So,
by the way did Elvis Presley – at least that was how the young lady was
introduced – with an accomplished dance-number.
Visiting Royalty were the royal couple from the K.G. Ontario Prinzengarde, who also brought a "Kinderprinzenpaar" with them.
They
were Prince Christopher I. And Princess Ashley I. (aged 10 and 11) who tried
to behave very royally. They were also present at the stage - and watched
the proceedings very closely – when the obligatory medals were distributed
to the various dignitaries.
Peter Beck and the Mississauga Express did their best again to provide the musical background during the official part of the evening and of course provided wonderful dance music for the rest of the evening.
We
should of course not forget the fabulous food that was offered by Lein’s
Delicatessen Catering Service and the fact that we had a well-visited "Sekt"
Bar again this year.
Also something worth noting: since the Galaxy Club is a private club, smoking was permitted at the tables!
The next day was the - long and anxiously awaited – "Opening" of the newly created Carnival society "K. G. Ascendia" at the Venetian Club in Hamilton. It was started by four members of the Narrhalla ’58 – who wanted to do their own thing – and has the blessings of the BDKK.
During
the official part of the evening the new president of the "Bund
Deutscher Karnival Kanada", Armin Hellman bid them welcome and wished
them the best of luck for the future.
Everything
went according to plan, except that the band during the "Einmarsh"
did not play a march and it was a bit of a problem for the participants to
follow the music, but they managed anyway. As I found out later, the band
was not instructed as to the proper procedures, and being basically an
Oktoberfest-type band, did not know what to play. Other than that the
opening ceremonies were perfect. After the 16 members of the new group had
marched in – flags and all - and taken their place at the head table a
minute of silence was observed for the passing of our recent BDKK president
Fred Wagner, and a few people had tears in their eyes. Well, he will be
missed and remembered for a long time!
Then
came the introductions of the various presidents of the nine visiting
societies ( Treuer Husar, Missisauga and Treuer Husar, Toronto, Narragonia,
Brantford, Loreley, Oshawa, Ontario Prinzengarde, Londoner Funken Rot-Weiß,
Narrenzunft Concordia, Kitchener and Downriver, Detroit) followed by the
introduction of the visiting Royals.
Prince
Albert and Princess Helga from the Narrenzunft Concordia, Kitchener, Prince
Otto and Princess Elfie from Burlington with the young couple Christopher
and Ashley and Prince Timothy I. from Detroit. Everything was very festive
and very much in keeping with "carnival".
Then,
to everyone’s surprise, the "Kindergarde" of the 1. K. G.
Ascendia marched in and performed the first time in public – after only
about three months preparation – "Singing in the rain". The five
girls and one boy did a very credible job - for only the first time - and
they will now have more incentive to stay with it and were awarded with
"Ki Ka Bo" pins by Derek Halbig, president of the new society, for
their efforts.
The
Loreley, Oshawa - Girl Guard - with a guard dance and two show dances,
"Schuhplattler" and "Can Can", provided additional,
wonderful entertainment.
An excellent buffet of very tasty food was provided by one of the members of the club who doesn’t want to be mentioned. Well, almost everyone knows Helmut anyway! The bar was also very well stocked with German beers and wines so that everyone could be served one of their favourite beverages. (Even the Doornkat was served "ice-cold"!)
Some
of the other prominent guests were Germania Club President Linda Wanner,
Continental Austrian Club Vice-president Helmut Bock, G.T.E.V Alpenland
President John Parti, and of course BDKK President Armin Hellmann, mentioned
above.
In
conclusion I can only say that this new outfit is doing something right. I
do not normally approve of divorce, however if these - mainly young -
carnivalists are doing something to beef up our dying carnival in Canada,
more power to them. In view of this I feel they deserve our support.
"Kappenabend" in Hamilton
Trust
the Narrhalla ’58 to come up with something new! This was the first time
that this old German custom was held in Canada, or so I’ve been informed.
Instead of a traditional "Opening", they decided to inaugurate the
"Kappenabend", an evening of close togetherness at large tables
– rather than sitting around a dance floor – the participants were able
to get some "Tuchfühlung" with their neighbours and enjoy an
evening of close comradery, fellowship and good fun within the framework of
carnival as long as a "Kappe" (normally referred to as the jester’s
hat – or Narrenkappe) was worn on the head. This could be a jester’s hat
or any kind of fancy or funny headgear. The funnier the better.
Some
of guests came from most of the other carnival societies plus guests from
Europe.
From
Austria we welcomed Norbert Butschek, Landespräsident from Salzburg –
Tirol – Berchtesgaden and Berchtesgadener Faschungsgilde (Fasching =
Carnival in Bavaria) with their "Bundeselferratspresident" and
Senate’s President Ludwig Schroer and his wife Karin who is the President
of the BFG. The Royals from Kitchener and Armin Hellmann, BDKK President
were some of the more prominent visitors.
Some of the guests proved to be accomplished stand-up comics and managed to elicit raucous laughter from the audience.
Medals
were also distributed, but not the traditional ones, but various funny items
from the Dollar-store, on ribbons, to fit around the neck. Guess who was
honoured with the, one and only, foot-long "Editors" pencil?!
(Sybille has it now since she is the "Editor-in-Chief!)
Sing-alongs
and "Schunkelmusic" provided by a boom box and lots of CDs with
carnival type music, helped to loosen the atmosphere even more.
Sandwiches were available after the official part of the evening and it didn’t take long for them to disappear. Great fun! Repeats strongly recommended!
As always, Alaaf and Helau
Dick Altermann
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