Rhum De Feu

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 OPEN THE BOTTLES
First, third and fifth couple set and link (with fifth couple both pulling right shoulder back and cast to change places), then set to partner and change places both hands, all pulling right shoulder back on the last movement.

9-16 CUTTING AND SQUEEZING ORANGES (AND MORE BOTTLES TO OPEN)
Second and fourth couple repeat bars 1-8. Meanwhile, fifth man with first couple and fifth lady with third couple dance right hands across, followed by the "snake" to opposite sides into swapped places, with fifth couple finishing in the center, left shoulder to left shoulder.
17-24 Fifth man with second couple and fifth lady with fourth couple repeat bars 9-16, with fifth couple finishing in the center facing partner and fifth man having his back towards fourth place.

25-28 ADD SOME SPICES 29-40 ADD RUM, FIRE AND MELT THE SUGARCONE ("MIXER CHAIN")
All ladies cast one place anticlockwise. Meanwhile, fifth couple dance back to back.
All change places with possible partner right hand (sidelines and center) in two bars. On the next left hand, all change places with one or two persons; the dancers coming from the center join an outside couple for left hands across (with positions of first man/second lady and third man/fourth lady) to move two places on which brings two new persons into the center.
Repeat two more times until fifth couple is back in the center as in bar 25.

40-48 EMPTY THE MUG
All couples change places one more time with the right hand and set.
Fifth and fourth couple (in top place) change places right hand with opposite person.
Fourth couple (now in the center) petronella turn to new places. Order now is 5, 1, 2, 3, 4 (center).

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Viktor Lehmann, under the CCA NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, September 2021)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Square set with fifth couple in the center of the set facing each other, man with his back towards top.

(Dance information by the deviser, Viktor Lehmann, under the CCA NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, September 2021)

"Feuerzangenbowle" translates literally to "fire-tongs punch". It is made by combining mulled wine with a flaming sugar cone soaked in rum. As the sugar caramelises in the fire, it drips into the mulled wine, adding a sweet, burnt-sugar flavour. The drink is as much about the experience as it is about the taste, bringing people together around its preparation.

"Rhum de Feu", meaning "Rum of Fire", refers to the key ingredient that fuels the flames in the preparation process. The high-proof rum is essential for igniting the sugar cone and creating the fiery spectacle, which gives the drink its warming and festive character.

This traditional drink is deeply rooted in German culture and is often enjoyed in a communal setting, accompanied by laughter, storytelling, and camaraderie. Its popularity was cemented by the 1944 German film "Die Feuerzangenbowle", which nostalgically portrays mischievous student life and a sense of youthful joy.

The preparation involves heating a pot of mulled wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and orange slices. A Zuckerhut, or sugar cone, is placed on a special holder above the wine and soaked in high-proof rum. Once lit, the flames melt the sugar, which drips into the wine below, enriching its taste and adding to the communal experience. The fiery ritual symbolises warmth, togetherness, and festivity, making it a cherished tradition on cold winter nights.

Feuerzangenbowle With The Burning Zuckerhut

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