Successful prosecution: Christiane Renz can now appear in Memmingen’s traditional sea fishing.
Picture: dpa
The court ruled that in Memmingen, women can now participate in Stadtbachausfischen. This is about the traditions of men and how much they need to be open. But there is another question: who is part of it-who is not?
DMemmingen’s Stadtbach is calm all year round, winding through the old town in the canal, under bridges and market squares, past half-timbered houses and facades with flower pots. However, once a year, in July, when about 1,200 town creek fishermen “itch” into the creek, that is, down the mountain to catch trout, thousands of onlookers gather for several kilometers on the river bank.
The custom of fishing has a history of hundreds of years and can be traced back to at least the 16th century. If the original purpose was to clean the stream, then today’s fishing activity is just a spectacle-this is the core part of the city’s most important local festival-Fisherman’s Day. Anyone with Memminger and self-esteem is a Stadtbach fisherman. At least it’s a man.
