Traditional District Barrel-Tapping Festival in Ahrenshoop

12:00 p.m. | Horseback procession from the Völkner Riding Center and parade
3:00 p.m. | Start of the barrel-knocking competition at the festival grounds
3:30 p.m. | Barrel-knocking competition for children
8:00 p.m. | Barrel-knocking ball in the festival tent

The Tradition of the “Tonnenabschlagen”
During the barrel-breaking ceremony, the brothers and sisters of the Tonnenbund Ahrenshoop, Alt- und Niehagen e.V. ride their festively decorated horses in turn and strike a suspended herring barrel with a wooden club until nothing remains of it. The rider who strikes off the last slats (the final piece of the barrel’s “belly”) is crowned the “King of the Slats.” Whoever then strikes off the very last piece of the barrel is crowned the “true” majesty—the Barrel King. This exciting competition usually lasts two to three hours and is accompanied by a brass band and a cheering crowd.

History of the Custom
This custom is said to have existed since the end of the Thirty Years’ War. It is possible that the tradition, modeled after courtly jousting tournaments, evolved into a horseback game played by farmhands. Another explanation relates to the period of Swedish occupation. At that time, the herring taxes were a heavy burden on the fishermen. The residents celebrated the occupiers’ withdrawal by hanging up barrels of herring and smashing them to pieces with clubs while on horseback until they were completely destroyed.