Delaware Sängerbund
Encyclopedia
The Delaware Sängerbund is a German-American club located near Newark, Delaware
.
The club has about 800 members who meet at the club house in Ogletown, Delaware
. Besides an active chorus, the club sponsors a Bavarian folk dancing group ("Enzian Volkstanzgruppe"), a Ladies' Auxiliary in charge of food preparation (the "Ladies of the Delaware Sängerbund"), youth soccer teams (the "DSB Kickers"), a teenage group, a genealogy group, and German language classes for both adults and children.
The Delaware Sängerbund was founded in March 1853 by 16 German men as a singing society. It soon became an important social club for the members and their families and newly arriving immigrants. The club was located at 205 East Sixth Street in Wilmington, Delaware
, known as the "German Hall", from 1883 until 1965, when urban development made a move necessary. The society has been in continuous existence since 1853, making it one of the oldest clubs in Delaware.
The Delaware Sängerbund and the German community of Wilmington held the first "Volksfest
" in September of 1883 in the Schuetzen Park of Wilmington located in the area of Wawaset Park
. It was held there for the next several years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the society, the Delaware Sängerbund organized another Volksfest, this time at the new Brandywine Springs Park. The festivals continued annually until 1912. When the Delaware Sängerbund celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1978 with a large tent to accommodate all the guests, the idea of having an annual festival was reborn, and the first Oktoberfest
in the Munich
style was held in 1979. Since then, the Delaware Sängerbund Oktoberfest has become a much anticipated tradition in Delaware.
" held on the third weekend in September and the "Christkindlmarkt" (Christmas Festival and Bazaar) held on the second Saturday in November.
The Delaware Sängerbund Oktoberfest is named after the widely known festival held each year in Munich
, Bavaria
. There, the first Oktoberfest was celebrated as a wedding festival of the Bavarian crown prince Ludwig
on October 12, 1810. In later years, the festival commemorating the wedding grew larger and longer, first in the city, then countrywide. To ensure milder weather for all the outdoor activities, the beginning of the sixteen day long celebrations was moved into September, only the last weekend falling into October. The name "Oktoberfest" remained with the fair.
Each year on the third weekend in September, the Delaware Sängerbund recreates the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest for the people of Delaware and the surrounding states. More than 15,000 visitors come to the large tent erected on the club grounds to enjoy dancing to German brass bands, sample homemade potato salad
and sauerkraut
, and watch performances of "Schuhplattler
" dances by the Enzian Volkstanzgruppe. Unlimited amusement rides for children are included in the entrance fee.
The custom of bringing whole villages and towns together for a festival is much older than the Oktoberfest associated with Munich. Throughout Germany, people celebrate a "Volksfest" (literally: people festival) to commemorate the founding of a town, a church dedication or an historic event.
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
.
The club has about 800 members who meet at the club house in Ogletown, Delaware
Ogletown, Delaware
Ogletown is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. Ogletown is located at the junction of Delaware Route 4 and Delaware Route 273 east of Newark....
. Besides an active chorus, the club sponsors a Bavarian folk dancing group ("Enzian Volkstanzgruppe"), a Ladies' Auxiliary in charge of food preparation (the "Ladies of the Delaware Sängerbund"), youth soccer teams (the "DSB Kickers"), a teenage group, a genealogy group, and German language classes for both adults and children.
History
The Delaware Sängerbund was founded in March 1853 by 16 German men as a singing society. It soon became an important social club for the members and their families and newly arriving immigrants. The club was located at 205 East Sixth Street in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, known as the "German Hall", from 1883 until 1965, when urban development made a move necessary. The society has been in continuous existence since 1853, making it one of the oldest clubs in Delaware.
The Delaware Sängerbund and the German community of Wilmington held the first "Volksfest
Volksfest
A Volksfest is a large event in Germany which combines a festival and a carnival. Admission to a Volksfest is free however you have to pay for each ride separately....
" in September of 1883 in the Schuetzen Park of Wilmington located in the area of Wawaset Park
Wawaset Park, Wilmington, Delaware
Wawaset Park is a planned community on the western edge of the City of Wilmington, Delaware bounded by Woodlawn Avenue, Pennsylvania Avenue, Greenhill Avenue, and West 7th Street. The area was formerly the grounds of Schuetzen Park, a horse racing and later auto racing track and fair grounds...
. It was held there for the next several years. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the society, the Delaware Sängerbund organized another Volksfest, this time at the new Brandywine Springs Park. The festivals continued annually until 1912. When the Delaware Sängerbund celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1978 with a large tent to accommodate all the guests, the idea of having an annual festival was reborn, and the first Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
in the Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
style was held in 1979. Since then, the Delaware Sängerbund Oktoberfest has become a much anticipated tradition in Delaware.
Annual events
The Delaware Sängerbund shares its German heritage and traditions with the public at two annual events: The "OktoberfestOktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
" held on the third weekend in September and the "Christkindlmarkt" (Christmas Festival and Bazaar) held on the second Saturday in November.
The Delaware Sängerbund Oktoberfest is named after the widely known festival held each year in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. There, the first Oktoberfest was celebrated as a wedding festival of the Bavarian crown prince Ludwig
Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I was a German king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states.-Crown prince:...
on October 12, 1810. In later years, the festival commemorating the wedding grew larger and longer, first in the city, then countrywide. To ensure milder weather for all the outdoor activities, the beginning of the sixteen day long celebrations was moved into September, only the last weekend falling into October. The name "Oktoberfest" remained with the fair.
Each year on the third weekend in September, the Delaware Sängerbund recreates the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest for the people of Delaware and the surrounding states. More than 15,000 visitors come to the large tent erected on the club grounds to enjoy dancing to German brass bands, sample homemade potato salad
Potato salad
Potato salad is a dish made from boiled potatoes, the versions of which vary throughout different regions and countries of the world. Although called a salad, it is generally considered a side dish, as it generally accompanies the main course....
and sauerkraut
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut , directly translated from German: "sour cabbage", is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria, including Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid...
, and watch performances of "Schuhplattler
Schuhplattler
The Schuhplattler is a traditional Austro-Bavarian folk dance evolved from the Ländler.-Origins:The origins of this social dance are found in an early courtship display...
" dances by the Enzian Volkstanzgruppe. Unlimited amusement rides for children are included in the entrance fee.
The custom of bringing whole villages and towns together for a festival is much older than the Oktoberfest associated with Munich. Throughout Germany, people celebrate a "Volksfest" (literally: people festival) to commemorate the founding of a town, a church dedication or an historic event.
See also
- delawaresaengerbund.org
- Oktoberfest celebrationsOktoberfest celebrationsThe Oktoberfest is a two-week festival held each year in Munich, Germany during late September and early October. It is attended by six million people each year and has inspired numerous similar events using the name Oktoberfest in Germany and around the world, many of which were founded by German...
- VolksfestVolksfestA Volksfest is a large event in Germany which combines a festival and a carnival. Admission to a Volksfest is free however you have to pay for each ride separately....