The what now?
Last week a bright yellow sign appeared on our building’s door. As per usual, I understood very little except that there was a date and a time on it, which usually means one of the two: either I need to be out of the building during those times….or in it and ready to let someone enter the flat.
Turns out it was the latter. Spent a bit of time this morning/afternoon waiting for the chimney sweep. Yes. The chimney sweep — Der Schornsteinfeger.
I swear I thought these were things that only existed during the Victorian Era…or maybe even only in the movies, but, no…today I saw my very first chimney sweep!
To be honest, it was better than I ever could’ve imagined. Unfortunately my Schornsteinfeger was not wearing a top hat per the logo on our notification sign. My German friends tell me this is usually standard attire for a chimney sweep, but my chimney sweep was hat-less. Even better, he was nothing at all like I was expecting! This Schornsteinfeger was gorgeous! Who knew chimney sweeps could be so sexy?! This guy wasn’t a day older than 35. Germany constantly surprises me.
Unfortunately my chimney sweeper had bad news. Apparently he was there to check the exhaust pipes in our gas heater. He mumbled something about “carbon monoxide”, had me sign a paper, and then he was out of my life forever.
ha ha we still have them in Poland, only in small towns and villages though. As far as I know they are not really sexy
Yeah, I heard they were popular in Poland, too. And you’re supposed to touch a necklace or something when you see one for good luck, is that right?
People in Germany believe (kind of, depends, of course) that you have good luck if you touch a Schornsteinfeger. So did you?
My roommates told me about that tradition and I won’t lie I was seriously tempted! But still would’ve felt weird for me. How do the Germans do it? Do you just walk up and poke ‘em? Are you supposed to touch their face or their hand or what?!
I never did it myself and actually forgot about it until reading your comment with the necklace. So I’m not the best person to ask. I think some do it while passing a Schornsteinfeger on the street and just touch his clothes for a short moment but I’m not that sure about it. You need to find some better informed German.
Ahhh okay – thanks for the suggestion!
Usually you try to touch the Schornsteinfeger, preferably at their golden buttons of the jacket or the jacket itself =D