Germany, Austria, Switzerland

German, Austrian, & Swiss Dance

The first inhabitants of Germany were the Celts. Germany had approximately 16 Celtic tribes. Then the Scandinavians invaded and settled there. There is tribes that are Celtic Scandinavian mix: the Belgae and the Teutons. The Germans are a Celtic Scandinavian mix. There are many famous people that defended Germany. Empress Maud, Daughter, heir of King Henry of England and Normandy, was rejected as heir by her cousin Stephen who was crowned King in 1135. Maud invaded England; which brought a long civil war. Stephen finally agreed to make Maud’s son Henry his heir.

The Teutonic’s had a dance called the Bonfire Dance. A circle is formed, a heel step forward into the center, touching another’s foot, while moving quickly around a fire. This was a celebration of the changing of the seasons.

Mozart wrote some German dance songs. Germany is the home of the Waltz. The Zweifacher is group of dances alternating between the waltz and the dreher steps. The music alternates also, the waltz and the dreher. The Allemende (Deutschen) a processional dance originated in Germany. The Schottesche is a Bavarian round dance also called the Rhinelander. It was also called the Bavarian Polka. The Polka is defined as a lively couples dance.

Austria had approximately 6 Celtic tribes. The Landler is a folk dance in ¾ time popular in Austria, south Germany and German Switzerland. It’s a couple’s dance with hopping and stamping. It was instrumental and some times with yodeling. Landler means, “Land”. Some famous classical composers, Beethoven, Schubert and Buckner wrote or included landler in their music.

Around 500B.C. to 400A.D., Celtic tribes settled in Switzerland. The most significant of these tribes was the Helvetians. The Helvetians were skilled craftsmen, a highly developed technique’s of metalworking, beautiful artifacts. They had superior weaponry and chain mail. They were prosperous in the salt and iron businesses. Celtic wagons and carts were superior to the Roman and Greek. Some of the oldest Celtic archeological cites are in Switzerland. All the Celtic archeological sites throughout Europe show they had a highly developed culture. The Allemende in Switzerland is related to the La Danse Basses and they called it the Allewander. These countries share some of the same dances.

I have found 6 German (Celtic/Scandinavian) surnames in my family ancestry.