History

To preserve, promote, and further develop culture and traditions – this has been and remains the special mission of the Klingende Windrose and also applies to the development of this cultural group itself.

The Klingende Windrose differs from many cultural groups due to its composition. The group members come from various municipalities across North Rhine-Westphalia; many of them were or still are group leaders. This can be explained by the origins of the Klingende Windrose, which was initially called the DJO State Singing and Performance Group. With the establishment of the children's group in 2001 and efforts to nurture young talent, the Klingende Windrose has developed into an intergenerational group with active members of all ages. The actual founding in 1966 was preceded by a phase of consolidation and growth, which somewhat reflects the history of the DJO.

In 1951, the DJO Deutsche Jugend des Ostens (German Youth of the East) was founded at Burg Ludwigstein in Hesse. Young people displaced from their homeland joined together in groups. The association, a product of the events at the end of World War II, was non-partisan, non-denominational, and committed to democratic freedom from the outset. Some of its key goals, which were later expanded, still apply today: for example, the realization of human rights, the preservation and further development of the cultural heritage of the expulsion areas and the entire German-speaking region, and participation in building Europe. These goals, contents, and ideas were part of training courses, conferences, and meetings.

In 1974, in the context of the Federal Republic of Germany's new Ostpolitik under Chancellor Willy Brandt, the DJO changed its name. Since then, the association has been called djo-Deutsche Jugend in Europa (German Youth in Europe) to emphasize the European dimension of peaceful coexistence between different cultures and peoples. As a member of the state board of the DJO-North Rhine-Westphalia, Barbara Schoch led countless seminars and conferences, mainly to qualify young people as group leaders. This was the key to the later formation of the group. The desire grew to create something together, to test it in practice, and to implement it. This led to the first holiday camps for children and young people, followed by the first trips abroad to South Tyrol, Finland, and Sweden.

At the beginning, there was a circular letter with an application form sent to these young group leaders, who were connected by many experiences. The DJO State Singing and Performance Group was founded. Some founding members are still active today, 50 years later. Barbara Schoch herself was the founder and group leader from 1966 to 2014. In 2015, she passed away at the age of 81.

The group has grown into a close-knit community, has evolved over generations, and still meets regularly every four to six weeks to work together. Primarily, songs, dances, and musical pieces are developed, as well as programs for special events and themes. The content and organizational preparation of international meetings at home and abroad play an important role. A major strength of the group is the division of responsibilities: each member contributes with their personal skills, interests, and strengths, sharing responsibility for the success of joint projects. The group, also known as the performance troupe, is invited by associations and institutions to create cultural programs for various occasions. A significant concern is regular visits to social institutions. The group gained special recognition through awards such as the 1981 Recognition Prize for the East German Cultural Award, the 1988 East German Cultural Award for Cultural Youth Work, and the 1983 Federal Cross of Merit awarded to Barbara Schoch, among other things, for her cultural work with the Klingende Windrose. Contacts abroad were developed carefully and cautiously. The consequences of World War II were still strongly felt; prejudices had to be overcome, and new bridges had to be built. Meetings with other groups, interactions with people, and getting to know different cultures remain at the heart of the group's activities today.

At the first events and gatherings, the girls wore dirndls, while the boys wore black knickerbockers and white shirts. After visits to Scandinavia, where beautiful traditional costumes are worn, the desire arose to wear original costumes as well. There was only one way: designs had to be found, and costumes had to be made by hand. In the East German Research Center in Dortmund and the Costume Archive in Innsbruck, old photos and books on traditional costumes from East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, Bohemia, Transylvania, and other regions were found and used as templates. Some fabrics had to be woven and embroidered by hand. Today, the group's distinctive appearance with various original costumes has become a unique feature. As cultural ambassadors of the Federal Republic, the group has traveled to countless countries in Europe, as well as to Brazil, the USA, Canada, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Japan. Meetings with German clubs and minority organizations have played an important role in these travels.

During communist rule, contact with Eastern European countries was extremely difficult. As a djo singing and performance troupe, they would never have received an entry permit. Thus, the name Klingende Windrose was created. Under this name, the first trip to an Eastern European country was successfully undertaken in 1975, with the main destination being Transylvania, Romania, to establish contacts and organize folklore evenings. Trips to Hungary, Poland, and Russia followed, leaving lasting impressions – everywhere, the will to communicate was palpable.

While bridges of understanding were being built to Eastern Europe, friendships with our partner groups in Western Europe were also deepened through visits to the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, France, and Switzerland, as well as through international meeting weeks.

These are a special focus of the work of the Klingende Windrose. The first event took place in Lette, East Westphalia, in 1971, with 75 participants from four countries. In 2013, more than 200 participants from eight countries gathered for the 21st International Week of Encounter at the youth hostel in Olpe, Sauerland. Over the years, deep friendships have been formed and strengthened. Understanding, tolerance, and trust have grown, while prejudices have diminished. Through personal encounters, strangeness and otherness have been transformed into familiarity and enrichment. We experienced the diversity and richness of European cultures together. The patron of the most recent meeting in 2013, titled "Preparing for the Europe of the Future – Together in Harmony," was Martin Schulz, then President of the European Parliament.

The founding of the European Folk Culture Organization (EFCO) in 1996 provided the Klingende Windrose, as a founding member, the opportunity to further develop the ideas of international understanding, international contacts, and joint activities with foreign groups. Since then, significant impulses for European youth cultural work have been initiated, and many International Weeks of Encounter with special youth projects have been organized.

With the founding of the Kinderspielschar in 2001, the structure of the "large performance group" changed. The Klingende Windrose developed into a group with active members of all ages.

In October 2014, Barbara Schoch symbolically handed over a set of keys to Andreas Schillings at Freusburg in a ceremonial event.

In 2016, the Klingende Windrose celebrated its 50th anniversary, and the Kinderspielschar turned 15 in the same year.