Today we have our very first GUEST BLOGGER! My beautiful, talented, German-American friend Loralee Tyson agreed to write about her experiences celebrating Von Steuben Day in New York City. Please enjoy!
***
Though I don’t speak any German aside from “Guten Tag” or “Gesundheit” I will happily state that I am of German-American heritage! My father, in a bout of intense scholarly passion, researched the Tyson or Theissen family all the way back to our roots in Crefeld-om-Rhine in Nordheim Westfallen, Germany in 1683!
***
Though I don’t speak any German aside from “Guten Tag” or “Gesundheit” I will happily state that I am of German-American heritage! My father, in a bout of intense scholarly passion, researched the Tyson or Theissen family all the way back to our roots in Crefeld-om-Rhine in Nordheim Westfallen, Germany in 1683!
I first heard about the Von Steuben Day celebration in NYC
my freshman year of college (Fall of ’06 for you sports fans keeping track). I
accompanied the German club from Drew University to the parade AND got to march
in it. Sadly, I was a mere 18 and couldn’t participate in the beer garden
festivities.
Oh, how times have changed!
This Saturday
September 21 marked this year’s Von Steuben Day Celebration. Von Steuben Day is
considered THE event for German-Americans. It’s basically the equivalent to our
St. Patrick’s Day. Traditionally celebrated in mid-September to commemorate
Baron Friedrich von Steuben’s birthday, Von Steuben Day is filled with
traditional German music, dancing, food and OF COURSE beer!
A little history: Baron von
Steuben (born Friedrich Wilhelm
Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben) of Madgeburg, Germany served as Major and
Inspector General of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war. It is
said that he spearheaded the tactic and drill training of the Continental Army
(insert joke about German rigidity and punctuality here). He penned the
Revolutionary War Manual (buy your own copy for $6.99 from amazon!) which was
the US drill manual until the War of 1812. Von Steuben was General George
Washington’s chief of staff during the final years of the Revolutionary War.
The Pennsylvania legislature made von Steuben an American citizen in March 1784
(recognized by NY in 1786).
Back to the actual event! Von Steuben Day begins with a
parade (beginning at 11:30AM sharp, we are a punctual people) filled with
German clubs, dancers, bands and floats. People wear traditional dirndls,
lederhosen and other costumes associated with Deutschland. People throw candy; distribute free swag and
German flags! The parade route is Fifth Avenue between 68th and 86th
Street.
Following the parade is
Oktoberfest in Central Park. This is a hugely popular event and usually sells
out within days of tickets going on sale. But don’t despair; scalpers usually
have tickets to spare right outside the line! The beer tents are located near
the entrance into Central Park on Fifth Ave and 72nd Street near the
Mother Goose Statue! After waiting in
line with several hundred unruly and beer thirsty Germans we were allowed entry
to the tents. Pitchers of beer are sold for both cash and tokens and don’t
expect to find any Miller or Budweiser here. Only German and Oktoberfest beers
are served and everything is draught! Make sure to grab a platter with German
potato salad, sauerkraut, a pickle and a brät or
a pretzel with mustard!
Live music is played throughout, with breaks for dance
performances or traditional polkas. Renditions of Ein Prosit are heard at least twice an hour, so if you aren’t
already familiar, I recommend listening to the traditional drinking song!
"Ein Prosit "
With Beer stein or glass in hand
A Salute to Your Health or
Well-being!
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit
(Cheer!) Eins, zwei, drei, g'suffa!
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit
(Cheer!) Eins, zwei, drei, g'suffa!
Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke,
hoi, hoi, hoi
Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke,
Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke,
hoi, hoi, hoi
Prost!!!
As pitchers are emptied, it
is a tradition to stack them to see which tables are drinking the fastest. Our
table was pretty impressive with
in less than 45 minutes. Tables start to combine pitcher
stacks until there are only 2 HUGE stacks of pitchers racing towards the top of
the tent. This may seem a bit silly, and dangerous, and it is, but it is
TRADITION. And it’s fun.
Oktoberfest in Germany began on Saturday (the 21st)
and will continue until Sunday October 6, so if you didn’t celebrate this
weekend, have no fear! You still have 2 weeks to drink your fill of German
draught beer and eat piles of sausages!
I recommend Bohemian Beer Garden (29-19 24th Ave Long Island City,
NY) for those Queens dwellers
like myself.
In Manhattan:
Reichenbach Hall: 5 West 37th Street
They have shot-skis and a
sausage platter that is AMAZING!
Zum Schneider: 107 Avenue C
So much fun! This location is
a little smaller than some of the others but has an amazing selection of food and brews.
Prost!
No comments:
Post a Comment