Hessen Presentations at the 1998 Folklife Festival in Madison

 

Harvest, seasons, fair and festival dances were performed by a young folk dance group from the Marburg area. They wore their traditional red and blue regional costumes, and were mainly accompanied by traditional accordion, guitar and trumpet music.

 

An exhibit of traditional weaving from the Schlitz area focused on pattern weaving for folk costumes, using flax to make linen yarn.

 

An exhibit of traditional crafts from the Odenwald area featured wood sculpturing, Ivory and joining using old hand tools.

 

An exhibit demonstrated the making, decorating, and dyeing of fine china. This art is a tradition from the Hoechst area.

 

An exhibit demonstrated printing on paper and material, a tradition of the Seligenstadt area. Wooden printing blocks were used on self made paper.

 

An exhibit showed how herbs were used in the art of healing. Monks developed this tradition in the Monastery of Lorsch. A couple in traditional pharmacists’ costumes showed how medicine was made in the Middle Ages and how it can be applied today.

 

An exhibit showed the century old tradition of wine making. This is an old art that relies on knowledge passed on from generation to generation.  Also displayed was viniculture as a folk art along the Rhine.

 

A cooking demonstration was given by the Frankfurt TV hosts of Hessen ala Carte. They also filmed a special called Essen in Wisconsin.