Kentzheim rattle in wood ancient musical instrument Easter Folk Art Alsace hotsell

Wooden rattle of very beautiful workmanship. of artisanal manufacture late twentieth century. A manual wooden instrument called "idiophone": indeed, the material itself produces the sound by scraping, friction. Beautiful object in perfect condition that can be used in moderation of course! Indeed, the sound quickly becomes unbearable for poor ears! 65 cm long

In the Middle Ages, the rattle was used by lepers to announce their coming.
In Quebec, women used it to call their husbands, working in the field.
Before the appearance of watches, church bells set the tempo for life in the countryside. But how to do it, at Easter? After the Gloria of Holy Thursday Mass, the bells as well as the bells enter the "schtelli Zitt", the time of silence, which is that of the Passion, death and the entombment of Christ. It is as if time no longer exists. To punctuate the day, the tradition is that young boys walk in two lines with noisy rattles, it is hotsell often at 6am, noon and 6pm. And believe me, it wakes up! There are two types of rattles: those that work with a small central hammer that hits the board on either side of the central axis: they are named according to the places: Klipp-klàpp, Klapper, Spalacka, Spackhàmmer, Klepperi... The others consist of a wooden cogwheel on which one or more wooden slats bounce and resonate, which will create noise, amplified by a sounding board: the Ratscha, Pochla, Bockla, Ràschpla, Rara, Schwarra, Bebelàda, Bäläpp, Ràtza, Ràppel, Schwarra, Ràfla, Garra, Riompla, Rimbel, Vaschperschall, Rasselkischta. You see, crécelle, one word in French, at least 22 in Alsatian. If that's not wealth? And in addition, even the names give the impression of making noise. In the Pays Welche, the rattles are tarlakats, and in the Bruche valley there are terettes. The tradition of rattles is still particularly alive in a number of municipalities in Alsace, but it is certainly in Kientzheim, near Kaysersberg, where you will find the most.