This photograph from the late 19th century is of Ms. Kramer-Freudenthal's paternal grandparents: Jan (Johann) Freudenthal and his wife Gesche Freudenthal, née Meier. Gesche is wearing the traditional Olland costume. The two married in 1864, and Ms. Kramer-Freudenthal's father, Peter Freudenthal, was born in 1879.
(Please clock on the picture to see it larger.)

Ollanner Dracht

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneemoond 2000)

Mien Book "Ollanner Vertelln" gifft dat nich mihr to käupen. Nu warr ik af un an een Vertelln ut ditt Book an mien Lesers wiedergeben.

Hier mien Vertelln:

De hüüt noch een Ollanner Dracht besitt, de dröff stult ween, denn he besitt een Stück vun uns Ollanner Kultur vun unbeschrieflichen Wiert. To Freuhjohrs- or Sommertiet, wenn uns Jörker Drachtengrupp' Führungen mookt, jo, denn warrt uns Ollanner Dracht nochmol to Ehr verholpen. Is ober ok een smucke Dracht!

Mien Grootmudder Gesche hett de ole Dracht noch drogen. Sülbst kann ik mi nich dorop besinn. Ik wüür noch to lütt, as se storben is. Ober uns Mamma hett uns dat vertellt un se kunn uns gor nich noog dorvun vertelln. Süster Wilma hett noch een Foto vun Oma Gesche in Dracht un Opa Jan in Fohrenstüüch.

För den Alldag harr Oma een eenfache Dracht. De Rock wüür ut Beiderwand or ut een groffen Wullstoff. Ünnerto een wieden Ünnerrock ut reinet Linnen. För de kotte Jack wöör Linnen or ok Wullstoff nohm. No ünnen to wörrn de Ärmels wieder, dormit man Bott to'n Warken harrn.

Ober nu de Festdracht. De wüür stootsch! Wat all'ns dorto hüürn dä! De Wuß üm den Hals wüür buntbestickt. Dat Halsdook harr gull'n or sülvern Stickeree optowiesen. De rode or ok swatte Rock ut Dook wüür lang un wiet. De Ünnerrock harr an den Soom wunnerscheune Spitzen. Jack un Mütz wüürn ut Samt or Sied. Mützenband un Halsdook lüchten in bunt Klüür un harrn Guldtressen. Dat Antrecken vun de Festdracht duur tominnst een Stünn, ober de lieke Tiet warrt hüüt vun de Froonslüüd för dat Anmolen vun de Snuut bruukt.

Nu keum de Smuck! An jedeen Jackenärmel hüngen bet süß grote, sülvern Filigroonkneup. Üm den Hals, ok ut Filigroon, in lieken Afstand mihrere verschieden lange Keden. Op de Schooh wüürn smucke, brede Filigroonsnalln to sehn. Riekdoom un Ansehn wüür licht an den Smuck uttomoken. Je rieker, ümso mihr Keden bummeln in lieken Afstand üm den Hals. Hüütigendoogs köst de Smuck in Dörchsnitt üm 40.000,00 DM. In Euro hüürt sik dat beter an.

Uns Nobersch, Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels) - wi Kinner hebbt ümmer Oma Bekken to ehr seggt - de kinn ik bloots in Ollanner Dracht. Wenn de Söhn Galleff (Garlev) Sünndoogs ut Hamborg mit sien Fomilje to Beseuk keum, denn tröck Oma Bekken ehre Sünndoogsdracht an. Unkel Galleff harr een Koopmannsloden in Hamborg. Foken kregen wi Kinner vun Oma Bekken een Stück Schokolood, ober de smeck ümmer no Kampfer. Seker hett Oma Bekken de Schokolood in ehr Klederschapp opwohrt. In jedet Klederschapp legen in de ole Tiet Kampferkugeln gegen Motten.

Schood, datt hüüttodoogs soveel vun de olen Traditschoon' verloorngohn is, ober de Klock lett sik nich trüchdreihn. Nu müch ik in mien Trüchbesinn mien Lesers mol frogen wat ik mi sülbst foken froog: ,,Welke Tiet wüür scheuner, de hüütige mit all' ehr Öberfloot, hetzen un jogen or de, wenn ok arme ober liekers tofreden Kinnertiet?'' Ümmer geev ik mi de lieke Anter. Wat anter ik mi wull?

The Traditional Costume of Olland

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

My book Ollanner Vertelln is out of stock. From now on I'll occasionally pass on to my readers stories from this book.

Here is my story:

Those who these days still own a traditional Olland-style costume ought to be proud, because they own a piece of our Olland culture of immeasurable value. Every spring or summer, when our Jork Costume Group has its guided tour, well, that's the time when our Olland costume is honored once more. And it is a beautiful costume!

My grandmother Gesche used to still wear the costume. I myself don't remember it. I was too little when she died. But our mom used to tell us about it, and she couldn't get enough of telling us about it. My sister Wilma still has a photo of Grandma Gesche wearing the costume and Grandpa Jan wearing his seafarer's outfit.

Grandma used to have a plain costume for workdays. The skirt was made from beiderwand [a.k.a. "single-weave"] cloth or from coarse woolen cloth, and underneath it was a petticoat made from pure linen. Linen or woolen cloth was used for making the short jacket. The sleeves were wider toward their ends to allow room while working.

But now about the costume for special occasions ... It was grand! And what a lot of parts it had! The ruff around the neck was decorated with fancy colored embroidery. The neckerchief had gold or silver embroidery on it. The red or black skirt made from broadcloth was long and wide. The petticoat had exquisite lace around the edges. The jacket and the bonnet were made from velvet or from silk. The bonnet's ribbon and the neckerchief had several bright colors and had gold lace. Putting on the special costume would take at least an hour, but these days women also need that much time for their makeup.

And then the jewelry! Up to six large, filigreed silver buttons hung on each jacket sleeve. Arranged in equal distance from each other round the neck were several necklaces of different length. On the shoes there were beautiful, wide filigreed buckles. Wealth and status could easily be told by the jewelry. The more wealthy the owner the more necklaces there were dangling around the neck in equal distance from each other. Nowadays, a set of jewelry is worth an average of 40,000.00 DM [ca. US $20,000.00]. It sounds better in Euros [i.e., ca. 20,450.00].

I know Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels), our neighbor -- we children used to call her "Granny Bekken" -- only in Olland-style costume. Whenever her son Gallef (Garlev) visited her with his family on Sundays, Granny Bekken would put on her Sunday outfit. Uncle Gallef had a grocery store in Hamburg. Oftentimes we would get a piece of chocolate from Granny Bekken, but it would always taste of camphor. Granny Bekken probably stored the chocolate in her clothes closet. In the old days, camphor balls would be kept in closets to ward off moths.

Too bad that nowadays so much of the old traditions has been lost. But the clock can't be turned back. Now, in the context of these memories of mine, I'd like to ask my readers what I frequently ask myself: "Which time is nicer: today with all its affluence, haste and rushing, or our childhood days of poverty and yet contentment?" I always answer the same way. What do you think my answer is?

Ollander dragt

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneimaand 2000)

Miin bouk Ollanner Vertelln gifft dat nich meir tou koypen. Nu ward' ik af un an 'n fertellen uut dit bouk an miin lesers wider-geven.

Hiir miin fertellen:

Dei huyt noch 'n Ollander dragt besitt, dei droev stult ween, den hei besitt 'n stuek fun uns Ollander kultuur fun unbeschriivlichen weirt. Tou froyjaars- or sommertiid, wen uns Joerker Dragten-grup foyrungen maakt, jaa, den wardt uns Ollander dragt noch maal tou eer ferholpen. Is aver ouk 'n smukke dragt!

Miin grootmudder Gesche het de olde dragt noch dragen. Suelvst kan ik mii nich daar op besinnen. Ik woyr noch tou luet as sei storven is. Aver uns mamma het uns dat ferteld, un sei kun uns gaar nich noug daar fun fertellen. Suester Wilma het noch 'n foto fun Ouma Gesche in dragt un Oupa Jan in farens-tuyg.

Foer d'n aldag har Ouma 'n einfache dragt. De rok woyr uut baider-wand or uut 'n groffen wulstof. Uenner tou 'n widen uenner-rok uut rainet linnen. Foer de kotte jak woyr linnen or ouk wulstof namen. Naa uennen tou woyren de ermels wider, daar mit man bot tou d'n warken harren.

Aver nuu de Festdracht ... Dei woyr staatsch! Wat allens daar tou hoyrn dee! De wuss uem d'n hals woyr bunt bestikd. Dat halsdouk har gullen or suelvern stikkerei op tou wisen. De rode or ouk swatte rok uut douk woyr lang un wiid. De uenner-rok har an d'n soum wunner-schoyne spitsen. Jak un muets woyren uut samt or siid'. Muetsen-band un halsdouk luechten in bunt kloyr un harren guld-tressen. Dat an-trekken fun de festdragt duur tou minnsd ein stuend, aver de like tiid wardt huyt fun de frouns-luyd' foer dat an-malen fun de snuut bruukt.

Nuu koym de smuk! An jeid ein jakken-ermel huengen bet suess grote, suelvern filigraan-knoyp. Uem d'n hals, ouk uut filigraan, in liken af-stand meirere ferscheiden lange keden. Op de schou woyren smukke, breide filigraan-snallen tou seien. Riikdoum un an-seien woyr licht an d'n smuk uut tou maken. Jei riker uemsoo meir keden bummeln in liken af-stand uem d'n hals. Huytigen-daags koestt de smuk in d'n doerchsnit uem 40,000.00 DM [feirtig dusend mark]. In Euro hoyrt sik dat beter an.

Uns naversch, Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels) - wii kinder hevt uemmer "Omua Bekken" tou er segd - dei kin ik bloots in Ollander dragt. Wen de seun Gallef (Garlev) suendaags uut Hamborg mit siin famiilje tou besoyk koym, den troek Ouma Bekken ere suendaags-dragt an. Unkel Gallef har 'n koupmans-laden in Hamborg. Faken kregen wii kinder fun Ouma Bekken 'n stuek schokolaad', aver de smek uemmer naa kampfer. Seker het Ouma Bekken de schokolaad' in er kleider-schap opwaard. In jeidet kleider-schap legen in de olde tiid kampfer-kugeln gegen motten.

Schaad' dat huyt tou daags soo feel fun de olden tradiitschonen ferloren gaan is. Aver de klok lett sik nich trueg-draien. Nuu muech ik in miin trueg-besinnen miin lesers maal fragen wat ik mii suelvst faken fraag': ,,Welke tiid woyr schoyner: de huydige mit al er euver-flout, hetsen un jagen, or dei wen ouk arme aver likers toufreden kinder-tiid?'' Uemmer geev' ik mii de like anter. Wat anter ik mii wul?

The Traditional Costume of Olland

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

My book Ollanner Vertelln is out of stock. From now on I'll occasionally pass on to my readers stories from this book.

Here is my story:

Those who these days still own a traditional Olland-style costume ought to be proud, because they own a piece of our Olland culture of immeasurable value. Every spring or summer, when our Jork Costume Group has its guided tour, well, that's the time when our Olland costume is honored once more. And it is a beautiful costume!

My grandmother Gesche used to still wear the costume. I myself don't remember it. I was too little when she died. But our mom used to tell us about it, and she couldn't get enough of telling us about it. My sister Wilma still has a photo of Grandma Gesche wearing the costume and Grandpa Jan wearing his seafarer's outfit.

Grandma used to have a plain costume for workdays. The skirt was made from beiderwand [a.k.a. "single-weave"] cloth or from coarse woolen cloth, and underneath it was a petticoat made from pure linen. Linen or woolen cloth was used for making the short jacket. The sleeves were wider toward their ends to allow room while working.

But now about the costume for special occasions ... It was grand! And what a lot of parts it had! The ruff around the neck was decorated with fancy colored embroidery. The neckerchief had gold or silver embroidery on it. The red or black skirt made from broadcloth was long and wide. The petticoat had exquisite lace around the edges. The jacket and the bonnet were made from velvet or from silk. The bonnet's ribbon and the neckerchief had several bright colors and had gold lace. Putting on the special costume would take at least an hour, but these days women also need that much time for their makeup.

And then the jewelry! Up to six large, filigreed silver buttons hung on each jacket sleeve. Arranged in equal distance from each other round the neck were several necklaces of different length. On the shoes there were beautiful, wide filigreed buckles. Wealth and status could easily be told by the jewelry. The more wealthy the owner the more necklaces there were dangling around the neck in equal distance from each other. Nowadays, a set of jewelry is worth an average of 40,000.00 DM [ca. US $20,000.00]. It sounds better in Euros [i.e., ca. 20,450.00].

I know Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels), our neighbor -- we children used to call her "Granny Bekken" -- only in Olland-style costume. Whenever her son Gallef (Garlev) visited her with his family on Sundays, Granny Bekken would put on her Sunday outfit. Uncle Gallef had a grocery store in Hamburg. Oftentimes we would get a piece of chocolate from Granny Bekken, but it would always taste of camphor. Granny Bekken probably stored the chocolate in her clothes closet. In the old days, camphor balls would be kept in closets to ward off moths.

Too bad that nowadays so much of the old traditions has been lost. But the clock can't be turned back. Now, in the context of these memories of mine, I'd like to ask my readers what I frequently ask myself: "Which time is nicer: today with all its affluence, haste and rushing, or our childhood days of poverty and yet contentment?" I always answer the same way. What do you think my answer is?

This photograph from the late 19th century is of Ms. Kramer-Freudenthal's paternal grandparents: Jan (Johann) Freudenthal and his wife Gesche Freudenthal, née Meier. Gesche is wearing the traditional Olland costume. The two married in 1864, and Ms. Kramer-Freudenthal's father, Peter Freudenthal, was born in 1879.
(Please clock on the picture to see it larger.)

Ollanner Dracht

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneemoond 2000)

Mien Book "Ollanner Vertelln" gifft dat nich mihr to käupen. Nu warr ik af un an een Vertelln ut ditt Book an mien Lesers wiedergeben.

Hier mien Vertelln:

De hüüt noch een Ollanner Dracht besitt, de dröff stult ween, denn he besitt een Stück vun uns Ollanner Kultur vun unbeschrieflichen Wiert. To Freuhjohrs- or Sommertiet, wenn uns Jörker Drachtengrupp' Führungen mookt, jo, denn warrt uns Ollanner Dracht nochmol to Ehr verholpen. Is ober ok een smucke Dracht!

Mien Grootmudder Gesche hett de ole Dracht noch drogen. Sülbst kann ik mi nich dorop besinn. Ik wüür noch to lütt, as se storben is. Ober uns Mamma hett uns dat vertellt un se kunn uns gor nich noog dorvun vertelln. Süster Wilma hett noch een Foto vun Oma Gesche in Dracht un Opa Jan in Fohrenstüüch.

För den Alldag harr Oma een eenfache Dracht. De Rock wüür ut Beiderwand or ut een groffen Wullstoff. Ünnerto een wieden Ünnerrock ut reinet Linnen. För de kotte Jack wöör Linnen or ok Wullstoff nohm. No ünnen to wörrn de Ärmels wieder, dormit man Bott to'n Warken harrn.

Ober nu de Festdracht. De wüür stootsch! Wat all'ns dorto hüürn dä! De Wuß üm den Hals wüür buntbestickt. Dat Halsdook harr gull'n or sülvern Stickeree optowiesen. De rode or ok swatte Rock ut Dook wüür lang un wiet. De Ünnerrock harr an den Soom wunnerscheune Spitzen. Jack un Mütz wüürn ut Samt or Sied. Mützenband un Halsdook lüchten in bunt Klüür un harrn Guldtressen. Dat Antrecken vun de Festdracht duur tominnst een Stünn, ober de lieke Tiet warrt hüüt vun de Froonslüüd för dat Anmolen vun de Snuut bruukt.

Nu keum de Smuck! An jedeen Jackenärmel hüngen bet süß grote, sülvern Filigroonkneup. Üm den Hals, ok ut Filigroon, in lieken Afstand mihrere verschieden lange Keden. Op de Schooh wüürn smucke, brede Filigroonsnalln to sehn. Riekdoom un Ansehn wüür licht an den Smuck uttomoken. Je rieker, ümso mihr Keden bummeln in lieken Afstand üm den Hals. Hüütigendoogs köst de Smuck in Dörchsnitt üm 40.000,00 DM. In Euro hüürt sik dat beter an.

Uns Nobersch, Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels) - wi Kinner hebbt ümmer Oma Bekken to ehr seggt - de kinn ik bloots in Ollanner Dracht. Wenn de Söhn Galleff (Garlev) Sünndoogs ut Hamborg mit sien Fomilje to Beseuk keum, denn tröck Oma Bekken ehre Sünndoogsdracht an. Unkel Galleff harr een Koopmannsloden in Hamborg. Foken kregen wi Kinner vun Oma Bekken een Stück Schokolood, ober de smeck ümmer no Kampfer. Seker hett Oma Bekken de Schokolood in ehr Klederschapp opwohrt. In jedet Klederschapp legen in de ole Tiet Kampferkugeln gegen Motten.

Schood, datt hüüttodoogs soveel vun de olen Traditschoon' verloorngohn is, ober de Klock lett sik nich trüchdreihn. Nu müch ik in mien Trüchbesinn mien Lesers mol frogen wat ik mi sülbst foken froog: ,,Welke Tiet wüür scheuner, de hüütige mit all' ehr Öberfloot, hetzen un jogen or de, wenn ok arme ober liekers tofreden Kinnertiet?'' Ümmer geev ik mi de lieke Anter. Wat anter ik mi wull?

The Traditional Costume of Olland

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

My book Ollanner Vertelln is out of stock. From now on I'll occasionally pass on to my readers stories from this book.

Here is my story:

Those who these days still own a traditional Olland-style costume ought to be proud, because they own a piece of our Olland culture of immeasurable value. Every spring or summer, when our Jork Costume Group has its guided tour, well, that's the time when our Olland costume is honored once more. And it is a beautiful costume!

My grandmother Gesche used to still wear the costume. I myself don't remember it. I was too little when she died. But our mom used to tell us about it, and she couldn't get enough of telling us about it. My sister Wilma still has a photo of Grandma Gesche wearing the costume and Grandpa Jan wearing his seafarer's outfit.

Grandma used to have a plain costume for workdays. The skirt was made from beiderwand [a.k.a. "single-weave"] cloth or from coarse woolen cloth, and underneath it was a petticoat made from pure linen. Linen or woolen cloth was used for making the short jacket. The sleeves were wider toward their ends to allow room while working.

But now about the costume for special occasions ... It was grand! And what a lot of parts it had! The ruff around the neck was decorated with fancy colored embroidery. The neckerchief had gold or silver embroidery on it. The red or black skirt made from broadcloth was long and wide. The petticoat had exquisite lace around the edges. The jacket and the bonnet were made from velvet or from silk. The bonnet's ribbon and the neckerchief had several bright colors and had gold lace. Putting on the special costume would take at least an hour, but these days women also need that much time for their makeup.

And then the jewelry! Up to six large, filigreed silver buttons hung on each jacket sleeve. Arranged in equal distance from each other round the neck were several necklaces of different length. On the shoes there were beautiful, wide filigreed buckles. Wealth and status could easily be told by the jewelry. The more wealthy the owner the more necklaces there were dangling around the neck in equal distance from each other. Nowadays, a set of jewelry is worth an average of 40,000.00 DM [ca. US $20,000.00]. It sounds better in Euros [i.e., ca. 20,450.00].

I know Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels), our neighbor -- we children used to call her "Granny Bekken" -- only in Olland-style costume. Whenever her son Gallef (Garlev) visited her with his family on Sundays, Granny Bekken would put on her Sunday outfit. Uncle Gallef had a grocery store in Hamburg. Oftentimes we would get a piece of chocolate from Granny Bekken, but it would always taste of camphor. Granny Bekken probably stored the chocolate in her clothes closet. In the old days, camphor balls would be kept in closets to ward off moths.

Too bad that nowadays so much of the old traditions has been lost. But the clock can't be turned back. Now, in the context of these memories of mine, I'd like to ask my readers what I frequently ask myself: "Which time is nicer: today with all its affluence, haste and rushing, or our childhood days of poverty and yet contentment?" I always answer the same way. What do you think my answer is?

Ollander dragt

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Sneimaand 2000)

Miin bouk Ollanner Vertelln gifft dat nich meir tou koypen. Nu ward' ik af un an 'n fertellen uut dit bouk an miin lesers wider-geven.

Hiir miin fertellen:

Dei huyt noch 'n Ollander dragt besitt, dei droev stult ween, den hei besitt 'n stuek fun uns Ollander kultuur fun unbeschriivlichen weirt. Tou froyjaars- or sommertiid, wen uns Joerker Dragten-grup foyrungen maakt, jaa, den wardt uns Ollander dragt noch maal tou eer ferholpen. Is aver ouk 'n smukke dragt!

Miin grootmudder Gesche het de olde dragt noch dragen. Suelvst kan ik mii nich daar op besinnen. Ik woyr noch tou luet as sei storven is. Aver uns mamma het uns dat ferteld, un sei kun uns gaar nich noug daar fun fertellen. Suester Wilma het noch 'n foto fun Ouma Gesche in dragt un Oupa Jan in farens-tuyg.

Foer d'n aldag har Ouma 'n einfache dragt. De rok woyr uut baider-wand or uut 'n groffen wulstof. Uenner tou 'n widen uenner-rok uut rainet linnen. Foer de kotte jak woyr linnen or ouk wulstof namen. Naa uennen tou woyren de ermels wider, daar mit man bot tou d'n warken harren.

Aver nuu de Festdracht ... Dei woyr staatsch! Wat allens daar tou hoyrn dee! De wuss uem d'n hals woyr bunt bestikd. Dat halsdouk har gullen or suelvern stikkerei op tou wisen. De rode or ouk swatte rok uut douk woyr lang un wiid. De uenner-rok har an d'n soum wunner-schoyne spitsen. Jak un muets woyren uut samt or siid'. Muetsen-band un halsdouk luechten in bunt kloyr un harren guld-tressen. Dat an-trekken fun de festdragt duur tou minnsd ein stuend, aver de like tiid wardt huyt fun de frouns-luyd' foer dat an-malen fun de snuut bruukt.

Nuu koym de smuk! An jeid ein jakken-ermel huengen bet suess grote, suelvern filigraan-knoyp. Uem d'n hals, ouk uut filigraan, in liken af-stand meirere ferscheiden lange keden. Op de schou woyren smukke, breide filigraan-snallen tou seien. Riikdoum un an-seien woyr licht an d'n smuk uut tou maken. Jei riker uemsoo meir keden bummeln in liken af-stand uem d'n hals. Huytigen-daags koestt de smuk in d'n doerchsnit uem 40,000.00 DM [feirtig dusend mark]. In Euro hoyrt sik dat beter an.

Uns naversch, Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels) - wii kinder hevt uemmer "Omua Bekken" tou er segd - dei kin ik bloots in Ollander dragt. Wen de seun Gallef (Garlev) suendaags uut Hamborg mit siin famiilje tou besoyk koym, den troek Ouma Bekken ere suendaags-dragt an. Unkel Gallef har 'n koupmans-laden in Hamborg. Faken kregen wii kinder fun Ouma Bekken 'n stuek schokolaad', aver de smek uemmer naa kampfer. Seker het Ouma Bekken de schokolaad' in er kleider-schap opwaard. In jeidet kleider-schap legen in de olde tiid kampfer-kugeln gegen motten.

Schaad' dat huyt tou daags soo feel fun de olden tradiitschonen ferloren gaan is. Aver de klok lett sik nich trueg-draien. Nuu muech ik in miin trueg-besinnen miin lesers maal fragen wat ik mii suelvst faken fraag': ,,Welke tiid woyr schoyner: de huydige mit al er euver-flout, hetsen un jagen, or dei wen ouk arme aver likers toufreden kinder-tiid?'' Uemmer geev' ik mii de like anter. Wat anter ik mii wul?

The Traditional Costume of Olland

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(January 2000)

My book Ollanner Vertelln is out of stock. From now on I'll occasionally pass on to my readers stories from this book.

Here is my story:

Those who these days still own a traditional Olland-style costume ought to be proud, because they own a piece of our Olland culture of immeasurable value. Every spring or summer, when our Jork Costume Group has its guided tour, well, that's the time when our Olland costume is honored once more. And it is a beautiful costume!

My grandmother Gesche used to still wear the costume. I myself don't remember it. I was too little when she died. But our mom used to tell us about it, and she couldn't get enough of telling us about it. My sister Wilma still has a photo of Grandma Gesche wearing the costume and Grandpa Jan wearing his seafarer's outfit.

Grandma used to have a plain costume for workdays. The skirt was made from beiderwand [a.k.a. "single-weave"] cloth or from coarse woolen cloth, and underneath it was a petticoat made from pure linen. Linen or woolen cloth was used for making the short jacket. The sleeves were wider toward their ends to allow room while working.

But now about the costume for special occasions ... It was grand! And what a lot of parts it had! The ruff around the neck was decorated with fancy colored embroidery. The neckerchief had gold or silver embroidery on it. The red or black skirt made from broadcloth was long and wide. The petticoat had exquisite lace around the edges. The jacket and the bonnet were made from velvet or from silk. The bonnet's ribbon and the neckerchief had several bright colors and had gold lace. Putting on the special costume would take at least an hour, but these days women also need that much time for their makeup.

And then the jewelry! Up to six large, filigreed silver buttons hung on each jacket sleeve. Arranged in equal distance from each other round the neck were several necklaces of different length. On the shoes there were beautiful, wide filigreed buckles. Wealth and status could easily be told by the jewelry. The more wealthy the owner the more necklaces there were dangling around the neck in equal distance from each other. Nowadays, a set of jewelry is worth an average of 40,000.00 DM [ca. US $20,000.00]. It sounds better in Euros [i.e., ca. 20,450.00].

I know Bekken Bars (Rebekka Bartels), our neighbor -- we children used to call her "Granny Bekken" -- only in Olland-style costume. Whenever her son Gallef (Garlev) visited her with his family on Sundays, Granny Bekken would put on her Sunday outfit. Uncle Gallef had a grocery store in Hamburg. Oftentimes we would get a piece of chocolate from Granny Bekken, but it would always taste of camphor. Granny Bekken probably stored the chocolate in her clothes closet. In the old days, camphor balls would be kept in closets to ward off moths.

Too bad that nowadays so much of the old traditions has been lost. But the clock can't be turned back. Now, in the context of these memories of mine, I'd like to ask my readers what I frequently ask myself: "Which time is nicer: today with all its affluence, haste and rushing, or our childhood days of poverty and yet contentment?" I always answer the same way. What do you think my answer is?