Festival of Baker's Boys

The mediaeval town of Andernach lies a little way to the north of Koblenz, where the River Mosel meets the Rhine. Like other historic German towns (and some not so historic), the citizens are proud of their heritage, and commemorate significant events in the form of a festival.

Andernach holds several festivals throughout the year. In addition to the usual pre-lenten Karneval, there’s a spectacular fireworks display in the autumn called the ‘Festival of a Thousand Lights’, among many others. But, Andernach markets itself as Die Bäckerjungenstadt, or ‘City of the Baker’s Apprentices’, and gives pride of place to a fountain in the city, incorporating statues of two mischievous-looking boys, holding beehives. Every summer, the Bäckerjungenfest, or ‘Baker’s Apprentices’ Festival’ takes place to explain why.

The events take place over a week-end in July, during which there are recitals and concerts throughout the town, with music to suit all tastes, ranging from jazz to classical.

The Ritterspiele, literally the ‘Knight’s Play’, commemorates Andernach’s importance in the Middle Ages. Re-enactors demonstrate mounted and unmounted combat training of the day, as well as exhibiting their weapons and equipment, and telling how they were made and cared for. There are also opportunities for visitors to try them out.

There are performances of the Bäckertaufe, or ‘Baker’s Baptism’. This harks back to the time when one of the worst crimes a tradesman could commit was giving short weight. Punishments for bakers who did not meet the rigid standards imposed by their Guild and by the city authorities were severe … and probably the envy of a modern food inspector!

Usually, an offending baker was fined, but might possibly be placed in the pillory for a long or short period, depending upon the gravity of his offence. Persistent or particularly grievous offenders received the humiliating ‘Baker’s Baptism’. Before the assembled citizens, the victim was made to sit in a large basket suspended over a malodorous rubbish-heap, liberally seasoned with liquid manure.

But, justice was tempered with mercy. Before being released, the unfortunate baker, still in his basket, was dunked in the river!

Of course, for the purpose of the Festival, the proceedings have been toned down somewhat … otherwise, I’d suggest there would be a marked shortage of volunteers!

The main event of the day is the re-enactment of the Baker’s Boys’ Play at the Rhine Gate. Grandly costumed participants act the parts of the Mayors of Andernach and Linz (a city on the other side of the Rhine), city councillors, judges, the Watchman, the Executioner … and Fränzchen and Döres, the two baker’s apprentices, whose mischief saved the city from invasion.

The citizens of Linz declared war on Andernach, because the Emperor had taken away their right to collect Customs duties from the boats carrying goods along the river, and given it to Andernach. The attack on Andernach was planned for the very early morning, because there had been a carnival celebration the previous evening, so everyone would be asleep…. including the soldiers who were supposed to be guarding the city walls.

But, someone was awake! Just like today, German people like to have fresh bread with their breakfast in the morning, so the bread must be delivered very early. Fränzchen and Döres were making deliveries, when they decided to make some mischief while everyone else slept. They stopped up the city Watchman’s beehives, so the bees couldn’t get out!

When they delivered all their bread, they climbed up to a window above the Rhine gate, to see how angry the Watchman would be when he found that his bees were unable to get out to make him any honey.

They saw the soldiers from Linz preparing to attack the city!

There wasn’t time to run around and wake the sleeping guards, or to run to the bell to sound the alarm. What could they do?

‘Let’s let the bees out!’ they said.

The bees were angry at being shut up in their hives, and began to sting anything that moved, and concentrated on the invading soldiers. Their shouts woke the guards, who had little to do anyway, because the soldiers of Linz were already running away from the bees.

The mischievous boys had saved their city … with the assistance of the bees! But, modern visitors to the Festival have nothing to worry about; they don’t use real bees in the play!