February 2002 - Nr. 2
Dick reports...
A short trip
around the world
When
the Lady Jesters of the Narrhalla ’58 in Hamilton hosted the costume ball
with the theme "Around the world", they had expected about 200 guests. Well,
they didn’t all show up.
The
strongest carnival society that did arrive was the "Treue Husaren, from
Mississauga". They were also the ones that appeared to have the most fun at
this event.
Another special set of guests was the Royal Couple from Kitchener, Princess Helga and Prince Albert, complete with Hofmarschall (Jürgen) and Hofdame (Gunhild). Their presence was highly appreciated by all.
The
idea ‘Around the World’ was great and the costumes provided by the host
society were innovative and almost authentic.
The
countries represented were Hungary, Japan, China, German Alps, Hawaii (US),
Arabia, Spain, Russia, India plus a Native American Indian.
A
DJ with an extensive repertoire provided the musical background, since all
the usual, available bands were booked out. But the guests did not seem to
mind and the dance floor was usually full of revellers.
The
great mood provided by the ’Husaren’ was contagious, contributing to a great
atmosphere at this event. Erika, as someone that looked like Bin Laden, made
a great impression and also won one of the costume prizes - and so did many
others of the ‘Treue Husaren’ group later that evening.
The
Narrhalla Junior Dance Guard with a guard dance and a wonderful show dance
provided more entertainment. An attentive audience received both very well.
Well done, girls!
For
the first time – since the previous operator left – table service was
available. The club is currently negotiating with a new operator for the
restaurant. Let’s hope they can make this work.
The only negative aspect was the fact that not more of the still existing carnival societies had sent any representatives. They were all invited! What happened? Don’t they have "Spass an der Freude" anymore?
Crazy Ladies in Kitchener
Well,
here they did have "Spass a.d.F.". But then they usually do. This year’s
theme was ‘Niagara Falls’ and most of the members from the "Narrenzunft"
were dressed in barrels to represent the "Going over the Falls in a barrel"
theme.
Claudia
and Peter (Schoepke) had just gotten married and the blushing bride
obviously did not fit into a barrel anymore! Later on, she appeared with an
ugly baby in her arms (Now everyone realised that they ‘had’ to get married)
and promptly started feeding it – at the bar and with a bottle of beer of
course.
Karin Zimmermann, with Hildegard Saur as assistant, portrayed a painter from Paris that painted living pictures with people from the audience. Hilarious, but untranslatable into English. What can you call an "Armleuchter" or "Ein überspanntes Frauenzimmer" etc. in English? But since most of the guests understood what it was all about they applauded vigorously.
Elaine
Keller and Funky Christie Wolf entertained the troops with solo dances to
everyone’s delight and the band "Die Goldenen Zwei" (The Golden Two) kept
the dance floor occupied. (Yes, all three of them!)
Some
very imaginative costumes were in evidence again and received well-deserved
prizes.
One disturbing fact though, why didn’t more of the still active carnival societies sent the customary representatives? Brantford and Mississauga did. Why not others?
But
despite their absence the hall was well filled and the Royal Couple – Helga
and Albert – at least had more foolish ‘subjects’ to reign over than in
Hamilton.
Festival in Blau-Gold
Always
„THE" event of the season! Kudos to the "Treue Husaren, Toronto", who hosted
the event as they do every year and do not shirk the responsibility to stage
the event, to decorate the hall and to look after the logistics that made
this evening a resounding success.
Since
most of the visiting carnival societies are shrinking by attrition it is a
miracle to see the elegant ballroom filled almost to capacity.
Well,
the event is so well known in Ontario, that a great number of the guests in
attendance were not carnivalists, but "civilians". I am always hoping that
some of them may catch the ‘spark’, so to speak, and join one of the groups
as members, but that is probably too much to hope for.
There were a number of young people in attendance that really enjoyed themselves quite a bit. But will they catch the spark?
Traditionally
two bands are engaged for this event and this year it was the "Euro
Connection" and the "Four Star Quartet", with Günter Sander on percussion,
that looked after the musical part of the festivity. Great sounds! Thanks
guys! It was gratifying to see Günter Sander in full swing again, after a
two-year hiatus. We will most likely see more of him in other venues again
as well. Welcome back!
One
of the first items on the agenda was of course the "Einmasch" of the
visiting carnival societies. First in line were the hosts – K. G. Treuer
Husar, Toronto – followed by the K. G. Narragonia, Brantford, K.G. Blau
Weiss, Oakville, K. G. Treuer Husar, Mississauga, K. G. Hansa, Brampton, and
a reigning royal couple: Prinz Otto I. of Graz and Princess Elfie I. of
Berlin, plus Hofdame, Hofmarschall, and their "Kinderprinzenpaar" Ashley and
Christopher - they were followed by the newest member of the BDKK: K. G.
Ascendia, Hamilton and one of the oldest: the G. K. G. Harmonie, Toronto.
Unfortunately we had to do without the Narrhalla ’58, Hamilton and the
Narrenzunft Concordia, Kitchener, who had promised to attend the crowning
ceremony of the royals in Sarnia that evening. (We learned that the
Kitchener group lost about an hour on their trip to Sarnia, due to a broken
fan belt of the bus – but they made it. They started out at 5 pm in
Kitchener and arrived at about 9 pm in Sarnia. Long trip, eh?)
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The opening address was of course by Steve Haas, the host’s president and another address followed – after the "marching in"- by Armin Hellmann, acting president of the BDKK.
The
Narragonia dance guard entertained with two wonderful show dances during the
evening and also sold tickets for the draw and the "Money Tree".
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At
about 11:00 p.m. a short polonaise was started in order to determine the
prices for the best male, best female, best couple and best group – judged
by Paul Kaisler, Illa Püpke and Sybille Forster-Rentmeister, who proved to
be a humorous taskmaster.
Unfortunately
no provisions had been made for a special prize for children. But we will
have one next year! Promise! Sybille gave all her collected treasures of
that evening to everyone who participated but didn’t win, except for two
clowns, who could not be found anymore. Where did you hide?
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I should also mention that plenty of good food was available by the resident caterers. Even coffee and cake for desert were available, later in the evening. Did I mention the "Champagne Bar" – one of the most heavily frequented areas in the ballroom? Well, now I did.
Costumes at the Hansa Haus
The "Treue Husaren, Mississauga hosted the annual costume
ball at the Hansa Haus this last weekend. It is already tradition that this
group’s function is almost always sold out. It wasn’t any different this
year.
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Among the many special guests were the "Royal" couples from Kitchener, Milton and Downriver Detroit with Prince Timothy I. and Princess Karen from Frankfurt. Kitchener’s Narrenzunft sent Princess Helga and Prince Albert and Milton sent Prince Otto and Princess Elfie; both parties were complete with Hofmarschall and Hofdame.
Downriver Detroit also sent their president Brian Blaga. However we missed their 89 year old "mascot" who had a bad fall a few weeks ago but is already up and around again – but not well enough for the long trip to Toronto. We all wish her a speedy recovery!
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Some of the guests had also come from the 1. K.G. Blau-Weiss, Sarnia, with president Manfred Gruening. Other groups attending or represented were: Narrhalla ’58, Hamilton - Narragonia, Brantford - Hansa, Brampton - Narrenzunft Concordia, Kitchener – Ascendia, Hamilton – Ontario Prinzengarde, Milton – Treuer Husar, Toronto – Blau-Weiss Eintracht, Oakville – Lorely, Oshawa’s Senior Guard – plus Armin Hellmann, acting president of the BDKK.
Hazel McCallion - Mississauga’s wonderful mayor - had to beg off this time. This is the first time that she was unable to attend one of the functions of "her Germans in Mississauga".
Some very innovative costumes were in evidence again,
notably the M & M costumes of the host group with the "The chocolate that
melts in your mouth, not you hands" slogan on the back of the costumes. They
also threw out small bags of M & M’s during their "Einmarsch". Great idea!
Kudos also to Peter Beck and his Mississauga Express, who always played the right music at the proper time and the obligatory "Tusch" when required. One could tell that they were not newcomers to the carnival scene. Well done, guys!
Lots of entertainment was provided by the host’s Dance Guard
- seniors and juniors – as well as by the Loreley Dance Guard, who did their
‘Schuhplattler’ imitation in ‘Bavarian’ costumes.
Show-dances always provide the girls with creative outlets,
away from the structured dances that have to remain in prescribed
parameters. In show dances they can stretch the envelope, use innovative -
and, at times ‘funky’ - music and costumes, sometimes with really
spectacular results. "Who let the dog out?" was just one example by those
six little ‘Dalmatians’ from the THM group.
One of the door prizes was a huge ‘Afghan’ in the German Colors, created by one of the members of the host group. It was a really unusual piece of work, to say the least.
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Food and drink was good and plentiful, but this is nothing unusual at the Hansa kitchen or the Hansa bar. There were choices in imported beers available also, such as: ‘Warsteiner’, ‘Hacker-Pschorr’ and the new ‘Paulaner’ Wheat beer. All beer-types had found connoisseurs among our beer lovers.
Well, it is almost the end of the carnival season. Loreley, Hansa and Brantford have functions on February 9th and the ‘Rose-Monday’ bash - hosted by the Harmonie Brass Show Band at the Donauschwaben Club in Scarborough - is scheduled for Monday the 11th. This promises to be one of the great Mardi Gras functions as well and one not to be missed. Note also the date!
All that is left after this date is the Herring dinner on Ash Wednesday and the traditional washing of the billfold in the town fountain – since there is no money left. Then we have to suffer through a long Spring, Summer and Fall until we can let our hair down again and act like the fools we secretly all love to be.
Alaaf, Helau and Ahoi
Dick Altermann
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