Anyone heard of Winching?

Trekkiegirl118 · 09-08-2004, 04:30 PM

Okay, just FYI, I don't speak a word of German, but I do have a question about German.

When my grandpa was a kid, I guess there was a tradition in the little German town where he lived (in Kansas, I believe). On New Year's Eve, the children in the town would go to their neighbors' houses and "winch" to them. Basically it's a phrase in German that (I guess) wished them a happy New Year, long life, etc... After the kids winched, the adults would say something back to them in German (or maybe repeat the same thing back) and then give them a little bit of money (I'm sure it was not much... this was, afterall, in the 1920s)

I found an old casset tape of one of my aunts winching, and practiced it until I could say it by myself. I'll try to post it here soon so someone can (possibly) translate it for me (and maybe helf me with my pronounciation).

In the meantime, though, has anyone ever heard of winching? (or maybe it's even spelled "wenching"?)

Thanks!

Trekkiegirl118 · 09-08-2004, 04:41 PM

Okay, here's what my aunt wrote down:

Ich wiench dir ein frelichs neies yar, longes lefen gesundheid frienden eun einichheid, nach den tote di eabieh glick selicheid.

Let me also point out a couple things:
1. My aunt "winched" twice on the casset tape, unfortunately, the first time through she said a few words quite differently than the second time through.
2. What I wrote above was what I could read from the paper she wrote on. She has some terrible handwriting!! I'm sorry that so many words are (most likely) mispelled.

If anyone still can tell me what most of this means, I would be greatful! Thanks!

doulos777 · 09-08-2004, 04:51 PM

I don't speak German either, but I know enough about languages in general to help some.

Maybe someone else can help more.

Ich wiench dir ein means "I winch you"

gesundheid means "God bless you" (I think)

nach den tote means "after the dead"

I know it's not much but like I said, I don't speak German.

jdironfist · 09-09-2004, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekkiegirl118

[FONT=Trebuchet MS]Okay, here's what my aunt wrote down:

Ich wiench dir ein frelichs neies yar, longes lefen gesundheid frienden eun einichheid, nach den tote di eabieh glick selicheid.

I know of no German word "wienchen," but there could be. Since I'm not sure, I'll wager that it's "wünschen," and here's my guess for the rest of the sentence:

Ich wünsche dir ein fröliches neues Jahr, langes Leben, Gesundheit, Frieden und Einigkeit, nach den Töte die... I dunno the rest.

If that's what it is, it means— "I wish you a happy new year, long life, good health, freedom and unity, after death the....(this is where I trailed off)."

Anyway, the German "Gesundheit" is normally misinterpreted as "God bless you," when the word "Gesund" actually means "good health" and the "heit" makes it basically "good health-tion," which is better interpreted as "to your health," or something like that.

backtoreality · 09-09-2004, 12:39 AM

One addition...
Just to say that the last part of that probably reads something to the effect of, "und nach der Tod in einem augenblick (best guess salvation is the next word)"
so, basically that would mean after death, in the blink of an eye to salvation or, to make it sound more fluid, After death may you be with Our Lord in the blink of an eye. Just a thought though... the German you wrote is probably a dialect and so it would be hard for even a well learned student to be absolutely sure of what it says. Anyways, hope that helps,
BackToReality

Trekkiegirl118 · 09-09-2004, 04:40 PM

Yeah, that does help, thanks!

Lisi · 09-20-2004, 01:08 PM

Hi!
I'm from Austria so i speak a whole lot of german..lol

well, I read your question and I'm not sure what is meant with that word. maybe it's spelled "winken" then it would mean "waving", but I don't know for sure. I've never heard of a tradition like that.
but let me know what it means, if you find out, ok?

have a great day!!
be blessed,
Lisi

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekkiegirl118

Okay, just FYI, I don't speak a word of German, but I do have a question about German.

When my grandpa was a kid, I guess there was a tradition in the little German town where he lived (in Kansas, I believe). On New Year's Eve, the children in the town would go to their neighbors' houses and "winch" to them. Basically it's a phrase in German that (I guess) wished them a happy New Year, long life, etc... After the kids winched, the adults would say something back to them in German (or maybe repeat the same thing back) and then give them a little bit of money (I'm sure it was not much... this was, afterall, in the 1920s)

I found an old casset tape of one of my aunts winching, and practiced it until I could say it by myself. I'll try to post it here soon so someone can (possibly) translate it for me (and maybe helf me with my pronounciation).

In the meantime, though, has anyone ever heard of winching? (or maybe it's even spelled "wenching"?)

Thanks!

Lisi · 09-20-2004, 01:18 PM

okay, okay..sorry, I didn't look if there were any replys already. lol
but yeah, that sounds logical!

so, you have your answer already! and I learned something new, so everything is perfect!

God be with you!
Lisi

GoDowNsMe · 11-06-2004, 11:40 AM

hehe. lol this stuff is funny

I didn't have a clue what you were talking about either when I read your first post, though I am from Germany..........
but I'm pretty sure it's wünschen.
tht's what we do on New Year's......we just hug everybody or shake hands..and say Frohes neues Jahr.........or Ich wünsche dir ein frohes neues Jahr =)

I guess your aunt has an accent,too. I know that one from an old women from church...... so she probably really pronounces wünschen like winchen...

RutyCreations · 01-10-2010, 09:34 AM

Hi, I just noticed your post re:Winching and it sparked my interest. When I was a kid my parents, too, and all our German relatives carried on this unique tradition of winching. My Grandmother was born in Germany and moved to Topeka Kansas where my father and all his siblings were born. They moved to Chicago eventually and kept the tradition alive. It's so neat to know that someone else was curious about the tradition too. I never knew what that German speak meant but my folks did it every New Year's Day from house to house and we ate Kraut Struedel every year along with Chrismadel. Do you remember that too? WHere were you born, maybe we're related.

**MtlMom** · 01-10-2010, 10:23 AM

You probably won't get a response from the original poster, because this thread is over 5 years old. It is interesting to hear about traditions from other countries. Welcome to CGR! Please take a look at the forum rules, they will help you to understand a bit more about this site.

adamh1988 · 03-24-2010, 04:21 PM

So I was doing research for my German class and stumbled upon this thread....I bet there is very little chance that you will read this since it's 5 years old..but not going to hurt to post it....

I have Winched before, my family are German Catholics and when our family first came to the states they settled in Topeka, KS....I forgot the translation of the what we say exactly, however, the basic idea is "May God bless you and your family with good health and wealth in the upcoming year"

And yes the adults did give out money and treats when you said the winch.

I am 22 so winching is not completely lost but each year there is less and less people involved when we go to Topeka

mistygwen · 12-29-2010, 01:23 PM

hi, my name is misty beier(maiden name) and we winched every new year. not to neighbors though it was only to our family. we received gifts such as two dollar bills and 50 cent pieces. we made about 30 dollars after going thru all of our family members. anyways my family was from topeka kansa and i was there until 13 years of age.