Erding - On the first Friday in July, Erdings elementary school students can normally look forward to a day off from school.
They owe that to Katharina and Friedrich Fischer.
Due to the corona, Fischer's Happy Day with city rally and food has to be canceled this year, for the second year in a row.
The benefactors of the donor couple, whose three children died early, continue to the present day.
Fischer's Happy Day is also her legacy.
It took place for the first time in 1891, a year after Friedrich Fischer's death.
The procedure was precisely laid down in § 8 of the will.
Originally, the day was not only dedicated to children, but also combined with feeding the poor and entertaining priests, teachers, parishioners and choir musicians. At the beginning a service in the parish church of St. Johannes was compulsory, followed by a morning pint and catering. Only in the afternoon was a garden party with brass music for the Erdinger school children. The organization took over the city of Erding, the festival was financed from the interest of the Fischer's charity foundation.
Initially, one liter of beer per child was intended to be served, but doubts arose around 1920.
Later no more beer was served.
The then medical officer Dr.
Andreas Deißböck had a firm opinion on this, as city guide Doris Bauer tells in her YouTube film about "Fisherman's Happy Day".
He warned against giving the children the choice between beer and soda, because they might mix the two, and that would really not be a wholesome drink.
.
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During and after the Second World War, the day was suspended, then it was held temporarily at the beginning of the autumn festival.
For a long time now, it has been set for the first Friday in July, when the Old Town Festival usually begins - only this year (again) not.
With the incorporation of Altenerding and Langengeisling more than 40 years ago, the number of eligible children increased significantly, which is why participation was limited to elementary school students from then on.
In addition to the obligatory Viennese with pretzels, cheese rolls are now also on offer.
While sack races and blind cows were common for entertainment in the past, age-appropriate city rallies have been held for some years now.
The students also stop at the statue of the founders of the foundation Katharina and Friedrich Fischer in the Bräuhausviertel, where they get an overview of the history of this traditional day.
So that this remains present even without the celebration, information cards with details about the donor couple will be distributed this year. Hopefully next year the children can look forward to another fun day in the spirit of Katharina and Friedrich Fischer. GERDA AND PETER GEBEL
