Tickets for the dialect: Saarlanders are experiencing their dialects new!

Tickets for the dialect: Saarlanders are experiencing their dialects new!

On April 10, 2025, the initiatives to promote the Saarland dialect was clearly promoted with the introduction of "Kaat von Dahmm" for all counties and the Saarbrücken regional association. This new measure aims to keep the cultural heritage of the Saarland alive and to make the local dialect to be experienced audiovisually. According to SR there was also a presentation of the card for St. Wendel, which is also an important part of this initiative.

The cards not only show the correct pronunciation of the districts and districts in the dialect, but are also provided with illustrations by the well-known artist Bernd Kissel, who was famous in "Die Zeit" by his "kangaroo comics". The cards are also provided with drawings of sights and local legends, which are explained in more detail in an accompanying brochure. Special stories, such as the racing of the Ricitus Varus with the devil or the symptoms of Marien in Marpingen, make the local legends clear.

hearing examples and art prints

To promote understanding for the dialects, hearing examples are also provided, which can be accessed on the Saarland.de/mundart platform. Citizens also have the opportunity to order the "Kaaten" as an art print. Environmental Secretary Sebastian Thul pointed out the importance of dealing with home and identity and emphasized how important it is that the Saarland dialect continues to play a role in everyday life.

This new edition will be available for all six counties in Saarland. The card is already available for the Saarpfalz district. Bernd Kissel, who was now born in 1978, dealt intensively with the regional legends in his career. Between 2007 and 2009, he illustrated 100 comic strips on various legends in the region for the Saarbrücker Zeitung, which served as the basis for the current cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Kissel's selection of stories was additionally supplemented by the Ministry.

A look into the future

The cooperation between Kissel and the Ministry has also produced new comic figures that can be found in the dialect map and the booklet. After his time at the Saarbrücker Zeitung, Kissel also worked for ZDF and his "kangaroo comics" have been published almost every day online almost daily online. In close cooperation with Marc-Uwe Kling, the inventor of the "kangaroo chronicles", he advanced the development of these comics.

In the near future, a digital overall map is also planned for the Saarland, which should offer a more comprehensive perspective on regional dialects and its cultural importance. The "Kaat von Dahmm" initiative is not only a contribution to promoting the dialect, but also a step in the right direction for the preservation of the cultural heritage in Saarland.