Schlachtfest
Encyclopedia
A Schlachtfest is the German term for the ritual or ceremonial slaughter
of an animal, which is often followed by festive meal. Today, it usually refers to the practice in many parts of Germany, such as the Palatinate, for a celebration or festival involving the ceremonial slaughter of a pig reared or bought by a private household or an inn for that purpose.
The menu for such a Schlachtfest in the Palatinate includes soup (Metzelsuppe
), various sausages (Pfälzer Leberwurst, Blutwurst and Bratwurst
), liver dumplings (Leberknödel), boiled belly pork (Wellfleisch) and Sauerkraut
. It was common when a pig was slaughtered at home that Metzelsuppe was given as a gift to neighbours, often in milk churns. Frequently the neighbours bought some of the fresh sausage
s so produced. Wine was drunk with the meal. The slaughter of a pig by an inn was called a Schlachtfest. Within the village everyone knew it was happening because a pig's bladder would be hung up outside. Occasionally this is still the case today.
The organisation of a Schlachtfest at home and giving Metzelsuppe and sausages to family members and neighbours is still fairly common today in the German-speaking world e.g. in Swabia
or Lower Saxony
.
Animal slaughter
Slaughter is the term used to describe the killing and butchering of animals, usually for food. Commonly it refers to killing and butchering of domestic livestock ....
of an animal, which is often followed by festive meal. Today, it usually refers to the practice in many parts of Germany, such as the Palatinate, for a celebration or festival involving the ceremonial slaughter of a pig reared or bought by a private household or an inn for that purpose.
The menu for such a Schlachtfest in the Palatinate includes soup (Metzelsuppe
Schlachtplatte
-Track listing:# Voruss – 3:13# Scharlachrot – 4:24# Am Schärme – 2:24# Bälpmoos – 4:42# Schuumbad 1 – 1:27# Salz & Schtahl – 1:52# Padänt Ochsner – 1:14# No geit's – 2:03# Schuumbad 2 – 1:34# Mittschiffs – 2:25# Pfeuti – 3:26# Domino – 1:52...
), various sausages (Pfälzer Leberwurst, Blutwurst and Bratwurst
Bratwurst
A bratwurst is a sausage usually composed of veal, pork or beef. The plural in German is Bratwürste....
), liver dumplings (Leberknödel), boiled belly pork (Wellfleisch) and Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut , directly translated from German: "sour cabbage", is finely shredded cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria, including Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. It has a long shelf-life and a distinctive sour flavor, both of which result from the lactic acid...
. It was common when a pig was slaughtered at home that Metzelsuppe was given as a gift to neighbours, often in milk churns. Frequently the neighbours bought some of the fresh sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
s so produced. Wine was drunk with the meal. The slaughter of a pig by an inn was called a Schlachtfest. Within the village everyone knew it was happening because a pig's bladder would be hung up outside. Occasionally this is still the case today.
The organisation of a Schlachtfest at home and giving Metzelsuppe and sausages to family members and neighbours is still fairly common today in the German-speaking world e.g. in Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
or Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
.