Having the wrong hymnal

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The German phrase "Having the wrong hymnal" originally referred literally to religious minorities, e.g. Catholics in a Protestant community or Protestants in a Catholic environment. These minorities therefore had the "wrong hymnal", as the Catholic and Protestant hymnals differ from one another.

04.03.2024

Source: Explanation for German phrase "Das falsche Gesangbuch haben" (Having the wrong hymnal)

After the Second World War, however, this saying developed into a party-political expression. If you have the "wrong hymnal", you can't take advantage of your party affiliation. In a Republican stronghold in Texas (USA), for example, a Democratic candidate has "the wrong hymnal".

The positive variant "having the right hymnal" with the meaning "gaining advantages from party affiliation" is also widespread.

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