Brauteln

Brauteln

Between February 3 and March 9; Shrove Tuesday

The Wooing a Bride Ceremony in Sigmaringen, Germany, is part of a Carnival custom that dates back to 1648. After the Thirty Years' War was over, hunger and disease were widespread in Sigmaringen. This discouraged young men from marrying and starting families. The population dropped so quickly that the mayor offered to reward the first young man brave enough to become engaged with the Brauteln, or bride-wooing ceremony, during which the lucky bachelor was carried at the head of a colorful procession around the town square.
Today the custom continues. On Shrove Tuesday any man who has married in the last year, who has just moved into town with his wife, or who has arrived at the 25th or 50th anniversary of his marriage is invited to be brautelt. Heralds dressed in traditional costumes carry the men around the town pump to the accompaniment of drummers and pipers.

CONTACTS:
Sigmaringen Fremdenverkerhrsamt (Tourist Office)
Schwabstrasse 1
Sigmaringen, 72488 Germany
49-75-711-06-223
www.northlincs.gov.uk

SOURCES:
FestWestEur-1958, p. 57