| The Hymn of Frankonia |
The town of Bad Staffelstein is located on the upper Main River.
On its 540-meter-high mountain, there is evidence of Stone Age,
Celtic and Roman habitation. It was only recently that the hot
springs were discovered which added the Bad to Staffelstein. It
is home to the Banz monastery and nearby a grand late Baroque
Basilica which was designed by Balthasar Neumann and
constructed between 1743 and 1772.
On its 540-meter-high mountain, there is evidence of Stone Age,
Celtic and Roman habitation. It was only recently that the hot
springs were discovered which added the Bad to Staffelstein. It
is home to the Banz monastery and nearby a grand late Baroque
Basilica which was designed by Balthasar Neumann and
constructed between 1743 and 1772.
By a miracle, an angel brought back the three mortally wounded
martyrs to Lucania, where they died. Three days later, Vitus
appeared to a distinguished matron named Florentia and led her to
their bodies which she then buried. Various relics supposedly
from St. Vitus were spread around, and in the late Middle Ages,
people in Germany celebrated the feast of Saint Vitus by dancing
before his statue. The dancing sometimes became frenzied and
gave the name of "Saint Vitus Dance" to the nervous disorder
called Chorea. Saint Vitus is considered the patron saint of
dancers, actors, comedians and, later, epileptics. He is also said to
protect against lightning strikes, animal attacks, and oversleeping.
Various places in Austria and Bavaria are named Sankt Veitr.
martyrs to Lucania, where they died. Three days later, Vitus
appeared to a distinguished matron named Florentia and led her to
their bodies which she then buried. Various relics supposedly
from St. Vitus were spread around, and in the late Middle Ages,
people in Germany celebrated the feast of Saint Vitus by dancing
before his statue. The dancing sometimes became frenzied and
gave the name of "Saint Vitus Dance" to the nervous disorder
called Chorea. Saint Vitus is considered the patron saint of
dancers, actors, comedians and, later, epileptics. He is also said to
protect against lightning strikes, animal attacks, and oversleeping.
Various places in Austria and Bavaria are named Sankt Veitr.
From top to bottom left: Banz Monestary, the Basilica and St.Vitus
Get up, the air is fresh and clean,
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
The heavens give us a taste
Of the brightest sunshine of all.
All I need now is a staff and the habit
Of the wandering scholars;
In the middle of summertime,
I want to go to the land of the Franconians.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
To go to the land of the Franconians!
The woods are green, the hunting's good,
The grain has become heavy;
They can hardly load the ships
On the river Main.
Soon Autumn, too, will come upon us,
The press awaits the wine;
Kilian, protector of the vintners,
Will give us a delicious gift.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Will give us a delicious gift.
Pilgrims travel through the valley,
With their banners flying
Their double chorus brightly greets
The vast sunny garden.
How I would love to come along,
But their priest did not want me.
So I must wander sideways through the woods,
Like a mangy lamb.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
Like a mangy lamb.
I've climbed my way up
To Saint Veit of Staffelstein
And see the land about the Main
Lying at my feet
From Bamberg to Grabfeldgau
Mountains and hills
Frame the broad Au with its shining streams.
If only wings would grow on me!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
If only wings would grow on me
The hermit is not in his home,
It is time to be reaping
I see him outside on the heap
With a woman gathering.
The lost student fervently prays:
Dear Lord, give us something to drink!
But if you're with a pretty gatherer,
Then you may wait awhile
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
You may wait awhile.
Hermit, it just won't do
For you to leave like this!
I see that in the cellar
there's a very good year
Ho! I'll break down the doors
And drink what I find.
O Saint Veit of Staffelstein,
Forgive my thirst and sin!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Forgive my thirst and sin.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
The heavens give us a taste
Of the brightest sunshine of all.
All I need now is a staff and the habit
Of the wandering scholars;
In the middle of summertime,
I want to go to the land of the Franconians.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
To go to the land of the Franconians!
The woods are green, the hunting's good,
The grain has become heavy;
They can hardly load the ships
On the river Main.
Soon Autumn, too, will come upon us,
The press awaits the wine;
Kilian, protector of the vintners,
Will give us a delicious gift.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Will give us a delicious gift.
Pilgrims travel through the valley,
With their banners flying
Their double chorus brightly greets
The vast sunny garden.
How I would love to come along,
But their priest did not want me.
So I must wander sideways through the woods,
Like a mangy lamb.
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
Like a mangy lamb.
I've climbed my way up
To Saint Veit of Staffelstein
And see the land about the Main
Lying at my feet
From Bamberg to Grabfeldgau
Mountains and hills
Frame the broad Au with its shining streams.
If only wings would grow on me!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera
If only wings would grow on me
The hermit is not in his home,
It is time to be reaping
I see him outside on the heap
With a woman gathering.
The lost student fervently prays:
Dear Lord, give us something to drink!
But if you're with a pretty gatherer,
Then you may wait awhile
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
You may wait awhile.
Hermit, it just won't do
For you to leave like this!
I see that in the cellar
there's a very good year
Ho! I'll break down the doors
And drink what I find.
O Saint Veit of Staffelstein,
Forgive my thirst and sin!
Valleri, vallera, valleri, vallera,
Forgive my thirst and sin.
Wohlauf, die Luft geht frisch und rein,
wer lange sitzt, muß rosten;
den allerschönsten Sonnenschein
läßt uns der Himmel kosten.
Jetzt reicht mir Stab und Ordenskleid
der fahrenden Scholaren,
ich will zu guter Sommerzeit
ins Land der Franken fahren!
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
ins Land der Franken fahren.
Der Wald steht grün, die Jagd geht gut,
schwer ist das Korn geraten;
sie können auf des Maines Flut
die Schiffe kaum verladen.
Bald hebt sich auch das Herbsten an,
die Kelter harrt des Weines;
der Winzer Schutzherr Kilian
beschert uns etwas Feines.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
beschert uns etwas Feines.
Wallfahrer ziehen durch das Tal
mit fliegenden Standarten,
hell grüßt ihr doppelter Choral
den weiten Gottesgarten.
Wie gerne wär´ ich mitgewallt,
ihr Pfarr´ wollt mich nicht haben!
So mußt ich seitwärts durch den Wald
als räudig´ Schäflein traben.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
als räudig' Schäflein traben.
Zum heil´gen Veit von Staffelstein
komm´ ich empor gestiegen
und seh´ die Lande um den Main
zu meinen Füßen liegen.
Von Bamberg bis zum Grabfeldgau
umrahmen Berg und Hügel
die breite stromdurchglänzte Au -
ich wollt´, mir wüchsen Flügel.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
ich wollt mir wüchsen Flügel.
Einsiedelmann ist nicht zu Haus,
dieweil es Zeit zu mähen;
ich seh´ ihn an der Halde drauß´
bei einer Schnitt´rin stehen.
Verfahr´ner Schüler Stoßgebet,
heißt: Herr, gib uns zu trinken!
Doch wer bei schöner Schnitt´rin steht,
dem mag man lange winken.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
dem mag man lange winken.
Einsiedel, das war mißgetan,
daß du dich hubst von hinnen!
Es liegt, ich seh´s dem Keller an,
ein guter Jahrgang drinnen.
Hoiho! Die Pforten brech´ ich ein
und trinke, was ich finde.
Du heil´ger Veit von Staffelstein,
verzeih mir Durst und Sünde!
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
verzeih mir Durst und Sünde!
wer lange sitzt, muß rosten;
den allerschönsten Sonnenschein
läßt uns der Himmel kosten.
Jetzt reicht mir Stab und Ordenskleid
der fahrenden Scholaren,
ich will zu guter Sommerzeit
ins Land der Franken fahren!
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
ins Land der Franken fahren.
Der Wald steht grün, die Jagd geht gut,
schwer ist das Korn geraten;
sie können auf des Maines Flut
die Schiffe kaum verladen.
Bald hebt sich auch das Herbsten an,
die Kelter harrt des Weines;
der Winzer Schutzherr Kilian
beschert uns etwas Feines.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
beschert uns etwas Feines.
Wallfahrer ziehen durch das Tal
mit fliegenden Standarten,
hell grüßt ihr doppelter Choral
den weiten Gottesgarten.
Wie gerne wär´ ich mitgewallt,
ihr Pfarr´ wollt mich nicht haben!
So mußt ich seitwärts durch den Wald
als räudig´ Schäflein traben.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
als räudig' Schäflein traben.
Zum heil´gen Veit von Staffelstein
komm´ ich empor gestiegen
und seh´ die Lande um den Main
zu meinen Füßen liegen.
Von Bamberg bis zum Grabfeldgau
umrahmen Berg und Hügel
die breite stromdurchglänzte Au -
ich wollt´, mir wüchsen Flügel.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
ich wollt mir wüchsen Flügel.
Einsiedelmann ist nicht zu Haus,
dieweil es Zeit zu mähen;
ich seh´ ihn an der Halde drauß´
bei einer Schnitt´rin stehen.
Verfahr´ner Schüler Stoßgebet,
heißt: Herr, gib uns zu trinken!
Doch wer bei schöner Schnitt´rin steht,
dem mag man lange winken.
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
dem mag man lange winken.
Einsiedel, das war mißgetan,
daß du dich hubst von hinnen!
Es liegt, ich seh´s dem Keller an,
ein guter Jahrgang drinnen.
Hoiho! Die Pforten brech´ ich ein
und trinke, was ich finde.
Du heil´ger Veit von Staffelstein,
verzeih mir Durst und Sünde!
Valerie, valera, valerie, valera,
verzeih mir Durst und Sünde!
| Frankenlied |
However, the Basilica Vierzehnheiligen or Basilica of the
Fourteen Holy Helpers, is dedicated to the group of saints
venerated by Catholics, especially in Germany at the time of the
Plague. This group of Nothelfer ("helpers in need") originated in
the 14th century at first in the Rhineland, largely as a result of the
epidemic that became known as the Black Death. It was believed
that the intercession by the helpers was effective against various
diseases. In Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, he cites them in
"When at night I go to sleep, fourteen angels watch do keep".
One of this group is St. Vitus.
Fourteen Holy Helpers, is dedicated to the group of saints
venerated by Catholics, especially in Germany at the time of the
Plague. This group of Nothelfer ("helpers in need") originated in
the 14th century at first in the Rhineland, largely as a result of the
epidemic that became known as the Black Death. It was believed
that the intercession by the helpers was effective against various
diseases. In Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, he cites them in
"When at night I go to sleep, fourteen angels watch do keep".
One of this group is St. Vitus.
A popular tourist destination, Joseph Victor von Scheffel wrote
the text of Das Frankenlied while vacationing here in 1859, and
Valentin Eduard Becker added the music in 1870. In the popular
student song, there is a reference to holy "Veit of Staffelstein",
but there is no actual "holy Veit of Staffelstein".
the text of Das Frankenlied while vacationing here in 1859, and
Valentin Eduard Becker added the music in 1870. In the popular
student song, there is a reference to holy "Veit of Staffelstein",
but there is no actual "holy Veit of Staffelstein".
Vitus, or Veit in German, was a Christian saint from Sicily.
During the sixth and seventh centuries a legend of no apparent
historical value arose that Vitus was a 7-year-old son of a pagan
senator of Lucania who he resisted his father's brutal attempts to
make him apostatize. He fled with his tutor to Rome where he
drove out a demon which had taken possession of a son of the
Emperor Diocletian, who repaid him by torturing he and his tutors
because they remained firm in their Christian fatith.
During the sixth and seventh centuries a legend of no apparent
historical value arose that Vitus was a 7-year-old son of a pagan
senator of Lucania who he resisted his father's brutal attempts to
make him apostatize. He fled with his tutor to Rome where he
drove out a demon which had taken possession of a son of the
Emperor Diocletian, who repaid him by torturing he and his tutors
because they remained firm in their Christian fatith.
((end of the colonies section)