nPostednon July 21, 2013
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nThenchildren saved the entire town!
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nAtnleast, that’s what the legend claims…
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nTodaynthe people of Dinkelsbuhl, Bavaria (Germany), celebrate then“Children’s Reckoning” with a play, parades, and dances. So let’snlearn just what this reckoning was supposed to be!
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nItnwas during the Thirty Years’ War of the 1600s, and an army of Swedesnwas approaching this Bavarian town. Apparently the war had alreadyndestroyed much of Germany, and the townspeople were sure that theirntown would soon be in the same plight. But still the adults gatherednin a town council meeting and tried to figure out what they could donin defense.
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nThengatekeeper’s daughter was a girl named Lore. She had an idea—whynnot gather all the children of the town, she said, and have them asknthe Swedish commander for mercy?
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nInam surprised that the council approved this plan, but Lore and a bandnof other children gathered their courage, began to sing, and marchednout to meet the incoming army. When they reached Colonel Sperreuth,nLore knelt before him and asked that the town be spared. n
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And—atnleast according to the legend—Colonel Sperreuth agreed. He told thentownspeople, “Children are the rescuers of Dinkelsbuhl. Alwaysnremember the debt of thanks you owe them.”
And—atnleast according to the legend—Colonel Sperreuth agreed. He told thentownspeople, “Children are the rescuers of Dinkelsbuhl. Alwaysnremember the debt of thanks you owe them.”n
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nDuringntoday’s festival, adults dressed in costume play the roles of thenSwedish soldiers and of the townspeople and town council. Children,nof course, dress in costume to reenact the singing, kneeling, andnrequest for mercy. After this play, there is a parade of thenDinkelsbuhl Boys’ Band and performances of a medieval sword dance.nAll the children who participate in the festival receive colorfulnbags of candy as a token of Dinkelsbuhl’s unending gratitude tonchildren!
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nBynthe way, about 300,000 people attend this festival! n
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nAlsonon this date:
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nIndependencenDay in Belgium
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VictornSchoelcher Day in Martinique
VictornSchoelcher Day in Martiniquen
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest pages on Julynholidays, historicalnanniversaries in July,nand Julynbirthdays.
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nAndnhere are my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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