Who are they?

[wieselkind]

When I've been in Germany I have occasionally noticed young people in an unusual costume/outfit

Comments

[breakingthrunow]

They are journeymen. You can read about it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journeyman
It's an old tradition that is still being upheld today in some of the artisian/handymen guilds.

About the guilds~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guild
About the Wanderjahre in German (with pic)~ http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanderjahre

And to visualize the whole thing for those who haven't heard of it.... ;)

[breakingthrunow]

Re: And to visualize the whole thing for those who haven't heard of it.... ;)

[weightlifting]

thanks for that... i have been to Germany several times and never seen these people before. Im embarrassed to admit that if i *did* see them, I would probably have thought they were part of some sort of show for tourists. :-( Very interesting!!

Re: And to visualize the whole thing for those who haven't heard of it.... ;)

[breakingthrunow]

Hah, I wouldn't blame you. It's rather unusual for me too and I am from there. ;)

[claudee]

That sounds a lot like carpenters, most likely the journeymen (and -women :-)) who are on the tramp. It's a very, very old custom over here. When they finished their apprenticeship, they are going on the tramp. In earlier days (much earlier, medieval times and such) the young people needed to do this before they could get their master craftsman. They were supposed to see and learn enw things. This custom is motly forgotten now, but the carpenters still do it.

Wikipedia has a small english paragraph about this, too.

They will have looked a lot like this guy, right?

[breakingthrunow]

2 Schlaue, ein Gedanke oder so. :) I was thinking this whole tradition must seem SO SO weird to people from abroad. Like something from the Middle Ages, which it essentially is anyway. If I were to visit Germany as a non-native and saw them walking around I would think I've entered Amish Country, hehe.

[akeyclueinto]

It's wonderful.
In North America the majority of older traditions like this are not only forgotten, they truly are laughed at if anyone attempts to revive them. I'd love to see interestingly dressed people like this on journeys. I really especially love the twisted walking sticks.

[dashan]

In this case I think they do not revive this tradition, it is still alive.

[widdertwin]

I've seen the same exact thing in Denmark, but the costume is not restricted to youth. I just assumed they were some kind of folk dancer, but now I'm wondering if it might not be the same thing.

[dune_drd]

Funny looking hobos awandering

[alquasun]

I remembered reading this article on SPON a few months ago.
You had the same thought I had but you were much quicker so I don`t have to search myselfe an can re-read it now. Thanks. ;-)