The Schueberfouer with its Hämmelsmarsch
The Schueberfouer is the largest folk festival in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Its origins go back to the Middle Ages. On 20 October 1340, John the Blind, King of Bohemia and Count of Luxembourg founded an eight-day fair in the city of Luxembourg. The founding charter fixed the beginning of the annual market on the eve of St. Bartholomew's Day, August 23rd. The fair owes its name to Schadeburg or "Schuedbuerg". This place was then on the Holy Spirit Plateau, where the fair took place during the first centuries after its foundation. At that time, the Schueberfouer was exclusively a trade fair. In the 17th century, the original venue became too narrow. Therefore, the Schueberfouer took place since 1610 on the fields north of today's Schefferallee on the Limpertsberg. The Schueberfouer did not move to the location on Glacisfeld, where it is still located today, until 1890 by decision of the municipal administration. In the course of the 19th century, a process of change began. Trade in livestock and goods diminished. Dance floors and show booths, carousels and shooting stalls, swings and finally roller coasters took up more and more space. The Schueberfouer became an amusement fair.
Today, the Schueberfouer attracts about 2 million visitors from Germany and abroad every year from the end of August to the beginning of September for 20 days. It is the most popular traditional event in the country and the Greater Region and at the same time an event with an international flair. Fairground people from all over Europe set up their activities in the Glacis square every year. Tradition-conscious and yet future-oriented, the Schueberfouer is an integration factor not to be underestimated and provides an insight into the multicultural identity of Luxembourg. It is even celebrated within the immigrant community of Luxembourgers in the USA. The Schueberfouer is part of Europe's intangible cultural heritage.
Closely connected with the history of the Schueberfouer is the custom of the traditional “Sheep March” ("Hämmelsmarsch"). At the opening of the fair and on fair Sunday, commemoration day of the dedication of the cathedral,, sheep and musicians march across the Glacis square and through the streets of the city. Tradition and folk melody go back to the Saint Sebastian Brotherhood founded in 1402, whose members were archers and crossbowmen. This shooting association, also popularly known as "D'Schéiss", held an annual shooting competition on the Schueberfouer. The best shooters could win a mutton. In 1861, the famous Luxembourg poet Michel Lentz wrote the song to the centuries-old melody.
The Schuerberfouer is listed since 26 june 2008 on the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
/Official website
www.fouer.lu
Exhibition at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum
Ons Schueberfouer.From medieval market to fun fair
17/05/2019 > 29/03/2020
From the CNA archives :
Today, the Schueberfouer attracts about 2 million visitors from Germany and abroad every year from the end of August to the beginning of September for 20 days. It is the most popular traditional event in the country and the Greater Region and at the same time an event with an international flair. Fairground people from all over Europe set up their activities in the Glacis square every year. Tradition-conscious and yet future-oriented, the Schueberfouer is an integration factor not to be underestimated and provides an insight into the multicultural identity of Luxembourg. It is even celebrated within the immigrant community of Luxembourgers in the USA. The Schueberfouer is part of Europe's intangible cultural heritage.
Closely connected with the history of the Schueberfouer is the custom of the traditional “Sheep March” ("Hämmelsmarsch"). At the opening of the fair and on fair Sunday, commemoration day of the dedication of the cathedral,, sheep and musicians march across the Glacis square and through the streets of the city. Tradition and folk melody go back to the Saint Sebastian Brotherhood founded in 1402, whose members were archers and crossbowmen. This shooting association, also popularly known as "D'Schéiss", held an annual shooting competition on the Schueberfouer. The best shooters could win a mutton. In 1861, the famous Luxembourg poet Michel Lentz wrote the song to the centuries-old melody.
The Schuerberfouer is listed since 26 june 2008 on the national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
/Official website
www.fouer.lu
Exhibition at the Lëtzebuerg City Museum
Ons Schueberfouer.From medieval market to fun fair
17/05/2019 > 29/03/2020
From the CNA archives :
