Hahnbach
Hahnbach, Romanian Hamba, Hungarian Kakasfalva, Transylvanian-Saxon Hune(m)bich, is located in Hermannstadt (Sibiu) County in Transylvania, Romania.
Hahnbach is first mentioned in documents in 1337, together with Großscheuern.
200 years later, the village and its church were heavily devastated by a Turkish attack. The people of Hahnbach began rebuilding the church only 14 years later, with the support of the Seven Chairs. For nearly two centuries, the families of Hahnbach used the fortified church as a house of faith and place of refuge, until it was demolished in the 18th century. Only the tower has survived in its original form.
In the mid-17th century, Hahnbach was destroyed by Hungarian hordes (the Kuruc War) and a few years later the small village was decimated by the plague.
In the following years, the Hahnbach residents tried to rebuild their community. From the remains of the ring wall, two rooms were added to the upper ground floor of the rectory. For the third time they built a new hall church and purchased two additional bells to supplement the existing ones, three of which had to be surrendered in 1916. Before the land consolidation they managed to build a preacher's house, a new school with a music room, and to found the fire brigade. They also managed to bring an altar and an organ into the church.
During the Second World War, Hahnbach was occupied by the Russians. In January 1945, 22 women, 52 girls, 25 men and 16 young men were deported to the Soviet Union; 12 of them perished. After captivity, 73 Hahnbach residents remained in Germany and Austria.
In 1961 the resettlement process began and ended with the great exodus of 1990.
The Evangelical congregation came to an end after 850 years when Pastor Barth left the village.
As in many other Saxon villages, numerous traditions were practised and passed down over the centuries. One of these was the erection of the "Lichter" (light frame) for Christmas. This was an oval wooden frame onto which candles were placed and which was decorated with abundant Christmas ornaments and angel hair. When the candles were lit in the darkened church, the congregation or the choir sang Christmas carols. In Hahnbach, this tradition was maintained until the emigration of the Transylvanian Saxons. The village church has survived to this day, its building history having left behind numerous interesting traces.
Since spring 2015, the association "Melikoleg" has been establishing a beekeeping school in the school building next to the church. Various courses are offered, suitable for both beginner and advanced beekeepers. There is a diverse range on offer, from basic knowledge of beekeeping and honey production to marketing training, pest control, and the use of honey and bee products for medicinal purposes. In addition, various types of organically produced honey from their own production can be purchased directly from Wilhelm Tartler within the fortified church grounds.
Since spring 2018, you can visit the photography exhibition "SAȘI – Portraits of a Minority" by Hamburg photographer Thomas Duffé at the Hahnbach fortified church. (Q. Kirchenburgen.org)
The HOG Hahnbach is a registered association based in Schorndorf with a board of eleven elected members.
The Hahnbach residents settled largely in the Stuttgart metropolitan area, with a focus on Schorndorf. But fate has also brought some to Munich, Nuremberg, Frankfurt and northern Germany.
In 1981 the first Hahnbach reunion was held, and from 1983 onwards a gathering takes place every other year in late spring at the Schornbacher Brühlhalle. Until 1994, the Kronenfest (Crown Festival) with crown climbing and the traditional dance group was also held annually in front of this hall. From 1994 onwards, the Kronenfest is organised only every other year, alternating with the local reunion. Both gatherings are attended by over 400 Hahnbach residents and guests. This tradition was preceded in 1965 by a small regional gathering in Stuttgart-Bergheim. The annual Christmas celebration at the Schlachthofgaststätte in Schorndorf has also become a tradition. With a "Lichter" from the old homeland, a women's choir and children reciting poems, this celebration continues to delight over 200 Hahnbach residents and guests. (Q. Hahnbach.com)
360° Panorama
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Date: 05.05.2019
For photos from Hahnbach, please click: Photos from Hahnbach