Gallimarkt (Leer)
The Gallimarkt in Leer has been held since 1508 and is the largest folk festival in East Frisia . It is visited by around half a million people annually. In 2008 it was the 500th anniversary of the granting of market rights.
history
In 1508, Count Edzard the Great granted the town of Leer market rights. Probably the oldest source is the “Chronyk van Oostfrieslant” written around 1562 by Drosten Eggerik Beninga from Leerort . There it says that two more markets are needed in East Frisia, one in Leer on Galli and the other in Weener on Bartholomei. The day "Galli" (October 16) is the anniversary of the death of the Irish missionary and Saint St. Gallus .
This day was chosen deliberately by Edzard I, because the harvest was brought in and the animals were housed in the stable until St. Gallus Day, because snow could fall from St. Gallus. So all farmers, farmhands, maidservants and traders could go into town and shop that day.
Originally the Gallimarkt took place at the Kaakspütte, the historic city center of Leer, from 1508 to around 1570. At this point in time, water and shipping became more and more important, so that the area of Leer developed closer to the Leda . The trade, with the scales and the Gallimarktplatz, was also relocated to the "Hohe Ufer", today's Waageplatz. The Gallimarkt remained there until 1905. In the period from 1885 to 1905, for reasons of space, the monument square in today's pedestrian zone often had to be used for the market. In 1905, the Gallimarkt was moved behind the grammar school to the Große Bleiche, where it still takes place today.
But the Gallimarkt was not the only market that Leer had. As can be seen from a complaint letter from 1670 to the Fürstenhof in Aurich , Leer had three markets at that time: a market three and a half weeks before Easter, the Kreuzmarkt on September 20th, later at the beginning of September, and the Gallimarkt on October 16th. The letter of complaint is about the fact that the market often fell on a Sunday and as a result the church was not very busy.
Until around 1820, the Gallimarkt always took place on St. Gallus Day. Only then was it transferred to St. Gallus on Wednesday because it too often fell on a public holiday. This regulation only existed until 1902, because then, as is still the case today, the market was moved to the second Wednesday in October. This regulation became necessary because the Gallimarkt repeatedly collided with the Bremen Freimarkt and thus the traders and visitors stayed away.
The development from one to five days also took a long time. It was not until the 18th century that the Gallimarkt was extended to three days. The next extension, to four days, lasted until 1906, a year before the great centenary of the Gallimarkt. It was not until 1952 that the market was extended to the current five days.
The Gallimarkt, which until the middle of the 19th century was a pure junk and cattle market, was of such great economic importance to Leer that it was impossible to relocate it for any reason other than religious reasons. While the Christian holidays had been taken into account since around 1820, this did not happen for the Jewish holidays until around ninety years later, namely in 1909, although the Jews made up a large part of the grocers and cattle dealers and these did not take place on the holidays.
The separation of the Gallimarkt into the Gallimarkt and the Galli cattle market also happened around 1820. The Galli cattle market has since taken place on the corner of Blinke and horse market street.
The markets were managed and organized by private individuals until 1864. For the leasing of the Galli cattle market, the administration received a rent of 420 thalers. Since the tenant probably received demurrage, he naturally endeavored to get as many and good providers as possible on the market. It was not until 1865 that the city administration took over the organization of the markets.
Folk festival
The Gallimarkt only acquired its folk festival character in the second half of the 19th century. This development began in 1860 when the first carousel was on the market. Just a few years later, the grocers and merchants had almost completely disappeared from the market and merry-go-rounds, barkers, music, museums, flea circuses, etc. shaped the new image of the market.
The heralds , who announce the beginning of the Gallimarkt every year, walked through the city for the first time at the great Gallimarkt celebration in 1907. At that time they led the big parade for the 400th anniversary of the Gallimarkt. The parade, which was formed by various associations and companies, represented people from the history of the city as well as various crafts and guilds. At that time, the heralds also said their motto for the first time:
Radeau, Radeau, raditjes doe,
de city, de hears de King toe,
radeau, radeau raditjes dum!
De Börgmester led vebeden,
dat nüms like copen of verkopen
before de Klocke negen sleit,
bi Verlüß van Goderen
un all wat over tein Pund weggt,
is na de scales to brengen,
un darnaa three Daag free market!
Radeau, Radeau, raditjes doe,
The city belongs to the king,
radeau, radeau raditjes dum!
The mayor announces that
no one is allowed to buy or sell
before the bell strikes nine,
under threat of loss of all goods
and anything over 10 pounds
to be weighed, followed
by three days of free market
While only 21,000 visitors passed through the Gallimarkt in 1907, it was 40,000 as early as 1954. Number of visitors. After the city administration took over the organization of the markets in 1865, the number of visitors and turnover rose steadily. A high point was reached at the Galli market in 1907, but not until the 1930s at the Galli cattle market.
Livestock market development
As early as 1913, the Galli cattle market in Leer was one of the most important cattle markets in Prussia alongside Husum . In 1924, the Galli cattle market was the most important cattle market in Germany and in 1941 it was still the largest cattle market in Germany, despite declining growth.
The cattle ranch on the Nesse peninsula, built by the city administration between 1925 and 1927, contributed significantly to this. Until 1927 the Galli cattle market and all other cattle markets were held at the horse market and the Blinke. However, as more and more cattle were being raised, another solution was sought, because the cattle had to be driven through the entire city, which resulted in constant pollution. Of the six projects that were discussed, only two were shortlisted:
- The expansion of the old market building
- The relocation of the markets to Burfehner Weg, outside the city
Ultimately, however, both proposals had to be rejected for veterinary reasons and the idea of moving the markets to the Nesse peninsula arose. The project was completed after only two years of construction. The entire area, around 10 hectares, had to be drained and canalized. All buildings were founded on piles up to 10 meters long. During the construction, which at times employed several hundred workers, about twelve kilometers of railroad tracks and two kilometers of roads were laid. The cost was around three million marks. In connection with this construction work, the bascule bridge to the balance and to the town hall, today's "Dr.-vom-Bruch-Brücke", was built. The new cattle market, which was first used on March 2, 1927 and inaugurated on June 15, 1927, holds 6,000 to 7,000 large and several hundred small livestock. The old market building was used by the driving and riding school from November 1927.
Due to the poor upturn figures and the general situation, the city administration decided in 1942 to sell the cattle market. The association of Ostfriesischer Stammviehzchter (VOST) in the north offered itself as a buyer . In a lease agreement it was also regulated that the city administration may continue to hold its own market events against payment of compensation.
During the Second World War , the livestock trade collapsed completely. It was not until 1948 that a cattle market took place again in connection with the Gallimarkt. On March 15, 1950, the city administration issued operating regulations for the cattle market and on April 29 of the same year a new lease agreement was concluded between the city administration and the VOST.
In 1951 there was another slump in the cattle markets due to a foot and mouth disease . Therefore, on September 19, 1951, all cattle markets in Leer were closed. Due to the efforts made by the city administration, it was nevertheless possible to hold the Galli cattle market. However, the Galli cattle market had to be postponed by 14 days to October 24, 1951 and therefore did not take place at the same time as the Galli market for the first time. Due to the foot and mouth disease, the city administration issued an epidemic stick ordinance on December 1, 1952, and the vaccination regulations could already be repealed in 1953.
The Galli cattle market is still very popular today and, as in the old days, an animal is still bought with a handshake.
Program items
The Galli cattle market takes place every year on the 2nd Wednesday in October. Then the Gallimarkt begins, which lasts until the following Sunday. The highlights are the opening by the Heralds on Wednesday lunchtime, the fireworks on Friday evening and the lantern ride on Saturday. Around 500,000 visitors are always expected.
literature
- Heiner Schröder: Is one ever Gallmarkt: 500 years of Gallimarkt in Leer. The East Frisians and their Volksfest 1508–2008 , Leer Logabirum 2008, ISBN 3-9810645-1-8
- The Gallimarkt and the Heimatfest 1907 in Leer, E. Müller, Verlag Sollermann
- Farm and breeding cattle market Leer Ostfriesland, City of Leer 1927
- Market calendar of the city of Leer, 1927
- Market calendar 1925, city of Leer
- The Gallimarkt in Leer, M. Kramer
- Local festival on the occasion of the 400th return of the Gallimarkt in Leer, City of Leer, 1907
- Administrative reports of the city of Leer
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ on-online.de of October 13, 2010: Leer: Largest folk festival in East Frisia started , seen September 10, 2012.
- Archive files (Stadtarchiv Leer): 403, 403a, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 412, 1007
- Ostfriesische Tages Zeitung from April 5, 1939
Coordinates: 53 ° 13 ′ 34.2 ″ N , 7 ° 26 ′ 48.4 ″ E