A wild boar in the vineyard
There's a gruesome custom in northern Germany called Easter fires. At temperatures just above zero, you're roasted from the front and frozen from the back, while desperately nibbling on a bland piece of dough with a black crust, glorified as stick bread.
Well, we in Weyher also have a cruel custom, but one that's more fun: the fermenters . Never heard of it?
It's a Palatinate tradition that dates back hundreds of years: From Maundy Thursday until early Easter morning (when, as we all know, Jesus was resurrected), all church bells are silenced. However, it was well known that the bell (apart from the sun) provided the only way to determine time back then. To prevent the Palatinate people from running around completely out of their minds and without time over the Easter holidays, the Gärrer ( farmers) would come as a kind of bell substitute! They made noises with a wooden ratchet and loudly called out the times. They also announced when it was time to go to church and when everyone should be ready to pray.
Times have changed. Digital alarm clocks, iPhones, gold watches (from Switzerland or China), and countless other timepieces have made church bells less important. But the fermentation bells remained and remain the privilege of the Palatinate youths, who take pleasure in "fermenting" the village at the crack of dawn over Easter with a hellish racket.
For us counts, it's a wonderful childhood memory. Imagine romping through the village at four in the morning, waking everyone up with a deafening crash that echoes off the ancient walls – and all completely legally! Wonderful! Only newcomers get the shock of their lives. The people of the Palatinate mutter grumblingly and turn around with a sigh.
But that's not the only Palatinate tradition we hold onto with passion. The second is: getting out into nature (well equipped, of course, with snacks to nibble on and a delicious Riesling spritzer! Because for the Palatinate people, there's nothing worse than thirst or homesickness...). Hiking is the Palatinate's passion, with one small twist: for us, the destination is not the journey, but the forest hut . Eventually, the rest of the world realized how unique these are and awarded them the well-deserved title of "UNESCO World Heritage" (more on that here ). Not that that surprised anyone in the Palatinate. The view over the Palatinate Rhine plain, the squirrels, the wild boars... All wonderful. Okay, the thing with the wild boars is a different story.
We once had a trainee who worked in the vineyard very early in the morning so he could have the afternoon off. He was wearing headphones and happily working on his leaf raking. Suddenly, he felt something behind him. He turned around and found himself face to face with a fully grown wild boar , which he estimated to have weighed at least 200 kg. Panicked, the trainee jumped onto the hood of the tractor. From this safe position, he called the senior partner and asked what he could do. It was 5:30 a.m. Otmar, with true Palatinate calm, advised him to wait until the boar had lost interest in him. :-)
So if you're up for a nature adventure, you should take a walk to our forest hut this Easter . The Swiss House is open. On Good Friday, we'll be serving fish (another tradition!). Classic herring salad or fish lasagna with a twist are on the menu, as are vegetarian spinach dumplings. Paired with Riesling, of course—what else could you want?
And if it gets cold: Our wood-burning stoves make the cabins cozy and comfortable whatever the weather . And even a light drizzle won't even make it through the trees!
Two more tips: If you want to experience wild boars up close (but safely), you should head to the Silz Wildlife Park . It's only a half-hour from Weyher. And if you want to get really high, you can rent a paraglider and glide gracefully over the Schweizer Haus. We'll wave from below, promise.
With that in mind: Happy Easter!
Your forest boys & counts
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