As Thursday April 17, 2014 was the last day of school before the Oster (Easter) Holiday our German Leher (teacher) took the opportunity to introduce us to some cultural Oster practices of Germans. First we discussed and compared the practices in our different countries (fourteen – two Caribbean, one South American, Three Asian, and eight African. This brought out some interesting disparities and similarities. Bun and Cheese is unique to Jamaica from all told, family reunion and picnics are African. Jamaica, in relatively recent times, has adopted some continental European Traditions like Easter Bunnies and treasure hunts.
As Thursday April 17, 2014 was the last day of school before the Oster (Easter) Holiday our German Leher (teacher) took the opportunity to introduce us to some cultural Oster practices of Germans. First we discussed and compared the practices in our different countries (fourteen – two Caribbean, one South American, Three Asian, and eight African. This brought out some interesting disparities and similarities. Bun and Cheese is unique to Jamaica from all told, family reunion and picnics are African. Jamaica, in relatively recent times, has adopted some continental European Traditions like Easter Bunnies and treasure hunts.
Susanne our German Leher introduced one of her many Oster Bunnies bearing gifts, Chocalade eggs nicely wrapped. Under normal circumstances those little tokens would be hid all over the campus or section thereof for us to hunt, fortunately that was not required. In the homes, we are told, family members look forward to their Oster Bunnies and the hidden treasures that come with same.
Like Jamaicans, Germans recognize both Good Friday and Easter Monday as Holy Holidays. Consequently everywhere is locked down and people spend time at home, in church and in the parks. Distinctly German is Their Oster Fest. This is akin to ‘Grand Market’ at Christmas in Jamaica, only that like all other aspect of German life it is well structured and coordinated. Print and Electronic media carry adds detailing the events in each city and the times for each. The festival runs from Holy Thursday through to Oster Montag with each day’s activities starting at different times. As much as I wanted to go out and experience some of the action I chose not to for several reasons, chief among which is the expected unfriendliness of the people and the language barrier.
On Saturday our reference team, RB Leipzig, played at home in arguably their most important fixture of the season against SV Darmstadt 98. Both teams are in a crucial battle for the second automatic qualification to the German second division, RB entered the game on 67 points, one more than SV on 66 with four games remaining in the season. The game was tense, emotions were running high, the stadium was near full with just under 40,000 spectators, the record turn-out for RB thus far in their five year history.
The city of Leipzig has the enviable record of winning the first ever German top flight title but like most of East Germany has fallen behind their more illustrious western rivals and does not have a team in the Bundesliga. Berlin with Hertha Berlin, is one of two teams from Eastern Germany in the Bundesliga, RB is on a mission to reach the Bundesliga in another two seasons tops. The investments by parent company Red Bull is the envy of all but that’s a story for another time.
Back to the game, the atmosphere inside the RB stadium was absolutely tense and emotional. Both sets of fans cheered with vim, vigor and vitality as though their lives depended on the success of their respective team. Holders of season passes, my colleagues and I have the benefit of sitting in the famed sector 26, the vibes section that leads the cheers and applause as well as consternation of opposing players, a fact not lost on the players.
As was expected the technical and tactical quality of the game was well below norm for RB, but who cared. The players played with pride and purpose, passion and responsibility. They lunged into every tackle, chased every ball, grafted for every inch. In the end they were rewarded. A first-half wonder strike from left full back Anthony Jung was enough to see off a determined and spirited SV Darmstadt 98. The game was fiercely fought and at times got feisty but when it was over both sets of players embraced each other in mutual respect as they acknowledged the supporting fans.
Being the home team it was obvious RBs celebrations and acknowledgements would go on for much longer. They went around the entire stadium stand by stand and joined the fans in a ritualistic display of appreciation. At sector twenty six the celebrations was very unique and much longer. First there was a sequence of clapping and cheers. This was followed by a moment of silence when the players lay on their backs whilst every spectator in sector 26 took their seat. Following the cheer master’s lead this gradually got to a fever pitched, high-decibels shouting and cheering with both players and spectators on their feet jumping and clapping frantically. It was an awesome show of passion and appreciation; of course yours truly was well immersed as though a born RB fan. It is already an articulated decision to return when they have qualified for the Bundesliga to witness the atmosphere once more.
The rest of Oster was spent studying, resting and completing a group task. Not a very exciting way to spend a holiday but certainly productive.
Writer: Andrew C Edwards
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