Mettenschicht
mettenschicht old german mining custom ore mountain name given last shift worked christmas end early celebration meal mettenschicht main christmas celebration among miner protestant ore mountain catholic mining area germany st barbaras day important first recorded first half th century steiger foreman overseer would finish prechristmas shift early knocking signal knocking miner would give sort sermon huthaus administrative building decorated occasion singing miner song der steiger miner would give thanks god product mine simple traditional meal ended shift meal usually consisted bratwurst mashed potato sauerkraut well herbed schnapps cigar gaahlem gelecht also common glühwein tea baconfat butterbrot idea mettenschicht spread ore mountain many exhibition mine idea christmas celebration element mining tradition vary endofyear celebration focusing strict historical authenticity often held mine attended sponsor friend many case honorary official mine incentive event ticket sold mining folk event put city hall bus tour bernd lahl mettenschichten im erzgebirge geschichte berichte geschichten marienberg druck und verlagsgesellschaft marienberg isbn german richard truckenbrodt erzgebirgsweihnacht glückauf pp – german werner unger mettenschichten und glückaufabende vom ursprung weihnachtlicher lichtelabende erzgebirgische heimatblätter pp – issn german