Where I come from people still do “Hausschlachtung” (Home slaughter). A pig or two takes care of leftovers from the kitchen. Sometimes a chicken run must do. Sort of like with holy mother and most blessed virgin Mary and her dear Joseph, who stuck with the budget option of 2 turtledoves. It was the thanks offering for their first baby boy Jesus.  Today, the church celebrates the blessed Annunciation. It is still nine months to Christmas 😉

Well, wherever home slaughter is practiced, you get leftovers galore. Lots goes into sausages. Some into the popular “Saumagen” (Sow´s belly), which chancellor Kohl deemed a delicacy. He offered Lady Thatcher some. It got him in her bad books forever. All the off cuts, the bits and pieces, which do not make the grade of choice grade land in the big pot for “Sülze” or “Presskopf” (Brawn or black pudding). The leftovers.

In Afrikaans “afval”, but it is not “Abfall” (reject). Rather it is better translated with side dish as it does not make main dish i.e. “Präsentationsteller” (presentation plate). Still, it is the hot favourite at Christmas with dear friends of mine. Sheep´s head with eyes and ears, trotters, tripe, hooves and entrails garnish the heavily laden table. The occassion is as festive and jolly as Thanksgiving up north of that famous gulf.

Annually my youngest son pilgrims to the valleys of the great “Nhlangamvula” (Mountain, where the waters gather). There he celebrates these kind of leftovers at the famous “Matunjane Braai”. Amongst farmers it has the status of a special holiday and according to them, it should last an entire season – if the doctor would allow.  He never does, if he´s not from there. We´re not in heaven yet. The promised land is still way beyond.

My Zulu friends from umSinga, Hlatikuhlu or Nongoma know, what I am talking about.  My brother amongst the amaPondo around Ohlangeni does too. He does not celebrate this once a year, but monthly at his men´s only meetings on the mission station in the foothills of the mighty Kahlamba overlooking the most lovely Indian Ocean, which the honourable Dr. Ishmael Noko (LWF) would have liked to have renamed “African” long ago.

The Afrikaans “boere” (farmers) have popularized their “potjie” (Stew in one pot). This is one of the customs held high on the South African “Heritage Day” (24^th September). They do not celebrate the birthday of our late Bishop Dr. Georg Schulz (Tilsit, E.Prussia) born on that day in 1928, but rather king Shaka´s dying day a century earlier – 1828.  Similarly our Lutheran congregation in Wittenberg (Mkonda, Mpumalanga) celebrates “Kirchweih” – inauguration of their church in 1921 on the 16^th Dezember, not “Gelofte Dag” (Day of the covenant) as the Afrikaaners or “Dingaan´s Day” as the amaZulu.

Well, this “potjie” is something like “chilli con carne” (peppers with meat). You add anything edible to the cooking broth or stew – and if more guests come than expected, you just add more water. This form of leftover is a delicacy too. Nothing goes to waste and it could be a real life saver.  Off course, if you are bit like me, you would always fish for the most delectable titbit. Just like St. Paul advises the Thessalonians in his first letter: “Examine all things; hold hast to what is good.” (1. Thessalonians 5,21)