Helga (call)

Helga festival gravestone

Calling "Helga!" is a running gag at German concerts and festivals.

## Ritual

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A person may call for a Helga;[1] others answer and create a chorus-like group effect.[2] "Helga ist tot!" (Helga is dead) denies the request.[3] Further allegations are gravestones, memorials or graffiti. The background is unknown; some point to a rather rainy Hurricane Festival in Scheeßel, where a high pressure cyclone called Helga was called for but did not arrive in time. The call is also the origin of the name for an annual prize for German festivals,[4] and is being used by a service company.[5]

## References

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1. ^ Das Festival auf neon.de
2. ^ <2004-04-14> Allgemeine Musiknewsgruppen-FAQ auf faqs.org
3. ^ Julia Thiel: Das Festival-ABC auf einslive.de
4. ^ Der Helga
5. ^ Rituale auf Festivals: Götter im Dixi, erhöret uns, Spiegel 2012

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