Gerald Leser

Gérard Leser, (*May 14, 1951 in Munster in the Haut-Rhin region of France) is a writer, lecturer, professional storyteller and author of videos on Alsatian traditions, beliefs and history. He is a member of the Academy of Alsace and president of the Historical Society of the Valley and City of Munster (Académie d’Alsace et président de la Société d'histoire du Val et de la Ville de Munster). From 1971 to 1988, he formed with Eugène Maegey, the duet D'Luschtiga Malker, to sing the marcaire songs of the valley of Munster.

From 1989 to 1995, he was municipal councilor in charge of the historical and cultural heritage of the city of Munster.

His work of collecting folklore and traditions often leads him to seek testimonies in remote villages or from the elderly. Thus, in 2005, he collected the memories of the residents of the Maison Saint-Jacques in Rouffach, to make a book. With the Office pour la langue et la culture d'Alsace (OLCA), he leads the Sàmmle project, which also preserves traditions through video reports.

He also works at the Université populaire de Mulhouse, where he leads lectures and guided tours in the region (Alsace, Basel...), sometimes in Alsatian dialect when the audience is suitable.

Since the end of 2016, he co-directs the collection "Contes et légendes" of Éditions Degorce4, a publishing house established in Munster. In particular, as part of this collection, he has translated and prefaced Joseph Lefftz's Contes populaires alsaciens, a treasure trove of Alsace's oral heritage. The book compiles the only true Alsatian folk tales that have come down to us, with the Alsatian or German version (depending on the source) on the left-hand page, and Gérard Leser's French translation opposite.

Gérard Leser is the author of a reference book on Christmas. According to Bernard Vogler, former director of the Institute of History of Alsace, professor emeritus at the University of Humanities of Strasbourg.

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