The Gelnhäuser are tradition-conscious people.

They face the history of their city with pride – and with humility.

It is always pointed out with pride that the city was founded in the 12th century by Emperor Barbarossa, which is still remembered today by the ruins of the imperial palace - the palace of the ruler.

In the former free imperial city, however, an event in 1736 has not been forgotten, which is remembered with respect every year.

A special local holiday, "Hail Day", is also celebrated.

Jan Schiefenhoevel

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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On August 15, citizens commemorate the fact that their city narrowly escaped collapse 286 years ago.

At that time, a violent summer thunderstorm swept over the city on the Assumption Day of all days.

The situation became dangerous because lightning struck the town hall on the Obermarkt and set it on fire.

The building was originally constructed in 1330 as a market hall, with tobacco leaves grown in the area at the time drying in the attic.

The house was quickly on fire, and the half-timbered houses in the neighborhood were also ablaze.

doomsday mood

What was fatal was that the tobacco bundles also caught fire.

The storm drove the burning bundles over the roofs of the old town, threatening to set fire to other houses.

The Gelnhauser desperately tried to extinguish the flames, and residents of neighboring towns also came to help.

But the fire catastrophe hardly seemed to be averted.

This put people in a doomsday mood, as can be seen from historical records.

But the storm that triggered the near-catastrophe also came to the rescue: the onset of heavy thunderstorms with hail extinguished many a fire.

Above all, the heavy rain prevented the bundles of tobacco from setting fire to the whole city.

In this way, the catastrophe was averted, even if the town hall could no longer be saved and later had to be rebuilt.

Two years later, Hail Day was celebrated as a holiday for the first time on August 15th.

This established the annual memorial day to remember the rescue with gratitude.

By decision of the city fathers, the anniversary became a penitential day.

Out of respect for the fire, no fire was allowed to be lit that day.

The stove had to stay cold, all citizens had to do without hot food.

This was a law that was strictly enforced by the city fathers.

From the hill above the city, a delegation watched for smoke rising from a chimney.

There were severe penalties for doing so.

Hail Day remained a day of remembrance over the centuries, but gradually lost its importance.

In the 19th century its meaning was questioned.

No one controlled the ban on lighting a fire anymore.

Towards the end of the 1970s, the Gelnhauser remembered the commemoration day, which the city has to itself.

The then mayor Jürgen Michaelis (CDU), together with churches and aid organizations, gave the impetus to turn the earlier day of penitence into a modern day of reflection.

Natural disasters threaten at any time

People should be aware that natural disasters are a threat at any time.

But you can also rely on helpers from rescue services, fire brigades and technical relief organizations to stand by the victims and mitigate the consequences.

This is also a theme of the Gelnhausen Hail Day, which is why the aid organizations play an important role in the annual celebration.

Part of the modernized tradition is that the members of the aid and rescue organizations meet on the Obermarkt on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Together with the representatives of the city, accompanied by the music of the fanfare choir, they will march to the Marienkirche, where an ecumenical service will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Afterwards, helpers and guests come together in the courtyard in front of the entrance of the Romanesque house and enjoy the conviviality with food and drinks.

So today's Gelnhäuser Hageltag is a small folk festival and not a day of renunciation.