Categories: culture, words, germany, translation, triumphs
Date: 20 April 2008 22:39:16
Dear Readers, I think it is high time that the writer of this blog stopped shilly-shallying and got down to providing some serious posts.
So without further ado, I am going to discuss tealights. Yes, you heard me correctly at the back, so sit still and start reading.
Residents of the UK will be familiar with tealights, those little candles in a thin metal container, which are often used in small candleholders or aromatherapy oil burners. It seems to me that since the advent of Ikea to these shores (or at least, since I was aware Ikea operated here, to be more accurate, as I don't actually know when they started trading here) these little candles have become ever more popular.
[I learned in one of Orthodox Ian's recent posts that Ikea has also travelled Down Under. I assume tealights are part of their range there too? Perhaps my US readers can enlighten us at some stage as to Ikea's expansion plans on the other side of the Pond. If not present in every State, I can imagine they would start their campaign in Minnesota or other places with high populations of Swedish immigrants...but I digress....]
Have you ever wondered *why* these candles are called tealights and not coffeelights or cocoalights or [insert beverage of choice]lights - or just plainly and simply little candles? Why are they associated with tea? Well, I am basing the following on flimsy research conducted solely by little ole me and this is my take on the matter.
I first came across Teelichter - both the candle and the term - when au-pairing in Germany many, many moons ago. I was surprised to discover that although the British might like to think they have the monopoly on tea drinking, the Germans have, reasonably it has to be said, adapted the art to suit themselves. Although I would argue they can't make anything resembling a decent cuppa, they do have a natty range of tea accessories and, as anyone taking up a new hobby will attest, having the right accessories makes up for glaring deficiencies elsewhere.
One of the essential items in any young woman's room (certainly back then... fashions may have changed) was a tea set consisting of ceramic cups the size of an egg cup, a matching teapot and a Stövchen. This is a stand upon which you place the teapot. In a little "well" in the Stövchen is the designated spot for a Teelicht. You light your Teelicht, place the teapot on top and the flame keeps the tea hot. Ta-daa!
For years, I have wanted a Stövchen but not had a burning desire for the matching teapot and dinky cups. It has never been at the top of my list of things to schlepp back across Europe and so I have managed without one in true stiff-upper-lip-in-the-face-of-adversity British fashion. On Thursday, I was at the local German Society meeting*. I was asked to sell raffle tickets as part of our new fundraising drive. On the table of prizes were some rather dire looking items; the only thing worth having in my view was the bottle of wine. All the other things, had I won any, would have had to go straight to the charity shop. One of my tickets was pulled out of the hat. I tried to look pleased as I was invited to choose an item from the table. The wine had unsurprisingly already been claimed. But what did I espy which had not been there earlier in the evening? A Stövchen!! Such elation. All things come to him (or her) who waits...
On the day that I squashed mein Mittelfinger** I couldn't resist buying a very nice green teapot to add to my little collection which consists of the teapot for one and the "vicarage" teapot which is so big it will provide for the army of a small nation. It has taken until now to admit the purchase for when Maggie and I were offloading our unwanted treasures at a charity shop, she commented that she couldn't ever imagine buying anyone else's junk. Having just half-emptied my house, I didn't feel the moment was right to confess that earlier in the day I had bought an item of someone else's rather nice junk - actually.
The Stövchen and the green teapot make a great team - and a pretty good cup of tea too - but in all modesty I put that down to the maker.
*I may treat you to a blog on this cultural institution some other time. On the other hand, this may be your lot on the subject. Abwarten und Tee trinken - as one of my German textbooks would have us believe that the natives say when they want to express the idea of "wait and see" [literally: wait and drink tea***]. I'm not sure I've actually ever heard anyone say this - but it fits the theme of my blog rather nicely, nicht?
** Medical bulletin: the Mittelfinger has recovered nicely but there is still evidence of some internal bruising (or something) as I can feel pressure behind the nail every time I type with it.
*** I'm afraid curiosity got the better of me. I've just looked to see if this phrase is in my dictionary - and it is! I shall use it at every appropriate opportunity and suggest you do too.
Some days, dear reader, I can just hear you wondering how in the past you ever managed to face the world without the wonders of the contents of this blog enriching your life. Today is one of those days.