Leverfest in Hausen: A festival of tradition and friendship!

Leverfest in Hausen: A festival of tradition and friendship!

Last weekend, Arnstadt's partner community Hausen im Wiesental celebrated this year's Hebelfest, a traditional event in memory of the famous writer Johann Peter Hebel. The festivities began on May 10th, the birthday of Hebel, who was born in Basel in 1760 and is considered a pioneer of Alemannic dialect literature. Volunteer alderman Martina Lang traveled home with members of the Friendship Association for Town Twinning to take part in the celebrations. Mayor Philipp Lotter and community employees warmly welcomed the guests, including friends from the former Wipfratal community under the leadership of Uwe Greßler.

The Lever Festival is celebrated in collaboration with the Basel Lever Society. An integral part of the program is the festive parade, in which the oldest villagers lead the parade in a horse-drawn carriage. This is accompanied by the lever music that wakes the village early in the morning at 6 a.m. in historical costume. Kindergarten children recited poems, songs and dances on stage, which created a festive atmosphere in the morning.

Traditions and honors

The procession took the official guests from the train station to the festival hall around 11:15 a.m. During the ceremony, honors and awards were presented and the school classes presented a varied cultural program. The mayor thanked everyone involved for their dedicated service as well as for the traditional food that was offered as part of the festival, including the “Hebelmähli”, a delicacy made from soup meat with potatoes and beetroot. However, the delegation from Arnstadt had difficulties communicating in the Alemannic dialect.

As part of the Hebelfest, the festival exhibition was also opened, which focuses on Hebel's origins from the Wiesental and his significant influence on literature. In Hausen, a memorial plaque and monument commemorate the writer, and his family's former home was converted into a museum in 2010. Hebel's manuscripts, first editions and various stories from his life's work are on display there.

A visit to the region

The day before the festival, the delegation from Arnstadt visited the Rötteln castle ruins. This impressive complex, which was built before 1250 and belongs to the Lörrach district, offers a breathtaking view of the border triangle of Germany, France and Switzerland. Another highlight of the Hebelfest was the entertainment program in the pavilion, which featured music and various stalls.

However, the awarding of the Johann Peter Hebel Prize, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, did not take place this year. This award is presented every two years, with the next ceremony planned for 2026. The Hebelfest nevertheless remains a distinctive opportunity to celebrate local culture and community and to honor Johann Peter Hebel's deep roots in his homeland.

The surroundings of Hausen are worth a trip, characterized by history, traditions and a warm community.