Kaphengst kommt

[mildred_of_midgard]

mildred_of_midgard: According to Krockow, Kaphengst had a reputation for hard riding when he was alive--have breakfast with Heinrich, ride out to try his luck with women, be back in time for supper and sex that evening--and so even into the 19th century, the locals had a sort of "Wild Hunt" tradition about him: in late autumn, when the leaves had fallen, and a wind came to stir them up, the locals would say, "Kaphengst kommt."

I think this is a Fontane story, but I would have to check.

selenak: It is indeed Fontane based, from the Heinrich part of the Wanderungen. Which means it could be true - Fontane did a lot of research, for that book, including interviewing the female Kattes of his day, remember, and the Comtesse de la Roche-Raymon as an eccentric old lady - but it could also be novelistic embellishment on his part, like the scene where Hans Heinrich meets child!Hans Hermann mirrored by Hans Heinrich bringing Hans Hermann's coffin home. I mean, the book is a travelogue, not a scientific academic oeuvre. This said, I have no reason not to believe it, and it's entirely compatible with the impression contemporaries had of Kaphengst.

prinzsorgenfrei: I asked a friend about this and apparently her grandma, who went to school in that region, still says "Kaphengst kommt". I think it's hilarious and will attempt to use it in day to day life now :'D

mildred_of_midgard: So Fontane was not embellishing! That's awwwesome. I agree we should help keep this tradition going!

selenak: I have now lost the struggle to rein in my inner twelve year old pointing out the double meaning in "Kaphengst kommt". :)

Aaaaaanyway, it's great and amazing this tradition went on for so long. Also, I'm reminded of thinking when I learned that among the state guests who were staying at Meseberg in the last two decades was Vladimir Putin: Well, I hope Kaphengst haunts the homophobic bastard with graphic memories!