If you hear ‘Hummel, Hummel!’ be sure to respond with ‘Mors, Mors!’

Learn all about Hamburg’s mysterious greeting.

Before the local water system was introduced in Hamburg in

1848, Wassertragen (lit. 'carrying water') was a popular profession. One

of these Wasserträger eventually became something of a local legend. Born Johann Heinrich Bentz in 1787, people come to call him Hans Hummel.

While the origins of this name are somewhat murky, historians assume that

Bentz got this nickname when he moved into the former apartment of soldier

Daniel Christian Hummel after his death.

The real Hummel was much-loved by local children for his kind nature and

thrilling war stories. These same kids likely went on to tease the 'new'

Hummel (who was described as grumpy and ill-tempered, especially in

comparison to the kind and funny 'real' Hummel) by taunting him

with 'Hummel, Hummel' as he passed by with his filled buckets. Legend has

it that some of the rascals even wagged their naked behinds at him, knowing

full well that 'Hummel' couldn't chase them with his heavy load. Thus, his

only response was to yell back, 'Mors, Mors!' a blue phrase in the local

Low German dialect of Plattdeutsch, which translates roughly to 'Kiss my ass!'

Sadly, the water carrier Hummel lost his job in 1848 and died in a

poorhouse six years later. But ever since, the phrase 'Hummel, Hummel!' and

its response, 'Mors, Mors!' have been a popular salute in Hamburg. When HSV

(one of the city's two popular football teams) scores a goal, the stadium

speaker calls the name of the scorer, then 'Hummel, Hummel!' and the crowd

replies with 'Mors, Mors!'

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