PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

January 13, 2005

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Letscht Woch hot uns der Kallennermann, Henry A. Schuler, gsaat “’S Neiyaahrsschiesse iss en alder Gebrauch wu noch viel uffghalde watt do rum.” Awwer sell waar nadierlich 1905 gschriwwe. Heidichdaags deet er gewiss ‘s Watt ‘net” benutze: “wu net uffghalde watt.” Un deswege denk ich ass viel Leit gaern wisse deede genaa was mer saagt wann mer Neiyaahrswinsche geht.


   Do iss en Wunsch ass mer im Lloyd Moll seim Buch Am Schwatze Baer finne kann:

Ich winsch eich in dem haus
All’s Glick in daere Welt,
Mit Gsundheet macht’s nix aus
Wie reich du bischt mit Geld.
Ken Grankheet soll dich lege,
Ken Schmaerze sollscht du leide,
Un Druwwel, do lach dewege;
Fer dich sin lauder Freide.
Dei Beem mit Obscht belaade,
Die Nescht sin gans geboge,
Dei Graut brauchscht net abblade,
Die Keffer sin all verfloge.
Dei Frichde uffem Feld
Die schtehne all so dick,
Dei Aernt bringt dir viel Geld,
Mei Wunsch en grooses Glick.
Dei Kieh, die gewwe Budder
In Glumbe goldegeel;
‘S iss yedes Kalb en Mudder
Un des iss unne Fehl;
Dei Sei, die sole waxe
Viel heecher wie die Benne;
Dei Hinkel immer gaxe,
So dass sie lege kenne.

Nau hoscht du graad vor Aage
Des Glick dass dir vorfallt,
So duh dich net beglaage;
Kumm runner eb es gnallt.
Duh Brotwascht indie Pann,
Grick all des Zugehaer,
En verflochtner Dimmitschann,
Ich hoff er iss net leer.
Iss all der Schnapps verloffe,
Do gebt’s aa ken Geheil,
Ken besser Schtoff watt gsoffe,
Wie eier Seidereil.
Un wann mer dich verdriesse,
Dann saag’s nau, un gschwinnt,
Eb mir den Schuss losschiesse,
Aus daere alde Flint.

Macht’s gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

Last week the Almanac Man, Henry A. Schuler, told us that “Shooting in the new year is an old custom that has still been maintained around here.” But that was of course written in 1905. These days he would certainly use the word “not”: “That is not maintained.” And that is why I think that many people would like to know exactly what one says when one goes New Year’s Wishing.

Here is a wish that can be found in Lloyd Moll’s book At the Sign of the Black Bear:

I wish you in this house
All the luck/happiness in this world,
If you are healthy it makes no difference
How rich you are with money.
No sickness shall put you down,
No pain shall you suffer,
And trouble, just laugh about it;
For you, nothing but joys.
Your trees loaded with fruit,
The branches are all bent down,
You don’t have to take leaves off your cabbage,
The bugs have all flown off.
Your grains in the fields
Stand all very thick,
Your harvest brings you much money,
My wish, a great happiness (for you)
Your cows, they give butter
In clumps golden yellow;
Every calf is a mother
And that is without fail;
Your pigs, they should grow
Much higher that the pens;
Your chickens always cackle
So that they can lay.
Now you have before you
The happiness that will come to you,
So don’t complain;
Come down before there’s a bang (gun goes off).
Put sausage in the pan,
Get all the appurtenances,
A wicker-work demi-john,
I hope it isn’t empty.
If all the whiskey’s gone,
There won’t be any crying,
No better stuff is drunk
Than your “cider”
And if we vex you,
Then tell us now, and quickly,
Before we let go this shot
From this old rifle.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf