90th birthday

Hans with his wife and younger brother in 1993

On 21 April 2016, Hans Schoser will turn 90. To our knowledge, this makes him the oldest living Schoser. This unique event will be celebrated correspondingly. On the day, the birthday party will take place in Trochtelfingen's largest festival hall Graf Werdenberghalle. As Hans is honorary citizen of Trochtelfingen, the festivities will gather the who is who of Trochtelfingen including the numerous members of Trochtelfingen's historic town guards, a club that Hans founded in 1957.

Oierrusala

Egg-and-spoon race, one of the two events
of 'Oierrusala'

It is a tradition whose origin even the oldest members of Burladingen's hiking association cannot remember. It already existed when they were children. Every year on Easter Monday, the hiking association organises 'Oierrusala'. It is a competition with two events: egg toss and egg-and-spoon race.

This year, about 50 participants and visitors were present and cultivated the tradition. Defying icy winds and rain showers, Valentin Schoser won the egg-and-spoon race. It is not reported if that gained him a prize, but in any event he must have brought his Easter egg safely over the finishing line and could then enjoy it without regret.

Embracing age with wisdom and humour

On 7 March 2016, Edith Schoser turned 80. During her small birthday reception, Edith addressed friends and family with the following welcome speech:  

Liebe Verwandte, liebe Freunde, 

Herzliches Willkommen Euch allen, die Ihr zu meinem Aufbruch ins neue Lebensjahrzehnt gekommen seid. Es ist ein frohes Gefühl, es bis hierhin geschafft zu haben und jetzt erwartungsvoll auf die 100 zuzusteuern.  

Um nun hier und heute die passenden Worte zu finden, habe ich einiges an Ratschlagbüchern zum Thema alt werden und fit bleiben untersucht. Zunächst z.B. das zweibändige Standardwerk "Altern als neue Dimension" oder das stark nachgefragte "Wohin mit den Knochen im Alter?" Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes erschien vor etwa 11 Jahren  "Was macht das Alter so wunderbar und zugleich so risikoreich?" Das bedeutende Nachschlagwerk "Wie buchstabieren wir Alter im 21. Jahrhundert?" nicht zu vergessen. Ganz speziell auch die Dokumentation "Vom Kreißsaal zum Greisenalter", um hier nur die wichtigsten zu nennen. Wirklich aufbauend fand ich den Titel "Morgens rot - abends tot - zwischendurch noch Atemnot" geschrieben von zwei Altertumsforschern, die mittlerweile auch schon tot sind. 

Doch nun zurück in die rosige Zukunft. Ich hoffe, es gefällt Euch hier, und ich wünsche Euch nun einen guten Appetit. 

Crack-peeping witches

Hörschwag is a village of 354 souls in the Swabian Jura. More than 70% of the villagers - to be precise 252 - are members of the local carnival club 'Spältlesgucker'. 154 actively dress up as witches when carnival arrives as this is their club costume.

Markus Schoser (left) and fellow board members

The club's home page explains that in the middle ages it was common for people in Hörschwag to believe in witches and the last witch was sentenced to death and executed as late as in 1600. The term 'Spältlesgucker' derives from the villagers' reputation of being suspicious towards strangers and only peep through door or window cracks when strangers would cross the village.

Today's villagers seem much more open and the carnival club organises and takes part in numerous events during the carnival season. The club is also home to two dancing groups and a music band. Markus Schoser is member of the Spältlesgucker board and thus helps to keep the tradition alive.