“Zitroon! Zitroon! Frische Zitroon!” Can you almost hear that call? Right here stands the Zitronenjette Statue. This bronze figure immortalizes one of Hamburg’s most memorable characters. She offers a glimpse into the city’s vibrant past.
Henriette Johanne Marie Müller was Zitronenjette’s real name. She was born in Dessau in 1841. Shortly after, her mother moved with her to Hamburg. They sought a better life.
Zitronenjette’s life wasn’t easy. She sold lemons in Hamburg to earn a living. She lived near the Michel in the Gängeviertel. This area was a poor part of town. Her cry of “Zitroon! Zitroon!” echoed through the streets. People saw her selling lemons in the city center. Sometimes she ventured to Barmbek and Rothenburgsort.
Zitronenjette was a small woman. She was only about 1.30 meters tall. People often made fun of her. But she became a well-known figure in Hamburg.
As a teenager, she bought lemons from sailors at the harbor. Then she sold them on the streets. She wore a short skirt and a blue apron. This made her stand out. Children would tease her. Customers cheated her because she couldn’t calculate well.
At night, Zitronenjette went to bars on St. Pauli. People there would give her schnaps. She’d drink it quickly to the cheers of the crowd. She would sing rough songs in return. She didn’t seem to notice they were mocking her.
Sadly, Zitronenjette became an alcoholic. In 1894, the police picked her up. She was sent to the Friedrichsberg asylum in Barmbek. They diagnosed her with “drunkenness” and “feeblemindedness.” She stayed there until she died. At the asylum, she worked in the kitchen. She peeled potatoes and cleaned vegetables.
Even while she lived in the asylum, Zitronenjette became famous. A play about her life was performed in 1900. It was at the Ernst Drucker Theater. Later, Paul Möhring wrote another play. Traditionally, a man played Zitronenjette. Henry Vahl was very successful in the role.
This statue was unveiled in 1986. It is near the Michel, where she once sold lemons. The statue has an inscription in Plattdeutsch. It speaks of a life as sour as lemons. It asks if remembering her is worthwhile. It highlights those who never have time for happiness.
Look at the statue’s left index finger. See how shiny it is? People rub it for good luck. It’s a wish for the happiness that Zitronenjette never really had. This statue is a reminder of her life. It is a tribute to a unique Hamburg character. A lemon-yellow rose was named after the Zitronenjette. A stone was placed in her memory in the Garden of Women at Ohlsdorf Cemetery. From 1985 to 2015, the Landesfrauenrat Hamburg e. V. awarded the Zitronenjette prize to women who campaigned for women’s and equal rights policies. The Jette-Müller-Weg in Hamburg-Ohlsdorf has commemorated the Hamburg original since 2007.