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"We are eleven Andechsers"

2022-11-26T10:08:20.140Z


"We are eleven Andechsers" Created: 11/26/2022, 11:02 am By: Andrea Graepel The shepherds in the stable of the "Living Crib", Sigbert Berchtold (from left), Hermann Albrecht and Peter Klein, take care of the animals and the props that are kept in the Josefihaus. If it rains, just pull a little further under the roof. Sigbert Berchtold © Andrea Jaksch First of all, the donkey was missing to mak


"We are eleven Andechsers"

Created: 11/26/2022, 11:02 am

By: Andrea Graepel

The shepherds in the stable of the "Living Crib", Sigbert Berchtold (from left), Hermann Albrecht and Peter Klein, take care of the animals and the props that are kept in the Josefihaus.

If it rains, just pull a little further under the roof.

Sigbert Berchtold © Andrea Jaksch

First of all, the donkey was missing to make the cast of the living manger perfect.

After a two-year break, she should be back on the second weekend in Advent at the Andechs Christmas market.

Andechs

– It should be Andechser, from all generations and with real animals, that was the idea when the Andechs Christmas market with its living crib was launched in 1977.

Since then, the people of Andechs have provided the “staff” – the shepherds, the kings, Mary and Joseph and the royal attendants.

“We are eleven,” says Sigbert Berchtold (83).

He is a shepherd and after Paul Trauner's departure, he takes care of everything else together with Peter Klein (54).

They are supported in the organization by Sylvia Essig from the town hall.

The threads come together with her, especially when it comes to the occupation of the crib, but also the 25 booths at the popular Christmas market on the Holy Mountain.

The municipality with all three districts has always been included in this market.

For example, it is a tradition that the power lfing volunteer fire brigade takes over the direction of setting up the crèche.

It's already built.

Santa Claus is also coming from Machtlfing this year.

In any case, Sigbert Berchtold accompanied the Christmas market as an Erlinger from the start.

From 1979 as a building yard manager, which he was until his retirement for 25 years.

The 83-year-old only joined the crèche staff in 2009 as a pensioner.

He took over the task of looking after the animals from Paul Trauner in 2018.

Trauner was a fixture in the manger into old age – first as Joseph, then as a shepherd.

He passed away in March at the age of 89.

Now the animals are in good hands with Berchtold and Peter Klein.

"A returnee," says Berchtold.

A shepherd like him and someone who also helps him with the care and feeding of the animals when it gets too much for the 83-year-old.

Nevertheless, on the days when the animals are up in the barn, he is already on the Holy Mountain before breakfast.

"Then I know,

The donkey, the ox that is a heifer, and the sheep are real and stand day and night.

During this time they need water, food and bedding.

The rooster under the roof is stuffed, as is the fox that looks greedily at him from the roof.

The props with the costumes are currently still well stowed away in the Josefihaus below the old monastery pharmacy.

The people of Erling have a room there where they can store everything.

The live animals don't come up until Friday.

A donkey was initially sought after, says Berchtold.

"It's not that easy with them," he knows.

When a donkey is alone, it may scream all the time.

Nobody wants that, it would be annoying.

It's easier with the calf and the sheep.

Berchtold knows about critters.

Until 1979 he had his own farm on Kerschlacher Weg and was a dairy farmer.

So it was obvious that he would take over Trauner's job at some point.

And yet: "We skipped it twice, there without going down to the monastery inn, the sheep," he says today, laughing, because the excitement was great.

"I had to look for them first." That can't happen with ox and donkey, they are "attached".

But ever since the sheep escaped, the gate has been bolted down.

The planning for this Christmas market is in full swing.

He was out for two years because of the pandemic.

"What will be missing this year is the stand of the Erling farmers", says Berchtold sadly, "my wife also baked with me." She died in 2007. In return, he can be happy about the growing interest of the people of Andechs in filling the living crib.

Three Marias take turns, three Josephs.

The child and the robes of the little royal companions are still from the hands of Frater Stephan, who helped found the Christmas market at the time.

Sylvia Essig is pleased that there are enough applications.

Because you quickly outgrew your clothes.

"The children of the last few years are teenagers today, but they are still involved." A few years ago things looked different.

There was a lack of offspring.

In the meantime, however, all generations are represented again, as was the wish of the founders around Frater Stephan and former mayor Ludwig Mörtl at the beginning.

"We were one of the first markets with a living crib," says Berchtold, remembering the many people who flocked to the Holy Mountain in the early years.

So many, "that you could have walked on your head".

The pre-Christmas hustle and bustle is still popular.

Eleven Erlingers between the ages of ten and 83 make up the nursery this year.

After Trauner's departure, Berchtold is the oldest.

As a shepherd, he has to stand for a long time.

"It's fine with thermal trousers and a jacket," he says.

Because it can get cold.

"You can wear a lot under the cape," he says, but admits that there were days "when we looked at the clock and thought, goodness gracious, the hour isn't over yet."

Rain, on the other hand, is bearable, "so just move a bit further under the roof".

The Andechs Christmas market traditionally takes place on the second weekend in Advent.

This year from December 2nd to 4th.

The living crib is occupied 13 times between 30 and 75 minutes.

The Three Wise Men and their attendants enter six times from the monastery church.

For Berchtold, it's three long days that begin before breakfast, before 7 a.m.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-11-26

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