A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORIGINAL ENZIAN
On October 4, 1922, a group of musical- and dance-talented German/Bavarian speaking immigrants came together for the purpose of fostering the traditions and culture of their former home and took the name of Schuhplattler V.V. (Vergnügungs Verein) "Enzian." Being resident primarily in the German area of Yorkville in New York City, the members decided to hold meetings and rehearsals in local establishments. On September 25, 1926, the eve of its fourth anniversary, "Enzian" had its first flag dedication. This handwoven banner had the name of the organization, Schuhplattler V.V. Enzian; New York, USA, geG. 22 Okt. 1922, and a Schuhplattler couple with numerous blue Enzian flowers inscribed on one side, and the words, "TREU DEM GUTEN ALTEN BRAUCH, SITTE UND TRACHT DER ALTEN WOLLEN WIR ERHALTEN" on the other (faithful to the good old traditions, we will uphold the culture and dress of the elders).
After a number of members left "Enzian" to establish another Schuhplattler organization, the remaining members incorporated as a "not for profit" organization on April 15, 1933 in the State of New York as "ORIGINAL SCHUHPLATTLER V.V. ENZIAN, INC." A short time later Original Enzian joined together with other Bavarian-oriented clubs to form a united organization known as the "Vereinigte Bayern von New York and Umgebung" whose purpose was principally for mutual support and fostering of Bavarian traditions.
During the years of World War II, many German-American club activities were curtailed. During this period, however, Original Enzian was able to sustain its annual "Bauernball" in Yorkville with a great deal of success. In the postwar years, a number of German-Americans moved to other communities in the City and to the suburbs on Long Island. In 1951, Original Enzian relocated to the communities of Ridgewood and Glendale in Queens, New York. Its headquarters became the Welcome Inn and subsequently the Glendale Memorial Building. In 2001, its headquarters moved to Plattdeutsche Park in Franklin Square, Long Island.
An inspiring and beautiful new club flag was dedicated and blessed with an impressive Fahnenweihe in Ridgewood’s Schwaben Hall on May 17, 1958. The new club flag, made in Bavaria, includes the inscription "WIR FÜRDERN MIT HERZ UND HAND STETS SITTE UND BRÄUCHE AUS UNSEREM HEIMATLAND" (we are always giving with our heart and hand, continuance of the culture and traditions of our former home land) around a figure of a Schuhplattler couple on one side and the name of the club, Original Enzian Schuhplattler Verein, New York, USA, around the American and Bavarian flag emblems and Statue of Liberty with numerous clusters of beautiful Alpine flowers the blue enzian, the white edelweiss and the red almrausch, on the other side. A number of years later, this flag was refurbished and rededicated at a celebration in Glendale in 1992, which included a reblessing at Sacred Heart Church, a parade from the church to the Glendale Memorial Building, followed by a dance at that hall.
The mid-sixties brought the formation of the North American Gauverband, an organization of Schuhplattler Clubs throughout the United States and Canada. Original Enzian was a founding member and assisted the United Bavarians of New York and New Jersey to host the first national convention of Schuhplattlers in New Jersey in May 1967. In 1969 Original Enzian established a Kindergrup which has remained continuously strong to this day. The Kindergrup is a source of great pride to Original Enzian and has helped provide enjoyment to all and to develop many future adult dancers for the continuation of the organization and our Bavarian heritage.
On April 22, 1972, Original Enzian celebrated its Gold 50th Anniversary with an impressive ceremony befitting the occasion. A sixteen couple Kronen Tanz was the highlight of the event. It involved 32 reifens (wreaths), covered with evergreen (Princess Pine) and decorated with blue and white ribbons and lights (the colors of Bavaria). The reifens in this dance are used to form various crown figures made by the Buam (boys) and Deandl’n (girls). The final figure was an enormous crown with the blue and lights shining in a darkened hall.
In July 1975 Original Enzian held its first Bavarian Heritage Festival and has maintained it on an annual basis at Plattdeutsche Park, Franklin Square, Long Island. The festival, as well as the annual Bauernball, also now held at Plattdeutsche Park, are open to the general public and exhibit Original Enzians’ Bavarian Schuhplattler dances and entertainment, German music, and various cultural features.
Original Enzian has proudly participated with Schuhplattler performances in national-historic events including America’s Bicentennial in Philadelphia in July of 1976, the 100th Anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1985, and the 100th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty at the "Harbor Festival" in lower Manhattan on July 4, 1986 and at Liberty Island in August of that year. Original Enzian has also marched proudly up Fifth Avenue, Manhattan in Tracht in every German-American (Steuben) Parade since the first parade was held on Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood in 1959. Prior to the parade, many members attend a special mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral where the club flags have been displayed in a parade of flags.
In 1997 Origin Enzian celebrated its 75th Diamond Jubilee Anniversary with several major memorable events. First, the original 1926 flag was refurbished and rededicated with a blessing by a priest on Ellis Island. Original Enzian commemorated this special occasion on this national historic heritage site with Schuhplattler performances by the adult and children’s groups. A Heimat Abend, one of many held by Original Enzian over the years, was held in Port Washington, Long Island and numerous other Schuhplattler organizations joined in this festive event. The 75th Diamond Anniversary Bauernball Dinner Dance was celebrated at Franklin Square, and Original Enzian displayed its history and culture with many exhibits and dance performances of the adult and children’s group. Again, the Kronentanz was a highlight performance.
Original Enzian is the second oldest Schuhplattler verein in North America and its members continue to endeavor to uphold the traditional Tracht (dresswear) from the area of Miesbach, Bavaria and Schuhplattler dancing from areas throughout Bavaria and Tyrol. Specialty Schuhplattler dances that continue to be performed by the dancing members at club and outside events include the Kronentanz (dance of crown), the Holzhacker (woodchoppers dance), Müllerburschen Tanz (bakers’ dance), Bergmann Tanz (miners’ dance), and the Steirer Figuren Tanz (flirtation dance). These and other plattlers such as the club’s popular Schnaklwalzer are also performed as they were many years ago in Bavaria as well as by the prior members of the organization. Every two years, the Gauverband North America holds a Schuhplattler competition open to member clubs. Original Enzian has entered a dance team in most of these competitions dating back to 1967. On several occasions Original Enzian was honored to place 4th in these competitive events.
Throughout its eighty year history, the members of four generations of Original Enzian have continually strived to follow the club motto established in its earlier years, "Fest und Treu Halten Z’am, die Buam und Deandl’n vom Enzian" (we stand together united and strong, the boys and girls from Enzian).