Ischa Freimaak! (It's Freimarkt!)
Tomorrow starts the 972nd Freimarkt in Bremen. Freimarkt literally means free market and is also called Bremen's fifth season. It is not the biggest fair in Germany (4 million visitors), but definitely the oldest!
From the official homepage:
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History of the Freimarkt
The beginning of the oldest German Fairground Festival reaches back into the Middle Ages: On 16. October 1035 , Emperor Conrad II granted Archbishop Bezelkin the right to stage a fair.
This meant that the town was allowed to stage a fair twice a year: seven days before Whitsun and seven days before St. Willehads Festival (8. November). Without limitation or consideration for local trade, vendors and travellers could sell their wares as they wished. The festival privilege was renewed accordingly by every subsequent emperor.
The word 'Freimarkt' reminds us of this special independence.
Chronology:
1035 Emperor Conrad II grants the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin
1404 The Roland, the stone landmark of the city of Bremen, is erected.
1450/1489 The so-called 'Kundigen Rullen' granted by the city, limited the Freimarkt for all time to the period when 'de banere up den markede styet', i.e. the special flag was hoisted to display the agreed market peace
1793 Franz II is the last German Emperor who grants the Bremen merchants the right for the Freimarkt - as of this time, they decide themselves when they want to celebrate.
from 1800 With the Enlightenment, which freed life and customs of traditional formality, and the introduction of carousels and swings, the selling market transforms into an entertainment market.
1809 The first carousel turns on the Freimarkt - Operator: the restaurant onwer, Wilhelm Pohlmann
from 1830 The Bremer Freimarkt develops into an attractive event far beyond the borders of Bremen. The city has to turn away market operators for the first time due to insufficient space.
from 1860 The market develops further on account of technology eg. illumination: 1862 oil lamps are replaced by petroleum lamps, these then by gas lamps as of 1880, and four years later by electric lamps.
The railway connects Vegesack, Bremerhaven, Oldenburg, Hanover and Hamburg.
1936 The Freimarkt, which had taken place at differing locations (Grünenkamp, Domshof, Hohenstorsplatz), gets a fixed location in the heart of Bremen: on the Bürgerweide.
(Information from: F. Peters: Freimarkt in Bremen)
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Apart from the attractions on the Bürgerweide there is a small Freimarkt and a medival market going on in the city centre.
I love it! There's lots of food I only eat at the Freimarkt or Osterwiese (Easter fair. To the people who know me: say it loud and say it clear. Eierlikörberliner!) As children, we would get extra spending money for Freimarkt and we planned our visits very carefully ...
From the official homepage:
//begin
History of the Freimarkt
The beginning of the oldest German Fairground Festival reaches back into the Middle Ages: On 16. October 1035 , Emperor Conrad II granted Archbishop Bezelkin the right to stage a fair.
This meant that the town was allowed to stage a fair twice a year: seven days before Whitsun and seven days before St. Willehads Festival (8. November). Without limitation or consideration for local trade, vendors and travellers could sell their wares as they wished. The festival privilege was renewed accordingly by every subsequent emperor.
The word 'Freimarkt' reminds us of this special independence.
Chronology:
1035 Emperor Conrad II grants the right to hold a fair to Archbishop Bezelin
1404 The Roland, the stone landmark of the city of Bremen, is erected.
1450/1489 The so-called 'Kundigen Rullen' granted by the city, limited the Freimarkt for all time to the period when 'de banere up den markede styet', i.e. the special flag was hoisted to display the agreed market peace
1793 Franz II is the last German Emperor who grants the Bremen merchants the right for the Freimarkt - as of this time, they decide themselves when they want to celebrate.
from 1800 With the Enlightenment, which freed life and customs of traditional formality, and the introduction of carousels and swings, the selling market transforms into an entertainment market.
1809 The first carousel turns on the Freimarkt - Operator: the restaurant onwer, Wilhelm Pohlmann
from 1830 The Bremer Freimarkt develops into an attractive event far beyond the borders of Bremen. The city has to turn away market operators for the first time due to insufficient space.
from 1860 The market develops further on account of technology eg. illumination: 1862 oil lamps are replaced by petroleum lamps, these then by gas lamps as of 1880, and four years later by electric lamps.
The railway connects Vegesack, Bremerhaven, Oldenburg, Hanover and Hamburg.
1936 The Freimarkt, which had taken place at differing locations (Grünenkamp, Domshof, Hohenstorsplatz), gets a fixed location in the heart of Bremen: on the Bürgerweide.
(Information from: F. Peters: Freimarkt in Bremen)
// end
Apart from the attractions on the Bürgerweide there is a small Freimarkt and a medival market going on in the city centre.
I love it! There's lots of food I only eat at the Freimarkt or Osterwiese (Easter fair. To the people who know me: say it loud and say it clear. Eierlikörberliner!) As children, we would get extra spending money for Freimarkt and we planned our visits very carefully ...