Storchentag
On February 22nd, the town of Haslach (in the South West of the state of Baden-Württemberg) celebrates Storchentag (Day of the Stork). Children walk through town with white bags led by the Storchenvater (stork father). They call up to the people Heraus, heraus! (out or forth) and the people throw down sweets, fruit and pretzels.
Legend has it that in the middle of the 17th century the town of Haslach was plagued by vermin. They prayed and promised to give gifts to children and the elderly on the Feast Day of the Chair of St. Peter (Petri Stuhlfeier) if they were saved. Their prayers were heard and storks ate all the vermin. Since then the people have been celebrating Storchentag on February 22nd. The first time Day of the Stork is mentioned is in 1643.
Similar Customs
Similar traditions can be observed in the Black Forest area (as far as I can tell), depending on the area the day is called Peterlistag, Peterlesstag, Peterstag, Peterlespringen, or Schirauschtag. Children walk through the city and ask for sweets and/or donations. Sometimes little poems are recited, e.g. in Zell.
Hit isch Peterlistag! Alli Krotte un Schlange verjag, un s’Ungeziefer us em Hus. Drum werfe ebis zum Lade nus!
English: Today is Peterlistag! Chase away all toads and snakes and all the vermin from the house. Therefore throw something from the window.
Children used to clear the vermin from people’s houses and receive a small reward for it. But this cadging custom is also intended to greet spring.
The video shows footage from the Storchentag in the 1950s.
