Osnabrück's Peace Day: Hobbyhorse Procession Returns for 75th Year
Osnabrück is gearing up for its annual Peace Day celebration, featuring a unique hobbyhorse procession led by fourth-graders. The event, held on October 9, commemorates the signing of the Westphalian Peace in 1648.
The procession begins at 5:30 PM on the cathedral school's schoolyard, with Mayor Katharina Pötter opening the event. The children, riding handmade hobbyhorses, parade through the city center to the town hall steps. Here, they receive pretzels from the mayor and helpers before gathering on the market square for entertainment.
The tradition of hobbyhorse riding dates back to 1650 in Nuremberg, where boys rode to request a 'peace memorial'. In Osnabrück, the story of the von Dincklage sisters in 1875 inspired city archivist Ludwig Bät to initiate the event in 1948. Today, it serves as a playful introduction for children to the importance of peace and tolerance. The finale this year promises a light show, fire juggling, theater performance, and joint singing.
The Osnabrück hobbyhorse riding event has become a well-known children's festival in the region, held annually to mark the Peace Day. More information and a photo gallery of last year's event can be found at www.osnabrueck.de/steckenpferdreiten.
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