This was the motto of our 12th Homeland Reunion in Grossau from August 7-10, 2025.
This event was meticulously planned and prepared by the HOG Executive Board. Preparatory work had already begun in April 2025 during a volunteer effort. Consequently, expectations and curiosity regarding the event’s design and progress were considerable.
As the motto suggested, music and songs were to be central, as these elements foster joy and community. The men’s choir in Grossau, “the Liedertafel,” was to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
The 100th-anniversary celebration in April 1975 was a grand event. The members who planned, organized, and celebrated at that time have long since passed away. Martin Miessbrandt provided a wonderful picture from that era, as well as sound recordings of the songs the choir performed on various occasions. With the help of new technology, meticulous planning, and preparation, it was possible to broadcast these at the Homeland Reunion in the church via the sound system.
The preparations in the week leading up to the festival at the Fortified Church of Grossau also relied on participation, cooperation, dedication, and enthusiasm. Although visitors perceive the premises as very well-maintained and clean, some preliminary work still needed to be completed. Thus, there was bustling activity in the Fortified Church that week. We are extremely grateful to all participants for their help, dedication, and selfless commitment! It was a joy to see that some young people also diligently participated and assisted with various preparations. It was a respectful, pleasant, and successful collaboration. Alongside the diligent work and effort in the Fortified Church, there was also time to chat and enjoy fellowship. These experiences always make everyday life a little friendlier, build trust, and strengthen the community. This is what we also wish to convey to our young fellow citizens and members through the Homeland Reunion. For this, a very, very heartfelt “Thank you!” and “God bless you!” goes out to everyone.
This year’s motto presented not only technical challenges. As it revolved around music, and especially songs and singing, the preparations naturally also involved diligent singing and practicing. Initially, enthusiastic and willing male and female singers had to be inspired and found. This was not as easy as anticipated, but it succeeded, and thus a men’s choir and a mixed choir were formed. This ad-hoc choir had exactly 3 days to rehearse the songs. Andreas Kulin and Markus Piringer managed to make the seemingly impossible possible. With their wonderful singing, they surprised and absolutely delighted us all. To all of them, we extend our admiration, the highest praise one can express, and a most heartfelt “Thank you!”
Our musicians, Andrea Kulin and Markus Piringer, enchanted our festival in a very special way through their participation and dedication. For this, we extend our heartfelt and sincere gratitude. To kick off our festive days on Thursday, August 7, they already cast a particularly brilliant light on the beginning of these days with a wonderful organ concert as part of the Grossau Organ Summer. The rehearsals, conducting, and singing that followed contributed to the complete success of the entire event. With great joy, devotion, and diligent practice, on Saturday, in memory of our men’s choir, “the Liedertafel,” we were able to hear and enjoy a wonderful choir concert and see a brief, concise retrospective of their development and evolution. The respectful community spirit and friendly interaction were explained and confirmed by some who, as young men, were members of this Liedertafel. They likely followed their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or godfathers into this community. They felt comfortable, accepted, and remained members until their departure.
The visit of our partner parish Goßfelden-Sarnau was an equally special occasion for joy, strengthening, and confirmation of our friendly community. Reverend Sandra Niemann, along with some parish members, were not only our guests but also actively participated in our choir and accompanied the church service on Sunday, August 10, with singing. Reverend Niemann elevated the service to a special event with a wonderful, expressive sermon on the joy of music, singing, sound, and song. With the old sounds of the Liedertafel, the choir singing, and the contribution of their group, one felt, as if by magic, transported back in time to many beautiful memories. The performance of the Grossau Brass Band allowed us to deeply feel this sense of homeland and belonging.
A memorial walk to the cemetery, with a brief stop for an official welcome by the mayor at the town hall and a small service in the cemetery chapel with a visit to family graves, brought all guests back to the parish barn at noon, where a wonderful, delicious feast was to serve as refreshment and foster community for all of us. Following old tradition, the Transylvanian wedding soup with homemade noodles was served by the women of the community to the march of the brass band. A tender veal goulash with mashed potatoes and the table wine served from the former Grossau vineyard, “the Kalleberjer,” made one forget time and space.
Much admiration and praise was bestowed upon our cultural group when they delighted the large gathering in the afternoon with traditional costumes, dance performances, and communal singing. Indeed, the joy and admiration are wholeheartedly extended to them, especially since, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, it is not at all easy to wear traditional costumes and then dance in the scorching sun. Great praise and a very heartfelt “Thank you” to everyone.
A beautiful, wonderfully peaceful festival concluded with a joyful entertainment ball featuring “Nova-Band” and many friendly young guests from the surrounding Transylvanian region.
We thank God and all the cheerful, friendly guests, all helpers and participants who contributed to the successful outcome of these special days and took part. “THANK YOU”
Marianne Liebhart,
for the Executive Board of HOG Grossau