Christmas 1974: Transport chaos and nostalgic film trips in Gummersbach

Christmas 1974: Transport chaos and nostalgic film trips in Gummersbach

Gummersbach, Deutschland - In Gummersbach, people experienced chaotic traffic conditions 50 years ago, in December 1974. According to a report by Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, the traffic on Christmas Eve was so overloaded that there were several accidents in the city center. The reason for the traffic chaos was not winter weather, but that many companies had released their employees the day before the festival, which led to a massive rush to the city. "The main roads were hopelessly clogged," said the local newspaper at the time.

at the same time, festive campaigns took place in the city. A remarkable event was the opportunity to beat a tree in the Christmas forest. Around 1,000 families took part in this traditional campaign, in which around 500 to 600 spruces were handed over to their new owners, as the report by Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger explains. In addition, an article suggested trying a dish prepared from regional ingredients for the festival. Aunt Lenschen in Morsbach brought the popular “Riewe-Latz” peasant dish on the table, which attracted many friends and acquaintances.

Film looking at Gummersbach

Another aspect of the Gummersbach history is discussed in the archive films, which were prepared by Uwe Brustmeier and Gerhard Pomykaj. These films offer a nostalgic review of the city and impressively show how Gummersbach has changed over the years. The event took place in the Bergneustadt local museum and was well received by the population because people like to remind. In her film screenings, there is a change between the oldest recordings, including a sledge area from 1928, and a film about the hometown of Gummersbach.

These films are not only entertaining, but also a valuable source of documenting city history. The organizers call on to search for private Filmarchive and digitize lost treasures from the past to preserve the heir in Gummersbach, as Oberberg reported.

For further information on the historical response to the city of Gummersbach, visit and Oberberg Nachrichten .