Vogelschießen in Jersbek

Vogelschießen — A North German Folk Tradition

In the villages of Northern Germany, the Vogelschießen has a long tradition. It dates back to medieval shooting guilds that emerged as part of civic self-defence and later transformed into more peaceful folk festivals. The wooden bird — usually elaborately handcrafted and mounted on a pole — is shot down piece by piece in a competition. Whoever hits the last splinter is crowned the new king.

Jersbek and its Associations

Jersbek is a small municipality in the Stormarn district, east of Hamburg and located in the Amt Bargteheide-Land. With just under 1,100 inhabitants, it's a manageable size, and the village relies heavily on its volunteer associations — the volunteer fire brigade, the sports club, the shooting guild. The Vogelschießen is a highlight of the year for the shooters, embedded in a rich festival calendar that ranges from the Harvest Festival (Erntedankfest) and Low German theatre to the Advent café.

The Day of the Vogelschießen

The day traditionally begins with the shooters assembling, followed by a ceremonial procession to the festival grounds. After the competition at the bird, the new king is proclaimed, and the royal dignity is transferred with a sash and chain. This is followed by the social part: a feast, dancing, and intergenerational encounters. The King's Ball in the evening concludes the event. The exact schedule is organised by the shooting guild.

Stormarn — Community Life on the Edge of the Metropolitan Region

Stormarn is one of the wealthiest districts in Schleswig-Holstein and lies on the eastern edge of the Hamburg metropolitan region. Despite the economic dynamism, community life in the rural municipalities remains vibrant — and the Vogelschießen in Jersbek is a perfect example of the living village traditions that characterise Schleswig-Holstein.