Klaasohm on Borkum: tradition under criticism - violence at Nikolausfest?

Klaasohm on Borkum: tradition under criticism - violence at Nikolausfest?

On the German island of Borkum, a shocking custom ensures turmoil: On December 5, the evening before St. Nicholas Day, women are cruel in a cruel way. This festival, which has existed for almost 200 years, has recently raised massive criticism, especially according to a report by the ARD magazine "Panorama". According to the reports, women are persecuted by disguised men this night and beaten with cow horns. The picture that arises is brutal and violent, and tradition is now intensively under discussion. The Borkum boys, the organizer of the custom, have now spoken and decided to abolish this violent exercise. In an official statement, it states that the association "rejects any exercise of violence, especially towards women". This reports the Krone .

The reaction to the report was violent: the association recorded a shitstorm on social media, and numerous vacation cancellations met the island. The tourism company based there was concerned about the effects on the image of the island. The association's statement states that they have made mistakes in the past by not questioning the custom more critically. You would now like to focus on the cohesion of the islanders and convert the tradition into a community festival that does not require violence. As part of the event, the children are also treated well and receive honey cake biscuits, while the women serve as the target of "catchers", the hunt for them, such as the Nordkurier reported.

The association has also explained that they want to improve their cooperation with the media and act more transparently. This initiative could be the first step in a new direction to adapt the tradition of the "Klaasohm" to the current social norms and prevent future attacks. While the discussion about tradition and violence continues, it remains to be seen whether other places and customs must also be covered.