The Concept of "Heimat"

[breakingthrunow]

When I try to explain the concept of "Heimat" to people, it doesn't translate well. In German, it can sound cheesy but I think it's still valid and everyone can relate to a degree. I have come across it so many times now that I decided to goggle and see how others describe this typical German word in English. One thing I found that I believe sums

Comments

[fietsvrouw]

I taught an entire course at the university last year entitled "Heimat und Diaspora." It was fascinating to see where the students went with the concept. Something that I found most interesting was how often the geographic location associated with Heimat was determined by factors other than where the person lived or was born. For many students, Heimat was more a location that represented some abstract concept. One student's parents were from Kentucky, and although she had never lived there, she considered it her home because she associated it with "southern hospitality" and "being real

[mistressboy]

This is a concept that I find quite difficult to relate to. The English often talk about 'pride' in their country, but that is only really seen during large sporting events. A deep connection between myself and my area of origin is something that I just do not have.

I don't know whether this is an English thing or not. I've always thought of England/Britain as a highly bastardised country with roots and influences all over the place, which is possibly why I would find it difficult to embrace this concept and apply it to where I live.

Perhaps it's where I live in England that affects how I feel. The Midlands is a fairly loosely tied together area. Other areas of England, however, have a much stronger identity - Cornwall, for example, where some people are still speaking Cornish and many are keen to have their own regional assembly.

[brezel11]

For me Heimat is something defined by emotions, not by birth. I was born and raised in Frankfurt and I feel at home in this city, but "Heimat" are the parts of the city I have strong emotional bonds to - the one I grew up in, with my still existent Grundschule and my favourite childhood playground, and the one I lived in when my children were born, with all the strong emotions children induce and the changes they bring to one's life. When I'm coming home, driving through the little village-like part of Frankfurt I live in, I often think about belonging here and nowhere else. It's rather funny because I've only lived here for 10 years now (out of my nearly 39). I can't really describe what makes me feel like that, only that there are really strong emotions which bind me to this place.
It's got nothing to do with being German or Hessian or a Frankfurter (not the sausage, thank you!) - Heimat is just different.
If I wanted to live somewhere really fascinating, I'd move to Berlin. But "Heimat" is a fascination of its own ...

[mokusan]

Maybe because I'm not German, I've only just started learning the language, and I live literally on the opposite side of the Earth, but at first I found this concept a bit difficult to grasp. I kept reading the comments, however, and the idea started to make much more sense, and I really like the meaning behind it. I think that the word "home" is key here, because not only is it different for everyone, but it's generally the place where someone feels the most attatchment to, which is similar to Heimat.

Much like lirren said, I don't think of myself as "American" right off the bat; I think of myself as an Oregonian. Like someone else said, I think this is because America is such a large country, and each state and region within itself almost seems to have it's own culture.

I have lived in the same house my entire life, and my family has a history here, and because of that, I think, I have a very strong sense of loyalty to my small town, my state, and in turn, my country, despite its issues (that's another story entirely). So I suppose my "