Ampelmännchen

Traffic lights for pedestrians differ between the United States and Europe. In New York, they have changed from "Don't Walk" and "Walk" to the big red stop hand and the walking man in white ... for the illiterate.

©Wikipedia/downtowngal

The European Union has defined a standard for pedestrian traffic lights based on the traditional red and green colors, using a standing and a walking man.

Enter German unification. Suddenly, the West was confronted with the East German Ampelmännchen (little traffic-light man).

Some foreign visitors visiting East Berlin after the Wende (German turnaround) interpreted the green Männchen as a marching VoPo (East German policeman). In contrast, others thought they could recognize a hidden swastika. Nevertheless, due to their larger body size, studies have shown that the Männchen are better perceived than their skinny European counterparts. Even so, the Ampelmännchen are replaced with the European Standard for new traffic light installations. And so, the little traffic-light man has become a cult figure.


Following the creation of the figurines of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Martin Luther, Karl Marx, and Richard Wagner, Ottmar Hörl did it again. For the 25th anniversary of Germany's reunification, the sculptor revived the walking Ampelmännchen in three dimensions. On October 3, this year's unity celebrations will occur in Frankfurt's Paulskirche, the meeting place of the first elected all-German parliament in 1848. The motto of this year's event is Grenzen überwinden (overcoming borders).

Naturally, Hörl's little traffic-light men come in green, although he created them in red, yellow, and black (Ampel kaput?) too. In the photo, his little guys are walking downstairs in the entrance hall of Hesse's Staatskanzlei (state chancellery) in Wiesbaden.

©Staatskanzlei Hessen

This blog would not be complete without mentioning a few gender-neutral traffic lights recently seen in Vienna.

Is the red pedestrian light in the middle an Austrian/German specialty?
Being in love feels like having butterflies in your tummy
(Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben) (©Kronenzeitung).

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