Gugga music gathering and Ulm procession in downtown Ulm – SWR Aktuell
Ulm is firmly in the hands of fools this weekend. Saturday with the Gugga Music Meeting on four stages in the city, Sunday with the Ulmzug and around 5,000 Hästrägern.
This weekend Ulm is all about the fools. On Saturday afternoon, 15 Gugga music groups from all over southern Germany as well as from Austria and Liechtenstein came to Ulm for the “Ulmbeben”. They play at four locations downtown. The atmosphere was great, large crowds of people quickly formed at the venues, some of the groups were pulled through the pedestrian zone playing music.
For the little fools, the children’s carnival took place in the Kornhaus. From there, there was a short-term move to the market square, where the fool’s tree was erected in the Ulm market square in the evening.
Foolish anticipation after a two-year break
On Sunday at 1:13 p.m. sharp, the big Ulm procession is scheduled for which the hosts, the Ulm fools’ guild, are expecting 94 groups of around 5,000 Hästräger. The anticipation among the organizers is great, as the Fasnet had to pause for two years due to Corona. A big meeting of the Alemannic fools’ ring was actually planned for this year, but it was postponed to 2025. Guild master Gerhard “Gegge” Wies and guild councilor Markus Weber are already looking forward to the crazy weekend in the SWR interview.
Thousands of fools and visitors awaited
If the fools in Ulm are still expecting rather gray weather with a few rays of sunshine on Saturday, the cloud and high fog cover could also break up on Sunday for the Ulmzug. In any case, Gerhard Wies and Markus Weber are counting on sunshine and, in addition to the thousands of fools, up to 15,000 visitors. Not only do they hear the jesters’ calls from the Holl Hexa of the Ulmer Narrenzunft “Zong raus!”, but also the Spritzemuck from Ehingen or the groups from Dornstadt or Schelklingen – there are 94 groups in total.
Holding up the fool’s mirror to people
Finally wearing a hat again is a feeling that you have to have experienced, says guild master Wies when asked what is fun about the mask. You become a fool and can act differently than usual in everyday life: “There is the term fool’s mirror that every fool keep in the back of their minds,” says Gerhard Wies, and further: “I hold the fool’s mirror up to my counterpart and show you how you are just arrived at my place – but in a funny way.” A bit rubs off on everyday life, because you’re a fool in your heart, to completely disguise yourself, that’s not possible. But you just hold back.
Foolish service in the Wengen Church in Ulm
Before the Ulm procession begins on Sunday, there will be a fool’s service at 9 a.m. in the Wengen Church. Guild master Wies also advertises for him. Gugga music also plays in the church and a guild choir of fools sings. Worshipers are welcome to dress up.