The Cooper's Dance

Munich’s “Coopers’ Dance” dates back to 1517 and is related to the Plague. In order to contain the spread of infection the city’s gates were closed and travel from the country was limited. When the crisis passed, people were so traumatised that they did not want to come out of their houses. In order to show the townsfolk that there was no danger and to encourage them back into the city, the Coopers Guild put on an amusing spectacle of music and dancing. This is now repeated once every seven years and this was the year. The spectacle took place in our local Unterschleissheim town square. It is a bit of a worry, but Ingrid gets awfully excited when she sees grown men dancing and slapping themselves, even more so if they are wearing leather shorts. One thing was very strange, this being Bavaria, there were no beer stalls.