The Geleit of Seligenstadt

The historical origin

Frankfurt has been an important trade and exhibition centre since the Middle Ages. Twice a year merchants moved there to offer their goods. To protect them from attacks, they formed travel groups. In the year 1240 the merchants were given safe protection against robbers by a letter of convoy (a written assurance from the emperor). All sovereigns were obliged by this letter to protect the convoyn with armed escort soldiers - this was the so-called "escort" (Geleit).

Seligenstadt was the last stop before the fair in Frankfurt - only one day's journey away. The train then had a lonely, difficult and dangerous stage through the Spessart behind it. That was a reason to celebrate.


Convoy party

The convoy has been a unique custom since the

The Geleit convoy at Seligenstadt (2015), 

picture: M.Murmann CC BY-SA 4.0

Middle Ages, which only exists in Seligenstadt.  On June 1sta historic merchant train starts in Augsburg. With horse and carriage over 340 km people dressed up as traders move to Seligenstadt according to the historical model. The citizens of Seligenstadt dress in typical 18th century robes. In the past, about 370 people walked with them. The route led mainly over forest meadows and cycle paths. The convoy celebration takes place every 4 years. The special highlight is the convoy through the town with a historical spoon drink. Who did not manage the litre wine from a big wooden spoon, had to pay for all the food supply. This test is called "nail test".


The spoon drink

The spoon drink belongs to the Hansel customs. Citizens use it to denote the admission customs through which one became a member of a community. Every new man or woman who took part in a convoy for the first time in the convoy carriage was accepted into the community of merchants by the Hansel custom. The symbolic annoyance of the merchants in Seligenstadt was not a joke, it was rather felt and practiced as a binding legal custom. The travel party in the guest room gathered for a spoon drink. The travelling merchants were wrapped around the neck with the wooden chain of the spoon so that it was tied to the spoon. It was only after the drink that he was redeemed. In general the Hänsel custom existed to test whether the newcomer had courage and stability. It was demanded that the husk of the teaspoon be filled with a litre of wine and to be drunk in one go. 

You can read on the spoon: "It's the custom to pour a glass of wine and remember what's the spoon's right."

The tradition of the spoon drink is still alive today. Nowadays, celebrities like 2015  the prime minister of Hesse Volker Bouffier and others.