Richtfest

Last weekend we celebrated our first Richtfest here in Germany. The neighbors are adding on to their house and the roof is finished so they had a party Friday night. Thursday night we had the pre-party as we decorated the Richtbaum, which resembles a Christmas tree. As the pictures show we made a really impressive wreath/bush. The tradition is that once the roof is on the owners walk around the house with the neighbors & richtbaum and take a shot of schnapps at each corner. In the end the roofers read a poem and then they host the wreath on top of the roof. The baby hanging inside the wreath is for children in the future and I'm not sure what the bottle represents. A very cultural experience!

The Carpenter’s Poem
With grace and goodwill!
The ceremony is here
It rests the workman’s hand
After long, hard days of labour
The Richtbaum stands proudly over the land.

We’ve done a fine job
A fine building is standing
So free, light and effortless
I’ve never seen a better sight!

Such a work can only be done
If every man works faithfully
And all stand together
The master, apprentice and journeyman

And all the rewards after their precise work
For the old tradition of the Richtfest today
Where they can make themselves strong with food and drink
The mason and the carpenter

Today everyone is proud and happy,
Those who worked so proficiently
Those fine workmen
Who did their profession proud

With that, as best I can,
As strong as a carpenter
With pride upon this lordly sight,
I wish the new house good fortune

We ask God
Who protected us so well from all ills,
We ask Him to protect this building
From need and danger in all its forms

With great pleasure I take this glass in hand,
Filled to the brim with wine,
And with the fiery fruit of the vines,
Every man wants the honour I’ve been given,
Given to me by the old tradition
Of when a building has been finished.

The first glass is for the builders:
Three cheers for them, hip hip hooray!

The second sip is for the architects,
Three cheers for them, hip hip hooray!

Now for those who at all times
Not only need their head, but also their hand
Let praise be upon them once more, to the carpenters
Through whose strength, this building stands

Now the glass is empty
And I’ve not much else worth saying
So I throw this down to the ground below
Nobody needs a broken glass again
But the shards bring the luck and blessing
Of all workers!