Initially, I did not want to bore you with another
querelle d'Allemand. Still, when even the
New York Times reported a sarcastic remark of one of our deputy speakers
of parliament (
Bundestagsvizepräsident),
Wolfgang Thierse, the German press and I became excited.
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Wolfgang Thierse (right) with Freiburg's MP
Gernot Erler
on a visit in front of the Neues Rathaus in August 2002
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Up until now, I have admired Wolfgang, who, in 1989, lived in East Berlin and
was one of the architects of the
Wende in the GDR, leading to Germany's
reunification. He still dwells on
Käthe-Kollwitz-Platz at
Prenzlauer Berg, one of the Berlin quarters that are "in." This led to
gentrification since about 90% of the people moved there after the
Wende and dislodged the original population. Wolfgang pointed his
finger at newcomers from Swabia, "In Berlin, I want to buy
Schrippen and no
Weckle."
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Brötchen (©Wikipedia)
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In High German, a roll or a bun is called
Brötchen, meaning small bread
as French
petit pain. This word is supposed to be understood in all
parts of the country. Nevertheless, Elisabeth still likes to tell the story of
when we lived as a young couple in Munich, and she went to a local bakery to
buy a few
Brötchen. The lady behind the counter taught her,"
Brötchen hoamer net, wir hoam nur Semmeln
(We have no Brötchen, we only have Semmeln)." You may have guessed by now
that
Brötchen is called
Schrippe in Berlin,
Weckle in Baden-Württemberg, and
Semmel in Bavaria.
However, there are
moreregional
names. You buy
Rundstücke in Hamburg,
Wecke in Hessia,
Brüdche in Cologne, and
Brötli in Switzerland. In addition,
there are lots of variations carrying unique names, which I like in
particular:
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Röggelchen is made partly from rye flour. Served in Cologne
with
a chunk of medium-aged Dutch cheese as Halve Hahn.
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Doppel-Bürli with its dark crust baked in Switzerland
and best with butter and a slice of Gruyere cheese (©Wikipedia)
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Schusterjunge (cobbler's apprentice) in Berlin. A roll made
from rye.
Simply delicious when spread with crackling fat (©Wikipedia).
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But enough of rolls and buns as the story that by now should be over shows
signs of a civil war. The slogan from November 1989 - perverted already in
November 2009 against West German domination of the East - suddenly rears its
head again on a poster:
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We are one people; you are another (©dpa)
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The highlight of the
Schrippe-Weckle quarrel so
far was that the head of Käthe Kollwitz's sculpture was decorated with
Spätzle, i.e., the pasta from Swabia. The police downplayed the
affair, saying it was no criminal property damage because the next rain would
easily wash off the pasta.
For this carnival season, the Swabians bestowed the golden fool's Bell upon
Wolfgang Thierse. He, the first non-Swabian to be honored, regarded the honor
as a Prussian-Swabian reconciliation, commenting,"
Differences make Germany richer."
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Wolfgang Thierse with the Golden Fool's Bell (©Der Spiegel)
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For the date of February 1, separatists announced the creation of a Swabian
enclave on Prenzlauer Berg called Schwabylon, from which they would ban
Thierse into exile.
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A Swabian enclave on Prenzlauer Berg
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Nota bene: We, the people of Baden, are not concerned. In
Freiburg, the homemade pasta is called
Knöpfle.
*
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