Status: 11.11.2023, 16:00 PM
By: Rainer Becker
CommentsShare
The "Staufer Lion in Gold" is the highest award bestowed by the Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Association. © Rainer Becker
Fellheim – In the former synagogue in Fellheim, long-standing carnival functionaries were awarded the Staufer Lion in Gold by the Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Association (BSF). The ceremonial address was given by former Minister of State and Member of the Bundestag Klaus Holetschek.
BSF President Christoph Spies welcomed the invited 21 award winners and guests of honour from twelve Swabian clubs. Together with secretary Sabine Riedmann, President Spies recalled the time of the Staufer dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Hohenstaufen dynasty, with Barbarossa and Frederick II, shaped the Middle Ages with their policies and interests, also for art and culture. "At that time, Swabian was the official language of the court," Spies quoted. In remembrance of these medieval glory days of the Swabian rulers, the association has decided to choose the lion, the heraldic animal of the Hohenstaufen, as the highest order of merit of the BSF. The ceremony was musically arranged by "clarinet and zither in duo", Günter Schwanghart and Josef Bichlmair.
Remembering the past
In his greeting to those gathered, Mayor Reinhard Schaupp recalled the eventful history of the former Fellheim synagogue. It is only since the acquisition of the building by the municipality of Fellheim in 2007, the dedicated Förderkreis Synagoge Fellheim e.V., the conversion and restoration measures as well as a usage concept that the synagogue has been able to commemorate the past in this form and be used for various cultural and private events.
Laudatory speech by Klaus Holetschek
In his laudatory speech, the former Minister of State and chairman of the CSU parliamentary group in the Bavarian state parliament, Klaus Holetschek, quoted the Munich humorist Karl Valentin, who once said: "If you don't laugh, you haven't understood our life." This wisdom is imperishable and also applies in these challenging times for all of us – with a war in Europe, high inflation, the terror of Hamas and a looming conflagration of the conflict in the Middle East. "In dark times, laughter is the light at the end of the tunnel. Laughter is life and makes life worth living, or at least easier and more bearable – especially in the storms of life," says Klaus Holetschek. He thanked the BSF with President Christoph Spies and the more than 150 carnival clubs and fools' guilds for their great commitment. It is irrelevant whether the "laughter ambassadors" are active as members of the dance guard, as Gugga musicians, orators or as helpers in the construction of a carnival float: the focus is always on celebrating together, togetherness, laughing. They all contribute to the fact that wonderful traditions and customs are passed on and lived for generations. Many events in the Fifth Season, such as "Swabia white-blue, hurra and helau" in Memmingen, the ceremonial meeting of the Löwen 77 Legau e.V. or the parades in Engetried and in many other villages and towns, are marked in the calendars of many people in the region and it is impossible to imagine life without them, according to Klaus Holetschek.
"He who laughs wins"
At the end, Holetschek thanked the BSF members for their joie de vivre, who are on the road all over the country as laughter ambassadors and custodians of customs, with the words "Who laughs, wins" and a "Vergelt's Gott". Holetschek then personally took over the awarding of the "Staufer Löwe" medal for each individual recipient.
Highest honour received: The winners of the "Staufer Lion in Gold" proudly show off their certificates presented by BSF President Christoph Spies (centre). © Rainer Becker
The Honorees
The medal, pin and certificate were awarded to:
0
Read also
0
Growing wolf populations: Panel of experts calls for changed nature conservation rules
READ
Memmingen Design Advisory Board: Concept for supermarket and apartments on Bodenseestraße presented
READ3
The Babies of the Week at Memmingen Clinic
READ
37th Traditional Leonhardi Ride in Illerbeuren
READ
Memmingen: Manuel Dehn awarded THW Medal of Honour in Bronze
READ
Fancy a voyage of discovery?
My Area
- Heinz Spöcker (KG Kunstreiter Kaufbeuren),
- Helmut Demeter (FGD Dietmannsried),
- Birgit Schubert (FGD Dietmannsried),
- Eduard Stiegeler jun. (FGD Dietmannsried),
- Eva Schiebel (Leuven 77 Legau),
- Wolfgang Schober (Leuven 77 Legau),
- Gerhard Blenk (Faschingsverein Oy),
- Gerhard Klaus (Faschingsverein Oy),
- Andrea Wilde (NZ Sieben Schwaben Türkheim),
- Klaus Wilde (NZ Sieben Schwaben Türkheim),
- Marion Lang (CCB Schlafmützen Bäumenheim),
- Petra Schombacher (CCB Schlafmützen Bäumenheim),
- Alexander Strenge (Genderkinger Faschingsfreunde),
- Nicole Weißenburger (Genderkinger Faschingsfreunde),
- Manuela Koch (UECV Unterelchingen),
- Kurt Üblacker (FG Offonia Offingen),
- Günter Lipp (FG Die Glinken Gundelfingen),
- Günter Kaiser (FG Die Glinken Gundelfingen),
- Karin Hipp (Dillinger Faschingsfreunde),
- Anton Stadtrecher (Carnival Friends Steinheim),
- Tatjana Dirr (NZ Lehmwualer Unterelchingen).
The BSF
The Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Association (BSF) comprises the carnival associations, fools' guilds and carnival music groups in the administrative district of Swabia. The seat of the association is in the city of Lauingen. Currently, 162 carnival societies and jesters' guilds with over 22,000 members are organized in the BSF.
What is the "Staufer Lion in Gold"?
This medal is the highest award bestowed by the Bavarian-Swabian Carnival Association (BSF). It goes to fools who have been involved in carnival clubs for many years. The prerequisite for this high honour is an active activity of at least 22 years in the presidium or 33 years of active membership in the association. In addition, a badge of honour and a certificate will be presented. The medal may be worn not only in the current season, but throughout all subsequent carnival seasons.
Visit the Memminger KURIER on Facebook!