Hikers on the Walz: tradition meets modern adventure!

Hikers on the Walz: tradition meets modern adventure!

There was an exciting encounter recently in Taufkirchen: two journeymen carpenters from Dresden and Cologne and a landscape gardener from Zwickau. Maik, the 27-year-old carpenter from Dresden, has been at the Walz for three and a half years, while his companion, 24-year-old Anna from Cologne, worked in a company for two years after completing her apprenticeship. This tradition encourages journeymen to explore the world, to take a break from their hometown - a 50 km radius is taboo - and to get to know different working methods in a wide variety of companies. The Walz is therefore much more than just a journey, it is a phase of life full of experiences and encounters. According to Merkur it has become quite rare in German-speaking countries with 400 to 500 traveling journeymen.

The traveling companions only carry a small amount of luggage with them - around 10 kg - and stay overnight for free in order to comply with traditional customs. To ensure that everything fits well, they wear classic travel clothes, consisting of traditional clothes and a black hat. Most people get around on foot or hitchhiking, although Maik even traveled to the Caribbean across the Atlantic. Elisabeth, the 30-year-old landscape gardener, also celebrates in this culture and is almost four and a half years old. Her journey took her to Iceland, where she recently celebrated her 30th birthday. She is currently a member of the journeymen's association “Axt und Kelle”, one of nine shaft organizations that exist.

The tradition of rolling

Journeyman migration, which began in the Middle Ages, is an integral part of craft training in Europe, especially in the German-speaking regions. Historically, the rolling lasted a minimum of three years and one day, during which the journeymen visited various workshops to gain experience and deepen their skills by exchanging ideas with other craftsmen. This practice has undergone many changes over the centuries, but after World War II it experienced a refreshing revival, as reported by Wikipedia.

Important rules of the Walz are that journeymen must be unmarried, childless and debt-free. During their trip, they are not allowed to return within 50 km of their home unless there is an emergency. A personal travel book documents the stays and experiences in the various cities, while secret meetings in the hostels promote community and exchange among the journeymen. The goal? Integration into a community and the preservation of tradition for future generations, as UNESCO states.

• Aktuell gibt es etwa 800 Wandergesellen, wobei immer mehr Frauen an dieser Tradition teilnehmen.
• Reisebegleiter sind häufig erfahrene Gesellen, die den Neulingen die Bräuche näherbringen.
• Die Kleidung der Gesellen ist traditionell und praktisch, oft mit einem schwarzen Hut und einer speziellen Uniform.

The Walz is not only a journey, but also a journey to oneself. In a world that is constantly changing, this old craft tradition remains a living part of the culture that younger generations are happy to pass on.