The Son of God is omnipresent in Oberammergau.
Just in time for Good Friday, we asked mini-experts on site what Easter is all about.
A visit to the Kunterbunt kindergarten.
Oberammergau - Maja, Fabian, Johanna and Pirmin look reverently up to the Kofel.
At the top of the imposing mountain, a large cross is enthroned on a rock.
It can be seen from everywhere in Oberammergau in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.
How difficult must it have been for Jesus to carry that cross up there?
But that's not all the four friends ask themselves in the Kunterbunt kindergarten, which is right by the street “Am Kreuzweg”.
Maja and Fabian are five years old, Johanna and Pirmin are six years old - and professionals when it comes to Good Friday, Passion and Easter.
Even those who already know everything about the Son of God can learn something from this interview.
What do you know about Jesus?
Johanna (6):
I know him pretty well.
We have two books by him.
He watches us closely and gives us courage from heaven.
Pirmin (6):
He always washed people's feet and gave them bread.
He was really nice.
Maja (5):
I know that he should make us happy.
Fabian (5):
He usually wore a chain of thorns.
Who nailed Jesus to the cross?
Johanna:
The knights.
Unfortunately, they hunted Jesus.
Maja:
No, the Romans!
And then he had to carry the cross up the whole Kofel all by himself.
Fabian:
The cross was certainly as heavy as a rocket.
Maja:
Or even as heavy as a house!
Do you find it sad that Jesus is hanging on the cross?
Maja:
Nope, not sad.
Except when he's bleeding.
Fabian:
But that's just fake blood!
Pirmin:
No, only at the Passion Play.
Otherwise it's real.
Johanna:
At the games they just pour grape juice over it.
What exactly happened on Good Friday?
Fabian:
The Romans nailed Jesus to the cross.
The nail was bent and hidden behind his hand.
Pirmin:
That's only the case with the Passion Play!
Fabian:
Right.
But afterwards they carry him to a cave.
And in front of it there is a stone.
And then?
Maja:
Maria wept so hard for Jesus.
Fabian:
I don't know exactly.
But only Jesus was bleeding.
Not the two thieves.
(Dysmas and Gestas are the names of the two criminals who, according to the Bible, are said to have been crucified along with Jesus.)
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The group of experts in Kindergarten Kunterbunt in Oberammergau: Primin (6), Johanna (6), Maja (5) and Fabian (5).
© Marcus sleep
What happens at the Passion Play?
Maja:
You act like Jesus.
My mom will register me there too.
(The whole place is allowed to play in the Passion Play - including the children. The next date is 2022.)
Pirmin:
Everything is not real about the games, but it happened once.
Do your parents also take part in the Passion?
Pirmin:
My grandpa used to be a Roman.
Made entirely of iron and with a sword.
Dad plays the drum, but mom is just a woman who cries.
(Pirmin's mother plays in the group of actors "The Weeping Women".)
Johanna:
My grandma is reenacting the trip to Jerusalem.
(That's a tiny mix-up: Johanna's grandma plays in the Passion Play in the scene “The Entry to Jerusalem”.)
My dad takes care of the guests and mum cooks.
(Johanna's parents run a hotel in town.)
Do you also want to take part in the Passion Play?
Pirmin:
When I grow up, I want to play the timpani - like papa!
From Ash Wednesday you will no longer cut your hair.
Maja:
My name is Maria.
(Maja's middle name is Maria)
That's why I want to play Maria.
And my brother Linus wants to play Jesus first.
And then?
Maja:
Later on, Linus wants to play Judas!
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Johanna:
Easter is so that the family is happy.
Fabian:
Because it's a happy party.
And because mom is building the Carrera track there.
Maja:
Because of the Easter surprises.
My mom likes to buy me dolls there.
Are we really celebrating just for the presents?
Pirmin:
No, also because the fast is finally over.
What else happened on Easter Sunday?
Pirmin:
Oh yes!
Jesus was also risen there.
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Fabian (left) and Pirmin (right) believe that Jesus was “really nice”.
© Marcus sleep
What do you like most about Easter?
Maja:
At Easter there are always sweets hidden in the toy car or in the hut.
My papa secretly helps me look for it.
Johanna:
It's just a nice weekend!
Pirmin:
We're looking for Easter eggs in the garden of Grandma and Grandpa.
And in the morning we always eat our baked Easter lamb pearls.
Fabian
: I like looking for presents best.
After that I can even watch TV.
Do you go to church at Easter?
Everyone:
The church is canceled because of Corona!
Pirmin:
But dad and I, we carry large loudspeakers into the church tower.
Right up to the top.
They are very heavy.
(Pirmin's father is in the orchestra. Through the amplifiers on the church tower, the whole village hears the music at Easter.)
And why are you doing this?
Pirmin:
They then play “Heil dir” very loudly.
Everyone in town can overhear.
(Pirmin and Fabian begin the song immediately. At the Passion Play it is played for the "Entry into Jerusalem". Unofficially, "Heil dir" is therefore considered the Oberammergau hymn.)
And who hides the eggs on Easter?
Everyone:
The Easter Bunny!
Where did the Easter Bunny get all the eggs from?
Fabian:
He lives in a cave.
And there he makes the Easter eggs himself.
Johanna:
I think he'll buy them in the supermarket and then just paint them.
Pirmin:
The Easter bunny bought a rooster and a hen and built a fence for them.
He remembers that about Easter and then simply delivers the eggs.
Does the Easter Bunny only give presents to children?
Johanna:
No.
Even before Easter, mom and dad received a package.
And there were toys and sweets in there.
What should Christians not do on Good Friday?
Fabian:
You can't eat sweets there.
Pirmin:
And you can't eat sausage either.
Only fruits, vegetables and potatoes.
Maja:
You can't be sad about that.
What does “Lent” mean?
Johanna:
During Lent, you shouldn't eat what you almost always eat.
Fat, for example.
Pirmin:
Jesus fasted too.
For 40 days.
Maja:
No, it took him 40 days to carry the cross on the Kofel.
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Jesus' cross was definitely too heavy, Maja (left) and Johanna (right) know.
© Marcus sleep
Do your parents fast too?
Maja:
You didn't fast, but you ate healthy.
Johanna:
My mom didn't drink any alcohol.
And neither does tea.
And papa no coffee.
Have you also given up something?
Everyone:
Yes, to sweets!
Johanna:
And yogurt and television.
Have you ever snuck in secret?
Maja & Johanna:
Yes, sometimes ...
Fabian:
Only not Pirmin!
Pirmin:
I really didn't cheat.
I keep chocolate that I get as a gift.
I have to stay strong until Easter.
Then I eat them.
