Endecke. Zammehenke. Gheere. – Discover. Connect. Belong.
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Gut Glick un kumm bald widder. – Good luck and come back soon.
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January 31, 2026Well, Munndaag iss en wichdige Daag fer uns Deitsche! Uff em Zwette Hanning iss Grundsaudaag. Ich hab gedenkt ass selle Woch daet ich glee bissel vun re Gschichde seller Feierdaag schreiwe.
Grundsaudaag iss en Feierdaag, der uff em zwette Hanning in Amerikaa gfeiert iss. Die Gschichde geht so: wann es drieb iss un die Grundsau aus ihrem Loch kummt, waerrd sie ihr Loch verlosse. Sell mehnt ass der Winder schunn ball vorbei iss. Awwer wann es sunnich iss, waerrd die Grundsau ihr Schadde sehne un zerick ins Loch laafe, un der Winder waerrd fer sex Woch meh ausdauere.
Heitzudaage gebt es viele Feschte frieh am Mariye um die Grundsau zu sehne. In sudd-oscht Pennsylvaania, Grundsau Lodsche feiere es Feschtdaag mit Versommlinge. Versommlinge sin Feschde wu es en Iems gebt, Redde sin ghalde, un vielleicht glee bissel Muysick in em Mudderschprooch sin gschpielt un gsunge. Uff soddiche Feschde gebt es yuscht Deitsch, wann epper en Englische Wadde saagt, muss mer Geld bezaahle! So waar es frieher gewest, awwer heitzudaage kann mer meh un meh Englisch datt heere.
Der Feierdaag hot ass en Pennsylvaanisch Deitsche Kustom in sudd-oscht Pennsylvaania in em 18. un 19. Yaahrhunnert aagfange. Awwer sei Aafang kummt aus alde Europaische Wedder Gschichde. Datt hot es en Dax es Wedder gsaat. Es greeschde Grundsau Fescht iss in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvaania. Die Grundsau datt heest der Punxsutawney Phil. Die Haaptmenner vun Punxsutawney draage Tuxedos un Schtitzhiet fer es Fescht!
Die Grundsau (marmota monax) iss en Freindschaft vun re Eechhaas Familye! Sell hab ich net gwisst! Der Winder bis nau iss arrig kalt gewest un es hot viel Schnee schunn gewwe. Ich hoff ass uff em Munndaag, der Phil sei Schadde net sehne waerrd! Was denkt eich?
Do iss en Audio Klip:
Ich un en Grundsau uff en Grundsau Lodsch Versommling! –I and a groundhog at a Grounhog Lodge Versommling!
Well, Monday is an important day for us PA Dutch! The second of February is Groundhog Day. I thought that this week I would write a little bit about the history of that holiday.
Groundhog Day is a holiday, which is celebrated in America on the second of February. In south-eastern Pennsylvania, Groundhog Lodges celebrate the holiday with Versommlinge (gatherings). Versommlinge are festivals where there is a meal, speeches are given, and maybe a little music will be played and sung in the mother tongue. At such festivals there is only PA Dutch, when someone says an English word, they have to pay money! That’s how it used to be, but now a days one can hear more and more English there.
The holiday started as a Pennsylvania Dutch custom in south-eastern PA in the 18th and 19th centuries. But its origin comes from old European weather history. There a badger prophesied the weather. The largest groundhog festival is in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania. The groundhog there is named Punxsutawney Phil. The Inner Circle men there wear tuxedos and top hats for the festival!
The groundhog (marmota monax) is a relative of the squirrel family! I didn’t know that! The winder up until now has been really cold and we have gotten a lot of snow already. I hope that on Monday, Phil doesn’t see his shadow! What do you guys think? [...]
December 13, 202513. Diesember 2025
Liewer Belsnickel,
Wie bischt? Ich hoff as alles gut mit dir iss. Do iss mei Brief an dir fer seller Grischtdaag. Des Yaahr waar ich en arrig guder Bu. Ich hab all mei Rechninge zu rechte Zeit bezaahlt. Ich hab mei Taxes an die IRS bevor der 15. Abrill gschickt. Ich hab im Friehyaahr un in Schpotyaahr abgschtimmt. Ich hab viel Zeit mit meinre Familye gebrocht. Ich waar en guder Mann zu meinre Fraa un en guder Daadi zu mei Kinner gewest. Was meh muss ich duh? Ich weess as normally schreiwe yuscht Kinner Briefe an dich awwer ich hab gedenkt as des Yaahr waerr ich es aa duh.
So nau do iss mei Winschlischt:
1 – En neie Motorcycle. Ya, ya, ich weess as ich schunn een hab, awwer zwee in die Gratsch waerre besser. Oh, un nadierlich meech ich en annere BMW hawwe, sei so gut, ken Harley!
2 – En neie Mandolin. Ich kennt arrig scheene Myusick schpiele wann ich en Gibson F Mandolin hett.
Ok. Ich weess es waerr vielleicht hatt die zwee Dinge zu bringe, so vielleicht soll ich en neie Lischt schreiwe. Do iss en Winschlischt fer unsere Welt un unseres Land in Blatz vun yuscht was ich paersehnlich will:
1 – An End zu der Grieg in Ukraine. Sidder 2022 hen die Leit in die Ukraine lang genunk gelidde vun de Rockets un Schiesserei vun de Russe. ‘Sis Winder, kalt un Schnee, ihre Lewe misse zerick zu normal drehe. Kannscht du ee paar Wadde mit dem Putin schwetze? Vielleicht weesscht du graad was zu saage.
2 – An End zu Aarmut. Zu viele Familye lewwe un wuhne mit nix. Viele Kinner griege net genunk Esse un misse in en kaltes Haus schloofe. Bring Tschops un Geld zu de Leit die sie brauche.
3 – En Gfiehl vun Zammeheit in unseres Land. Amerikaa iss gschplitt. Mer iss entwedder Rot odder Bloh. Un mer darf net in de Mitt sei. Ich will en Land hawwe wu Leit mitenanner schwetze kenne. Zamme sin mir greftiger ass vunenanner.
Nau datt iss aa en Lischt. Liewer Belsnickel, mach was du kannscht. Un wann mei Lischt zu viel iss, dann bring mir yuscht en Aarensch un ee paar Walniss.
Hallicher Grischtdaag,
Der Doug
15. December 2025
Dear Belsnickel,
How are you? I hope that everything is good. Here is my letter for this Christmas. This year I was a really good boy. I paid all of my bills on time. I sent in my taxes to the IRS before April 15th. I voted in both the spring and fall. I spent a lot of time with my family. I was good husband to my wife and a good dad to my children. What more do I have to do? I know that normally only kids write you a letter, but I thought that this year I would do one too.
So now here is my wish list:
1 – A new motorcycle. Yes, yes, I know that I already have one, but two in the garage would be better. Oh, and of course I would like another BMW, please no Harley!
2 – A new mandolin. I could play really great music if I had a Gibson F Mandolin.
Ok. I know that maybe those two things would be hard to bring, so maybe I should write a new list. Here is a Wish List for our world and country in place of just a list of things that I personally want:
1 – An end to the war in Ukraine. Since 2022, the people in Ukraine what suffered long enough from the rockets and shooting from the Russians. It is winter, cold and snow, their lives must return to normal. Can you speak a few words with Putin? Maybe you know exactly what to say.
2 – An end to poverty. Too many families live and survive with nothing. Many children do not get enough food and must sleep in a cold house. Bring jobs and money to the people that need them.
3 – A feeling of togetherness in our country. America is divided. One is either red or blue and one is not allowed to be in the middle. I want a county where people can talk with each other. Together we are stronger than apart.
Now there is a list. Dear Belsnickel, do what you can and when my list is too much, then just bring me an orange an a few walnuts.
Merry Christmas,
Doug
Do iss en Link alles zu heere! – Here is a link to listen to a recording of the post in PA Dutch! [...]
November 15, 2025Guder Daag Blog Leser! Well, nau sin mir in November un sell mehnt ass Danksfescht kummt. Des Mol hawwich en katzes Gedicht gschriwwe. Do kummt glee bissel “Free Form” Deitsch!
Frieh am Mariye, aus em Bett tschumpe, in die Kich geh,es Welschhinkel aus em Keller griege, in die Rooschdepann nei duh.Offe aadrehe…uffwarme…Welschhinkel neiduh, Offedier zumache.
Mariyeschtick esse, awwer net viel…es gude Esse kummt um zwelf Uhr.Zwette Koppche Kaffi drinke. Myusick aadrehe.Gummbiere schaele, Selleri un Zwiwwel glee schneide: alles in en Haffe duh…koche losse.Gedrickelte Welschkann griege un mit Wasser in en Haffe neischidde…koche losse.Dritte Koppche Kafii drinke.Offedier uffmache, uff es Welschhinkel gucke…reihe mit Brieh. Deckel an, Offedier zu.
Der Disch decke, Deller, Gawwle, Messer, Leffle raushole.Meh Schtiehl vun en annere Schtubb hole.Die Kich iss voll mit Geruche…mir kenne es schier gaar schmacke.Grummbiere verdricke, Brot, Budder, Millich, Sals un Peffer neiduh…Filse iss reddi.Braunzucker, Budder, Millich in de Gedrickelte Welschkann mixe…Welschkann iss reddi.Dunkes koche. Welschhinkel aus re Offe bringe, hocke losse.Brot uffwarme losse. Welschhinkel schneide. Alles uff dem Disch schtelle.
“Zeit zu esse, alles iss uff dem Disch, nau kumm’ mol Buwe!” greische.Die Freindschaft versammele sich un hocke sich hie.En grosse un hatzvolle Gebet gewwe.“Nau schlag nei!” saage.Esse, Schmunsle, Lache, Gschichte verzaehle.Dankbar sei.
Good day Blog Reader! Well, now we are in November and that means that Thanksgiving is coming. This time I have written a short poem. Here is a little “Free Form” PA Dutch!
Early in the morning, jump out of bed, go into the kitchen,get the turkey from the cellar, put it in the roasting pan.Turn on the oven…heat up…put the turkey in, close the oven door.
Eat breakfast, but not too much…the good food is coming at twelve o’clock.Drink a second cup of coffee. Turn the music on.Peel potatoes, cut celery and onions: put everything in a pot…let it cook.Get the dried corn and place it in a pot with water…let it cook.Drink a third cup of coffee.Open the oven door, look at the turkey…baste it with juice. Lid on, close the oven door.
Set the table, get plates, forks, knives, spoons.Get more chairs from another room.The kitchen is full of aromas…we can almost taste it.Mash the potatoes, put in the bread, butter, milk, salt and pepper…filling is ready.Mix the brown sugar, butter, and milk in the dried corn…corn is ready.Cook the gravy. Bring the turkey out of the oven, let it sit.Warm up the bread. Cut the turkey. Place everything on the table.
Yell out: “Time to eat, everything is on the table, come on now boys!”The family is brought together and everyone sits down.Give a big and a heartfelt prayer.Say: “Now dig in!”Eat, smile, laugh, tell stories.Be thankful. [...]
August 16, 2025Well ‘sis Aagscht un mir sin in de Hunde Daage vun Summer. Do in Pennsylvaania iss es gemeenerhand in schpot Tschulei un Aagscht heess un schmodich. Ya well, mir sin nau in de “Hunde Daage vun Summer”. Mir alle kenne des Ausdruck, awwer ferwas saage mir es? Ich hab aa net gewusst, so ich bin im Internet gange um en Andwatt zu finne.
Die Hunde Daage vun Summer sin die heesse, schmodiche Daage vun Summer. In re Gschicht waare sie die Daage noch dem Uffgang vun der Schtann Sirius. Die Greeks un die Romans hen die Schtann Sirius ihr Uffgang mit Hitz, Drickning, Dunnerwedder, Fiewer, verrickte Hunde un schlechte Glick zammeghenkt. Heitzudaage sin es es heesschte un umleidichschte Deel vun dem Summer in der Naddhalbkuggel.
Der Englische Naame iss en Calque vun der Latein (dies caniculares – “Hundli Daage”) un sell kummt aus der Greek (κυνάδες ἡμέραι – “Hunde Daage”). Fer die Greeks die Schtann Sirius waar die Hund Schtann weil sie der Orion in die Himmel nodappt.
Noch der Old Farmer’s Almanac, sin die Hunde Daage die 40 Daage vun der 3. Tschulei bis der 11. Aagscht. Es gebt aa des:
Die alde Leit glaawe as Regge uff de Hunde Daage waar es schlechtes Aazeeche:
“Hunde Daage hell un glaar zeige en glickliches Yaahr aa; awwer wenn mit Regge begleedt sin, fer bessere Zeide, unsre Hoffning iss umsunscht.“
un
“Hunde Daage kumme; du musscht Hoi un Eil mache wann die Sunn scheint, fer wann alde Sirius Adder vun em Wedder nemmt, iss er so en schwankicher, verrickter Hund, es gebt ken Abhengichkeit uff ihm.” – Old Farmer’s Almanac, 1817.
Fer mich die Hunde Daage sin net so schlecht, ich hab mei Air Conditioner! Wie iss es bei eich? Gleicht dihr die Hunde Daage vun Summer?
Do iss en Audio Klip:
Image from National Geographic
Well, it is August and we are in the Dog Days of Summer. Here in Pennsylvania it is normally hot and humid in late July and August. Yes well, we are now in the “Dog Days of Summer”. We all know the expression, but why do we say it? I also didn’t know, so I went to the internet to find the answer.
The Dog Days of Summer are the hot, humid days of summer. In history they were the days after the rising of the star Sirius. The Greeks and the Romans associated the rising of Sirius with heat, drought, thunderstorms, feaver, crazy dogs and bad luck. Today they are the hottest and most uncomfortable part of the summer in the northern hemisphere.
The English name is a calque of the Latin (dies caniculares – “Days of the Dog”) and that comes from the Greek (κυνάδες ἡμέραι – “Dog Days”). For the Greeks the star Sirius was the dog star because it followed Orion in the sky.
According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Dog Days are the 40 days from teh 3rd of July to the 11th of August. It also says:
The old folks believe that rain during the Dog Days were a bad omen:
“Dog Days bright and clear will also bring a lucky year; but when they are accompanied with rain, our hope is for better times.”
and
“Dog Days are coming; you must hurry and make your hay while the sun shines, for when old Sirius takes command of the weather, he is such a unsteady, crazy dog, you can’t depend on him.” – Old Farmer’s Almanac 1817.
For me the Dog Days aren’t so bad, I have air conditioning! How is it with you? Do you like the Dog Days of summer? [...]