Press Releases
SCHWENKFELDER LIBRARY & HERITAGE CENTER
105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, PA 18073
Phone: 215–679–3103; Fax: 215–679–8175
info@schwenkfelder.com
www.schwenkfelder.com
February 1, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David W. Luz
Tel. 215–679–3103
Fax 215–679–8175
Children’s Grundsau Lodsch predicts an Early Spring!
PENNSBURG, PA—On January 29, the last Sunday before Groundhog Day, February 2, children gathered at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center to participate in the only Pennsylvania German Children’s Groundhog Lodge.
Following the tradition of many groundhog lodges in Pennsylvania, children spoke in Pennsylvania German, sung popular PA German tunes, and made a weather prediction during the Heritage Center’s second annual groundhog lodge for children. New children were initiated through Verschpreches zu der Grundsau (pledges to the groundhog lodge), and sung Leider (songs) Uff Da Bauerrei (Home on the Range) and Oh Die alt Groe Grundsau (Oh the Old Gray Groundhog). Songs were accompanied by 12 year old pianist Jill Kachmar of Gracenote Piano Studio of East Greenville, PA.
The Grundsau Wedder Brofate, Groundhog Ricky, used a Wedderraad (weather wheel), to assist him in predicting the forecast and predicted Friehyaarhswedder (spring weather) for the next six weeks. Children threw handmade paper flowers into the air to celebrate the prediction of an early spring, Friehyaarhswedder. Concluding the program, children played groundhog games, made miniature groundhogs, and enjoyed traditional PA German food. Carl Arner of Grundsau Lodsch 7, from Alburtis, and Lucy Kern of the only women’s groundhog lodge held in East Greenville, served as volunteers during the event. The program was organized by Rebecca Lawrence, the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center’s Museum Educator and graduate of Kutztown University. The next groundhog lodge for children, Die Dritte Yaarlich Grundsau Lodsch fer Yunge, open to the public, will be held on January 27, 2013, at the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center.
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center was founded in 1884 as an informal collection in a private home to assure the preservation of the Schwenkfelders' cultural identity. Today the Heritage Center, a not-for-profit organization, is still preserving, interpreting, and documenting the history of this German Protestant group along with their Pennsylvania German Heritage. The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; Thursdays 9:00 am to 8:00 pm; Saturdays 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; and Sundays 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The Heritage Center is closed to the public on Mondays. For additional information call 215–679–3103 or visit our website www.schwenkfelder.com
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David W. Luz
Executive Director
Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
105 Seminary Street
Pennsburg, PA 18073
Tel. 215–679–3103
Fax 215–679–8175
email: info@schwenkfelder.com
www.schwenkfelder.com