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Halloween

Der Kalte Keller – Eine Gruselgeschichte zu Halloween

October 29, 2017 by Dieter Kermas Leave a Comment

DER KALTE KELLER

(Eine Gruselgeschichte von Dieter Kermas)
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Die Frühjahrssonne erhellte mit ihren wärmenden Strahlen unser Montagebüro. Durch das große Südfenster fiel mein Blick auf das emsige Treiben auf der Hardenbergstraße in Berlin – Charlottenburg.

Dienstags bis freitags hätte die Sonne sicher unsere Laune und unseren Arbeitseifer günstig beeinflusst. Doch heute war es Montag. Aus Erfahrung wussten wir, dass heute das Klingeln der Telefone meist unangenehme Nachrichten bedeutete.

Baustellen hatten kein Material bekommen, ein Lastwagen mit dringend benötigten Dämmpaneelen war bei Braunschweig in den Graben gefahren und der technische Leiter einer Filialkette schnaubte erbost, dass sich die Tür zum Tiefkühlraum nicht öffnen ließe und somit keine Ware für den Verkauf zur Verfügung stünde.

Diese Gedanken gingen mir durch den Sinn, als mein Telefon loslärmte.

Mein Gesprächspartner hatte keine Hiobsbotschaft zu verkünden. Er wollte mich noch heute wegen eines Angebotes sprechen. Freudig erregt sagte ich, ich sei bereits auf dem Weg zu ihm. Ich warf mich in meinen Trenchcoat, beeilte mich das Büro zu verlassen und floh so vor den üblichen Montagsüberraschungen.

Der Weg zu dem alten Krankenhaus war nicht weit und so war der Anrufer recht erstaunt, als ich kurz danach in seinem Büro in der technischen Abteilung auftauchte.

Mit kurzen Worten erklärte er mir den Grund seines Anrufs. Die Kosten für auszuführende Reparaturarbeiten sollte ich ihm als Angebot einreichen.

Beim Hinausgehen fragte ich noch, in welchem Gebäude ich mir die auszuführenden Arbeiten ansehen könnte. „Sie kennen sich doch hier gut aus“, rief er mir zu, “die Pathologie finden Sie sicher alleine.“

Aha, die Pathologie, dachte ich und lief etwas langsamer. Ich war früher bereits einmal in diesem uralten, muffigen Kellergewölbe gewesen. Das Gemäuer stammte sicher noch aus der Zeit um 1900.

Ich stieg die ausgetretenen Stufen hinab. Liebe Sonne ade, der Hades wartet auf mich. Ein Lufthauch wehte mir entgegen, als ich die erste Kellertür öffnete. Nun atmete ich dumpfe Kellerluft gemischt mit dem Geruch von Desinfektionsmitteln ein.

Im Halbdunkel tappte ich den Mittelgang in Richtung einer stärkeren Lichtquelle.

Ehe sich meine Augen an das hellere Licht gewöhnt hatten, tauchte eine kleine, gedrungene Gestalt vor mir auf. Dann erkannte ich den Zerberus dieser Gruft.

Ein ehemals weißer Kittel, jetzt mit undefinierbaren Flecken übersät, spannte sich über seinem kleinen Spitzbauch. Trotz des angefressenen Zigarrenstummels in seinem Mund quetschte er eine Begrüßung hervor. „Kommen Sie bitte, ich zeige Ihnen die beschädigten Fliesen und die abgerissenen Türdichtungen, die erneuert werden müssen“, murmelte er etwas undeutlich.

Hier möchte ich kurz den Raum beschreiben, in dem wir uns befanden. Die Wände und der Boden waren gefliest. Eine Wand aus Dämmpaneelen teilte den Raum in seiner Länge. In dieser Wand befand sich eine Tür neben der anderen. Es waren zehn Türen.

Hinter jeder dieser Türen lag eine Leiche auf einer fahrbaren Bahre.

Mit den Worten: „Ich lasse Sie jetzt alleine“, entschwand der Kellergeist.

Also Taschenlampe angeknipst, Notizblock, Zollstock und Stift in die Hände genommen und rein in die erste Tür. Der anfangs beschriebene Geruch schlug mir nun verstärkt entgegen. Ich meinte noch einen weiteren Bestandteil in der Luft zu riechen, doch wollte ich darüber lieber nicht nachdenken. Die Bahre mit der Leiche etwas zur Seite gedrückt, und mich vorbeigequetscht. Beschädigte Wand-und Bodenfliesen notiert und auf der Rückseite des Raumes weitergeschlichen.

Die Kühlanlage sprang plötzlich klappernd an und verwirbelte den durchdringenden Geruch im Raum. Zwischen jeder Bahre zur Tür gedrängelt, um die Dichtungen zu kontrollieren. Mein Gott war das eng hier, dachte ich. Um zu messen, musste ich mein Notizbuch mit dem Kuli auf einer der Bahren ablegen.

Lieber Leser, hier muss ich leider eine Illusion zerstören. Die Leichen liegen nicht, wie oft in den Krimifilmen dargestellt, sauber abgedeckt und ordentlich gekämmt da.

Nein, hier lagen die Körper, so wie sie gestorben waren, nackt und oft noch mit den Spuren der vergeblichen Operationen auf den Unterlagen. Aufgedunsene Bäuche mit gelber Desinfektionsfarbe und grob vernähte Schnitte sind sicher kein schöner Anblick. Ich war heilfroh, kein Kind zu entdecken.

Ich bückte mich, nahm an der Tür Maß von oben nach unten, streckte mich und wollte die Maße in mein Notizbuch eintragen. Da blieb meine ausgestreckte Hand wie erstarrt in der Luft stehen. Etwas hielt mich hinten am Trenchcoat fest. Ich hielt die Luft an und fasste nach hinten. Meine Hand berührte einen kalten Fuß, dessen Zeh sich im Gürtel des Mantels verhakt hatte. Ich zerrte am Gürtel und kam frei.

Durch den Ruck stieß ich gegen die andere Bahre, worauf mein dort abgelegter Kugelschreiber unter den dort liegenden Körper rollte. Mit der Taschenlampe geleuchtet und mit spitzen Fingern den Kuli wieder hervorgeholt.

Die letzten Maße waren eher geschätzt als gemessen. Nur raus hier, war mein Gedanke.

Ich drängelte mich wieder bis zur ersten Tür durch und begab mich zum Herrn der Toten. Ich entdeckte ihn in seinem kleinen Aufenthaltsraum, der von Zigarrenqualm zugenebelt war. Jetzt eine Zigarette dachte ich und kramte die Schachtel aus meinem Mantel. So saßen wir eine Weile schweigend und rauchend, ehe wir auf den Montageablauf zu sprechen kamen.

Er sah auf seine Uhr, meinte es wäre Zeit für sein Frühstück und ging zu einem kleinen Kühlschrank, der vor dem Raum an der gegenüberliegenden Wand stand.

Mehr zufällig als neugierig sah ich, wie er ein in Pergamentpapier eingewickeltes Päckchen zurückbrachte, es öffnete und in eine Stulle biss. Doch was enthielten die Plastikbeutel, die ich neben seinen Stullen im Kühlschrank gesehen hatte?

Ich fragte. Noch kauend verstand ich, dass es entnommene Organe und andere Teile seien, die er für die Studenten, oder auch für ergänzende Untersuchungen aufbewahrte. Es würgte in meiner Kehle.

Ein Geräusch ließ uns in Richtung einer Tür blicken, die ich vorher nicht bemerkt hatte. Zwei schwarz gekleidete Männer schoben fast würdevoll einen Sarg, der auf einer fahrbaren Unterlage ruhte, in den Keller. Sie nahmen den Sargdeckel ab und legten ihn auf den Boden. Das kauende Unikum rief den beiden Beerdigungskräften zu, dass sie den Gesuchten hinter Tür Nr. 5 fänden.

Wie gebannt verfolgte ich den weiteren Ablauf. Sie zogen die männliche Person, es war die, die sich in meinem Gürtel verfangen hatte, mit der Bahre neben ihren Sarg. Dann packte einer die Füße und der andere fasste unter die Arme der mageren Leiche. Der am Kopfende zählte „eins, zwei und drei“ und mit Schwung flog der alte Mann in den offenen Sarg. Es polterte wie ein Sack Kartoffeln. Der Deckel wurde aufgelegt und sie verschwanden.

Es ist jetzt höchste Zeit ebenfalls zu verschwinden, überlegte ich, verabschiedete mich vom Herrscher der Unterwelt und stürzte ins Freie, in die frische Luft.

Nach diesem Erlebnis empfand ich den Lärm und die Hektik in unserem Büro wie eine Wohltat und langsam entspannten sich meine Nerven.

©Dieter Kermas

Image:  pixabay.com

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Dieter Kermas, CaliforniaGermans Author and a true Berliner, turned to writing after he retired from his profession as an engineer. Family and friends urged him to document his many experiences during his childhood in wartime Germany. This made for a collection of various essays which have been published here at CaliforniaGermans. (You can find the stories here on CaliforniaGermans.com by putting “Dieter Kermas” into the Search Box.) Apart from his childhood memories, he is also sharing some of his short stories and poems on CaliforniaGermans. Dieter Kermas, who loves to write, is currently working on his first novel. Some of his work has been included in anthologies.

To get in touch with Dieter Kermas, please send an email with subject line “Dieter Kermas” to: californiagermans@gmail.com
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Filed Under: Lese-Ecke Tagged With: California, California Germans, Deutsche in Kalifornien, Deutsche Kurzgeschichte, Dieter Kermas, Expat, Halloween, Tradition

Halloween Horror Nights

October 25, 2017 by Anne-Kathrin Leave a Comment

halloween-1001677_1920

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS

One of my favorite times of the year is finally back among us: Halloween. I love walking around my neighborhood looking at houses fully decked out with Halloween decorations. This year on the actual Halloween day I am going to do something I have never done before: passing out candy.  I am sorry if I gave you the intention that I would be doing something spectacular, but it is a first for me since I am usually the one who is out and about on this day.

One event I never miss during this time is the Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Hollywood.  This year marked my third year in a row that I went, and I love this event more every time I go.  One of my best friends laughed at me when I told him this since he remembers me all to well back in the day,  when I was too scared to even step foot into a haunted house.  Boy, times definitely have changed.

IMG_2969

The Horror Nights in Hollywood started twenty years ago and have become an established event. Each year, for about a month and a half, Universal Studios gives residence to various spooky characters from famous horror movies.  This attraction is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as the monsters walk freely around the park, trying to scare the masses of people.  The event also hosts several mazes, with each of them dedicated to specific horror films.

This year, the park hosts seven mazes in total with the following themes: Saw, The Shining, Ash vs. Evil Dead, American Horror Story, Insidious, The Horrors of Blumhouse, and Titans of Terror. In addition, visitors can ride on the Terror Tram, or take part in the Walking Dead attraction, which the park hosts year round.  Several rides are also open during the Halloween Horror Nights, including the Transformers ride, which is an amazing 4D experience you don’t want to miss.

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(Part of the outside of the Saw maze)

IMG_2972

(Outside of the Ash vs. Evil Dead maze)

IMG_2973

(Part of The Walking Dead Attraction)

I personally got very excited when I heard about the Saw maze. I really can’t watch such graphic movies anymore without having to puke and facing terrible nightmares the following night.  For some reason though, the mazes don’t freak me out as much. I am mostly amazed at how detail oriented and lifelike Universal builds them every single year.  You really do feel like you are at the scene of the particular movie.

The Saw maze was pretty good, but not my favorite one this year.  I have to admit that I had never heard of Ash vs. Evil Dead before, but the attraction was amazing! It was pretty scary, and I jumped and screamed several times when the horrific characters came out of nowhere.  Bless my sweet friends who bore with me while I was jumping all over the place out of fear. Especially my one friend hasn’t had it easy the past two years she attended the event with me.

Last year, I accidentally hit her in the nose with my elbow when I jumped backwards after being scared by an American Horror Story character.  We were already exhausted from having to wait more than two hours to get into this attraction, and then I had to top it off by actually hurting her.  I felt horrible, to say the least.  But you’d think I would have been better at getting it together this year.  Nah, I am embarrassed to say so, but unfortunately, you are wrong.

We had agreed that this year, I would be the one walking behind my girlfriends, so I wouldn’t be able to hit anyone of them with my elbow by accident.  Well, I was successful at not hitting my friends.  But unfortunately, I still wasn’t able to control my body.  When we bravely made our way through the Titans of Terror maze, one of the spooky characters came at me out of the dark. I started screaming and jumped forward, my arms circling in the air and getting a hold of my friend’s net sweater she was wearing and pulling it down.

She first thought that one of the characters had touched her, which is actually not allowed due to one of the park’s regulations.  She turned around and looked into my apologetic face, realizing that it was me yet again who hurt her.  Gosh, I really can’t control my body when I am freaked out.  From that point out, I was holding my hands whenever we walked through a maze and made sure to keep a distance.  I really can’t say if she would go a third time with me to the Horror Nights.

All in all, it was a night full of fun, my friend forgave me, and I am already looking forward to next year’s event.  If you would like to check it out yourself this year or at some point in the future, I have some tips that might be helpful:

  • Try to go early. The wait for mazes can go up to more than two hours during peak times.  Universal offers early entry at 5p.m.  My friends and I went at 5:30p.m. the first weekend the event was open in mid September, and the longest we had to wait one time was 55 minutes.  Other than that, we never waited longer than 30 minutes.
  • If you can, go ahead and purchase a front of the line pass. This gives you mostly instant access to the attractions without having to wait in the main lines.
  • Don’t bring any liquids when you go. Universal Studios Hollywood has a security checkpoint, and they will make you throw out any liquid items you posses. One year, I had to throw out my body mist spray because it wasn’t allowed.
  • Check the wait times for attractions online on the Halloween Horror Nights side. That way, you are always up to date and can see which mazes might have shorter waiting times than others.

I hope you all are going to have a spooky Halloween, no matter how you celebrate!

Images: Anne-Kathrin Schulte, pixabay.com
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Anne-KathrinAnne-Kathrin Schulte, is a contributor for CaliforniaGermans.com. She writes on her personal experience of the American Dream as well as on working as an au pair in CA. She was born and grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, where she completed her degree as a state-approved Kindergarten teacher. After her au pair engagement in the US and a quick return to Germany she decided to attend university in California and moved back to the United States. She has been living in Southern California since 2011.

If you would like to contact Anne-Kathrin, please send an email to californiagermans(at)gmail.com and place her name in the subject line.

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Filed Under: Expat Stories, Life in California Tagged With: Germans in California, Germans in Los Angeles, Halloween, Halloween events, Halloween Horror Nights, Los Angeles, Universal Studios, Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

"Trick or Treat" or "Süßes, sonst gibt's Saures"

October 31, 2015 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

240px-Jack-o'-Lantern_2003-10-31
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Halloween, a German tradition made in the USA

Today is Halloween! A holiday unknown to Germans or at least not being celebrated in Germany until the 1990s. But this has changed!

Today it’s “Süsses oder Saures!” all over Germany – the phrase we know here in California as “Trick or Treat!”

In 2009 the holiday Halloween helped to drive sales up to almost 30 million Euros in Germany and in 2011 it’s believed to have generated sales already of 200 million Euros! Quite some increase, but still not comparable to the USA.

October 31 has actually been an important protestant church holiday in Germany, “Reformations-Tag”, remembering Martin Luther; but this day of contemplation and reflection, even thought still on the church calendar, had to make way for the ‘funner’ Halloween celebrations.

A specialized section within the toy industry, “”Fachgruppe Karneval im Deutschen Verband der Spielwarenindustrie (DVSI)” claims to have brought the tradition to Germany way back then in the 90’s. Since then it’s become an economic factor. What a clever act if you think that the official start for Carnival or “Fasching” is just around the corner, November 11, at 11:11 a.m.!

It seems that celebrating Halloween in Germany has moved that date to October 31 and that “Narrenzeit” is starting today!  Should I say, “Helau”…!?

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Further Reads:

http://www.umwelt-im-unterricht.de/medien/bilder/halloween-in-zahlen-und-fakten-gssek/

http://www.stern.de/panorama/gesellschaft/halloween–so-kam-der-grusel-aus-den-usa-nach-deutschland-3526542.html

http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Handel-liebt-Halloween-article7591461.html

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Image: Wikipedia

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Filed Under: "Gehoert - Gelesen", Culture, Editorial Tagged With: Fasching, Halloween, Karneval, Narrenzeit, Reformationstag, Traditions

Enchanted Halloween and Lantern Parade for children in L.A.

October 21, 2014 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

halloweenflyer_community_2014_WEB

Holiday celebrations are approaching slowly and we know that the year is coming to an end whether we like it or not.

The countdown starts out with the American celebration of Halloween on October 31, which is a much more fun way to start into November than the observation of our German holidays Allerseelen and Allerheiligen on November 1 and 2.

Shortly after, children in Germany are looking forward to celebrate Saint Martin’s Day. Highlight of that special day on November 11 is the traditional Lantern parade when kids present their often hand crafted lanterns to their friends while walking the neighborhood and singing lantern songs.

Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool in Los Angeles has these two events covered for you and your children.

If you are looking for some Halloween Party for your youngsters with a little German touch, then this might be for you.

ENCHANTED HALLOWEEN in Los Angeles

Meet the Queen of Fairies in the Sparkling Garden of Lights and get enchanted with her magic!  All children ages one to seven are welcome. Come in your favorite costumes, but please no scary ones.

Please RSVP to TivoliRainbowGarden@gmail.com

WHEN: Sunday, October 26th at 6:45pm

WHERE:  Tivoli Rainbow Garden School , 3170 Stoner Ave, Mar Vista, CA 90066

LATERNENUMZUG – Lantern Parade in West L.A.

Walk your lantern with other children in West L.A. at the Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool!

WHEN:  Wednesday, 12. November 2014

WHERE:  Tivoli Rainbow Garden Preschool, 3170 Stoner Ave , Mar Vista, CA 90066

INFO:  http://www.tivolikindergartenla.com

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Filed Under: Attractions & Events, CA For Kids, Fun For Kids - Kinderecke, German Festivals, German Traditions in CA, Life in California Tagged With: Halloween, Laternenfest, St. Martins Parade

Dia De Los Muertos

November 1, 2011 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

Old Town San Diego – Tour of over 40 Altars, Nov 1-2 , 2011 with a candlelight procession on Wednesday.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Filed Under: Attractions & Events, Culture, Life in California Tagged With: All Saint, California, Day of the Dead, Dia de los Muertos, Halloween, San Diego, United States

HALLOWEEN – The Informal Start of Winter And The Holiday Season

October 30, 2010 by Cornelia Leave a Comment

Driving through the neighborhoods one can see ghouls and ghosts and pumpkins everywhere: Halloween! Kids are eagerly watching the neighbors’ decorations and are bound to top them with scarier stuff on their own front porch. Young & old seem to love Halloween, the dress-up parties and whatever else comes with it.

When I moved to California Halloween was a custom I knew of, but never had observed, since there was no such festivity in Germany at that time. Times have changed and I am witnessing my family and friends over there today engaging in Halloween parties, getting the kids ready for their Halloween trick or treat night as if they lived right next door to me! “Hey, that’s not fair” my little one exclaims. “They have Fasching twice!”

Not really but in essence true. But where does the Halloween custom come from and is there some correlation to our German Fasching? Wikipedia gives an in depth explanation on Halloween mentioning that the word Halloween came up the first time in the 16th century and represented a Scottish version of All-Hallows-Even (Hallow meaning in old English, Saints) and therefore was the night before All Saints Day, a holiday observed by most of the Western Christian world. People had the superstitious belief that during that time the dead could return to earth and according to the ancient Celtic ‘Samhain’ celebration, which influenced Halloween as well, spirits both harmless and harmful could pass through to the world. To ward of these spirits ancient Celts disguised themselves as harmful spirits themselves so they would not be harmed.

The tradition of kids going from door to door apparently stems from the medieval times “ when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1) receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2)” (Wikipedia)

Halloween seems to also mark a turning point where fall for sure turns into winter. The months for various festivities  have started and we are being reminded that the end of the year is near. Interesting also here the relation to the festival of Samhain that celebrates the end of the “lighter half” of the year and beginning of the “darker half”. It is in fact sometimes regarded as the “Celtic New Year” (Wikipedia).  The Romans had a festival ‘Feralia’ where the spirits of the dead were honored. Feralia though was celebrated in February, which brings us back to the German Fasching being related to Halloween after all. One memorable Weiberfastnacht’s event near Garmisch Partenkirchen in fact brings back images of horrible witches and other scary figures streaming through the villages. Isn’t that similar to what we will experience tomorrow night?

By the way, the official start of our German Fasching is also in November. To be exact November 11, at 11:11 am!

“HAPPY HALLOWEEN”

 

Related Articles
  • “Samhain, Summer’s End, Halloween” and related posts (willoaksstudio.blogspot.com)
  • Why Do We Dress Up on Halloween? (livescience.com)
  • The History of Halloween (socyberty.com)
  • The History of Halloween (socyberty.com)

Filed Under: Culture, Fun For Kids - Kinderecke, Life in California Tagged With: Fasching, Halloween, History of Halloween, Pumpkins, Southern California

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