Düsseldorf celebrates Brotherhood's anniversary with new uniforms, female commemoration, and heated events in Wittlaer
In the picturesque town of Wittlaer, Germany, a centuries-old tradition came to life once more as the annual Shooting Festival took place. This year, the festival was marked by significant changes, as Niclas Busch was crowned the new Crown Prince and David Kierstein was crowned the new King during the grand celebrations.
The festival, steeped in history and local pride, is a testament to the longstanding tradition of local marksmen's guilds (Schützenvereine) that date back to medieval times. The Shooting Festival typically involves shooting competitions, parades, music, and community celebrations. This year's event, themed "Courage to Take Responsibility," reflected the town's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage while embracing change.
The Wittlaer marksmen and their guests from Kaiserswerth marched past the royals in two battalions, led by a colonel. The Angerlaender, a subgroup or neighbouring community related to the festival, also presented themselves in their new uniforms for the first time. The Angerlaender, like the Wittlaer marksmen, are actively inviting people to join their societies or found new groups.
Thomas Harry Strecker, the brother master, emphasized the theme's focus on community and village responsibility. The drum corps, starting their wake-up round as early as 6 a.m. on the last day, led the parade, later having reason to rejoice at the king's shooting.
King Robert Hilger, who chose his sister, Christiane Matyschik, as his queen, and Queen Christiane Matyschik sat in a dark green carriage decorated with red and white flowers. Crown Princess Bianca Japcke and her adjutant Lisa Thaler, Youth Prince David Zakrzewski and his adjutant Jonas Wehling each had a white carriage. The royals enjoyed the parade in their carriages.
The crowning ceremony took place on Sunday evening before the festival ended. Most of the female members belong to the drum corps or the 1st reserve company, but they did not found their own company. The ladies of the brotherhood of the Wittlaer marksmen are full-fledged members for 25 years.
The Wittlaer marksmen, who traditionally have male-dominated membership, have been welcoming social changes, as evidenced by the increasing inclusion of female participants. The Angerlaender's old uniforms, consisting of green vests and gray pants, have been retired, and the Angerlaender now march in blue Loden-style jackets, mirroring the evolution of the festival's traditions.
For those interested in reliving the memories of the festival, pictures are available for purchase via email at media@ourwebsite. The Wittlaer shooting festival is more than just a celebration; it's a symbol of the town's rich history, its commitment to community, and its courage to embrace change.
Amidst the bustle of the Wittlaer Shooting Festival, a turn towards fashion-and-beauty was noticeable with the Angerlaender presenting themselves in their new uniforms for the first time. The Angerlaender, now marching in blue Loden-style jackets, reflect the evolution of the festival's traditions in terms of home-and-garden aesthetics, mirroring the town's own embrace of change.
