EASTALGIA II: SANDMÄNNCHEN

Since the Messemännchen was so cute, I just have to post another kawaii Eastalgic character, that the German nation has pardoned after its reunification.

 

Kinder, liebe Kinder...

Nowadays, German children can still listen to the Sandmann tune while watching colourized clips starring their and their parents' beloved dreambringer from the Erfurt-based KI.KA (Kinderkanal).

The little bearded dreambringer was born in East Berlin in 1976 unto Gerhard Behrendt, the Geppetto and Jim Henson of the GDR.

Gerhard Behrendt in the studio with his most famous child.

The Sandmann, in the opening credits, has visited both real-life children and fairytale characters (Lily White and Rose Red, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves...) who owned anachronistic vintage TVs. Nowadays, the character's adventures are made by the KI.KA in Erfurt (in the former GDR!).

The old GDR Sandmann passing the torch to his present-day successor.

 

Paying Lily White and Rose Red a visit...

 

 Giving Goldmarie a tour of Frau Holle's underworld...

The Bremen quartet performing in the woods meets the Sandmann...

 

As a coachman, driving beautiful ladies through dark woods...

 

He also visited the times of the Thirty Years' War (doesn't he look a little like Gustavus Adolphus?).

 

And he helped Otto Lilienthal with his glider on the Lichterfelde heath.

In 1965, during the eighth centennial of Leipzig, he was there to celebrate.

 

Confronting the ogre with Puss in Boots...

 

Paying Rumpelstiltskin a visit.

 Sterntaler receives the Sandmann with open arms.

 

Even the GDR military has crossed his path.

EASTALGIA I: MESSEMÄNNCHEN

Eastalgia (Ostalgie) refers to the longing of present-day East Germans for the times when the GDR was Communist, because of cultural aspects that were lost when the nation was unified.

Today's piece of Eastalgia is...

 

Messemännchen (Mr. Tradefair), the mascot of the Leipzig Trade Fair (where everything could be seen, but nothing could be purchased). Created by Gerhard Behrendt, more known as the father of the Sandmännchen. Isn't he cuuuuute?

Messemännchen's head is an orange Earth globe, for global trade. (!)

He's smoking a pipe and wearing a tie, looking rather smart.

He's wearing the local colours of Leipzig, cobalt and yellow 

(which happen to be the national ones of Sweden as well!).

The MM on his hat stands for Mustermesse, "trade fair". The name Messemännchen is a pun on the same initials.