Hollebeer Haven, Summer 2012 Now Available

Thanks to Rob Schreiwer for posting this to the Hexenkunst list on Yahoo! The Summer, 2012 edition of Hollerbeer Haven: The Journal of Urglaawe, Braucherei, and Deitsch Wisdom is now available in .PDF form and may be downloaded for free at:
http://urglaawe. com/uploads/ 15_Hollerbeer_ Haven_Summer_ 2012.pdf

Pennsylvania Dutch cooking gets an advocate in chef who makes scrapple appetizer, hog maw sauce

"Little develops menus with new twists on Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. He adheres to a simple philosophy — whatever produce is plentiful, makes the plate. One week diners might find a roasted cauliflower dish on the menu, the next week a carrot salad."  This article by Sue Gleiter may be read in its entirety at PennLive.

PA Dutch Braucherei

"On this site you will find my thoughts and experiences with the faith healing and folk magic of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture; a fascinating blend of religion, superstition, magic, healing, astrology, charms, folklore and faith.  I hope you enjoy your visit!" On this blog by braucher Rob Chapman, you will find much useful information regrading the traditions of braucherei, hexerei, pow-wow, etc. His site also includes sample charms and recipes, and also links to his YouTube videos. His blog may be found here.

A Look Back in History: Dutch shoot in New Year

"The traditional New Year’s folklife in the Oley Valley and Oley Hills, as elsewhere among the Pennsylvania Dutch, was as follows: On New Year’s Eve, German dialect speaking neighbors of Pennsylvania Dutch descent would gather at the home of the New Year’s Wisher, who had memorized the Pennsylvania German dialect “New Year’s Chant” and was ready to call on all his farm neighbors.

The highlight of this traditional blessing was when the chanter reached the final verse and asked the homeowner if there was any reason why they should not “shoot in” the New Year for his household. If the owner gave permission, the group of well wishers shot off their shotguns in the midnight air, breaking the silence of the countryside at each home."

Essentially this is a counterpart to the English custom of wassailing, with Germanic roots. A similar custom is practiced in one small North Carolina town, in an area also settled by Germans in the colonial era. Read the full article at the Boyertown Area Times.

Hex sign research leads to art career

"As a Kutztown University student in the summer of 2008, Patrick J. Donmoyer began documenting hex signs on Berks County barns. ... Traveling the county's rural byways, he would photograph hex signs - sometimes called barn stars - on about 425 barns. ... Donmoyer's study, titled "Pennsylvania Dutch Barn Stars: Celestial Symbolism in Folk Culture," is one of the most comprehensive assessments of the region's cultural symbols." Read the full article, including information on contacting Mr. Donmoyer about his work, at the Reading Eagle.

Braucherei and Hexerei in old Pennsylvania

Lecture by author Ned heindel on the practice of Witchcraft in the area of William Township in Pennsylvania. Full article by Tiffany Bentley at Lehigh Valley Live.

Get Your Herbal On

Professor of food studies William Woys Weaver lectures on Pennsylvania Dutch herbal remedies as presented in the 18th century work, Sauer's Herbal Cures, America's First Book of Botanic Healing. Full article may be read at the West Chester Patch.

Scherenschnitte

"Pennsylvania Dutch poet and folk artist Peter V. Fritsch opens his new book, "Pennsylvania Dutch Halloween Scherenschnitte," with an autobiographical ode about a dedicated paper cutter....Scherenschnitte, which means scissors cutting in German, is the age-old art of cutting paper into intricate designs." Read the full article at Reading Eagle.