In my home town the Kirmes was a fall fest.( It is a village fest). Katharina > >Since we are on the topic of German holidays, I wonder if anyone has heard >of a holiday called Kerpner Kirmes. In letters from German relatives >living in Wisconsin (dated 1880-98) there are references to a big party >that happens on Oct. 3rd after the corn has been "bushed" and the turnips >are finished. In the afternoon there is bird shooting and at night there >is a big dance. From one letter: "Can you call/dance the German >Quadrille?". There are letters saying "it is best to come to our house >rather than [the other cousins' house], because we live on the plain and >they live in the valley where you can't see anything" (but see what?). > >At any rate is Kerpner Kirmes some sort of dialect phrase for Ocktoberfest? > These folks were from the Cologne and Bonn areas. > >Thanks, >Sue Schafer/Schaefer >Seattle > _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com