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Among all the many German words that fail to find an exact English counterpart comes this one that’s just as much fun to do as it is to pronounce: “Frühschoppen.”
As budding linguists might discern, this is a compound word. “Früh,” as in “Frühstück,” (breakfast), suggests something early, and a “Schoppen” is an old-fashioned word for a container of liquid; specifically half a pint or a quarter of a “Maβ,” the liter mug you see at the Oktoberfest. Today, Schoppe is more often used to refer to the actual contents in the drinking vessel, which may be wine, apple wine or beer, depending on the part of Germany in which you find yourself.
Keep an eye out for posters advertising events such as beer or wine fests, a church fest (“Kerwe,” “Kerb”) or harvest celebrations (“Erntefest”) in your local area (a true find in this crazy old year of 2020). You might notice the word Frühschoppen printed in conjunction with the Sunday date. Sundays and holidays are the logical time to engage in the merry pastime of downing a beer or wine in the early hours of the day.
The term “day drinking” doesn’t quite do justice to the phenomenon. Frühschoppen needs to be done in the context of a festive setting and in the company of others. In the warm months of the year, this will take place outside, with a beer garden or winemaker’s courtyard a typical setting. In the winter, a Frühschoppen might take place in a club house or a sports hall. Restaurants host them as well and tables are likely to be packed with all the usual faces.
Food doesn’t have to be involved, although it often finds its way into the mix. What’s on offer will again depend on your location: typical fare would be a Weißwurst sausage in Bavaria, bread and cold cuts in the Pfalz. If you’re lucky, you might even find a “Jazzfrühschoppen” and get to sip your drink of choice to the laid-back sounds of a jazz quartet. Other styles of live music might be offered, from an oompah band to a soloist strumming an acoustic guitar.
The mood is mellow, the sun shining, your best mates by your side and your glass full. The whole day stretches out before you, full of possibilities. The troubles and travails of the upcoming workweek feel a million miles away. Frühschoppen is a German tradition you’ll surely want to embrace.
