Traditions, Düsseldorf

There is an old tradition of wheeling in the city (no idea if they were famous wainwrights here or what) and these days cartwheeling is still done by children in the street, usually to collect money for some charity. Outside the Uerige brewpub is this "Radschläger" sculpture to further emphasise this tradition and if anyone can tell me how it all started or why it is so big in Düsseldorf, feel free :)

Düsseldorf lives somewhat in the shadow of its bigger and more famous neighbour Cologne. Competition between the two cities has traditionally been strong, and it is no different now. The rivalry is particularly keen when it comes to beer, with both cities having distinctive and quite different beers. Cologne's beer, a style called Kölsch, is pale and more like a lager, whereas Düsseldorf's Alt beer is darker and similar to British ales. Ordering a glass of Dom Kölsch will not make you very popular, nor will making unflattering comparisons between Düsseldorf and Cologne.

Radschläger wolle mer blieve, wie jeck et de Minsche och drieve.

It's probably some kind of sport for any child in the world but for Düsseldorf turning cartwheels has been a tradition for a many centuries. It was entertainment for visitors of fairs and festivities and begging at the same time - the boys would get a penny or two for each cartwheel.

Today the Radschläger have become a symbol for Düsseldorf, with monuments all around the city, made of cake, the fountain (in the picture), songs, and an annual tournament on the Kö. And girls are allowed these days as well.

A big tradition in Germany is being member of a shooting club, and these people are also famous for having a "Kirmes", huge festivals with funfairs in the summer, when they crown their shooting king and queen.

Part of the festival is always a parade (or more than one) through the city to the festival grounds.

In Düsseldorf the Kirmes takes place every July with a huuuuge funfair. In the picture you can see one of the parades.

On the Friday night they have 30 minutes of fireworks which is a big thing! The fireworks itself it's not that spectacular but you have to go early to get a good spot to watch (take some beer!). All the passenger ships (ferries and the ones for excursions) are lit up and they line up on the river to watch the fireworks. I like the atmosphere, it's usually a nice warm summer evening and it's fun to scream ahhh and ohhhhh with the crowd ;-)

Düsseldorf is Germany's Stag and Hen night paradise. The old town where you can basically fall from one pub into the other is the perfect location for these nights. So if you see people dressed up funnily and drunk - it's not carnival again. If you see people selling condoms or polishing shoes for money - their friends forced them to do so. It's a German tradition to make a fool out of yourself on those nights... Stupid, I know!

In the Middle Ages boys begged for money by doing cartwheels. The "Radschläger" is still a Düsseldorfer symbol which you can buy as a marzipan-"Radschläger" or find as a figure on a fountain (at the Burgplatz). Since 1971 there's a "Radschläger"-competion every year in summer on the Königsalle on which also girls can take part.
Since 1981 also Düsseldorfs English partnercity Reading owns a "Radschläger"-Monument.

OK, this sign in the picture says in the
Düsseldorf dialect something like that:

One request
Don't park here - that would harm us,
because Uerig-Beer is packed here.
Thank you (all)! The uerige

Now, if it was proper German,
it would be written like that:

Eine Bitte!
Parkt hier nicht - was würde uns schaden,
denn Uerig-Bier wird hier verladen.
Dank euch - der Uerige

The symbol of Düsseldorf is the "Radschläger" (somebody who turns a wheel(?). In summer there is a Radschläger tournament along the Kö and I realised today that there is another tradition.

We sat in a bar and kids came up to us saying they were "Düsseldorfer Radschläger" and they turned a wheel for us and we gave them money. Kinda cute (if you see it the first time, ask me what I think about it again in a year ;)

On the pic you can see the Radschlägerbrunnen (Fountain) which you will find in the old town