German Island Ditches Bizarre Cow Horn Spanking Tradition

End of an Era - German Island Abolishes Cow Horn Spanking Ritual

“On Borkum, if you talk openly about wanting this to stop, you're told that...”

A German island is ending a long-standing tradition where men would spank women with a cow horn as part of a bizarre ritual, marking a significant step towards gender equality and respect.

In Germany, the feast of Saint Nicholas is a beloved tradition, particularly among children. On the evening of December 5, youngsters eagerly leave their polished shoes by the front door, anticipating a delightful surprise. The next morning, they excitedly discover their shoes filled with small gifts and treats, courtesy of the benevolent Nikolaus.

However, not all regions in Germany celebrate Saint Nicholas in the same way. In Bavaria, for instance, the festivities take on a darker tone with the introduction of the Krampus, a menacing counterpart to the jovial Nikolaus. This hairy, devil-like creature is known by various names depending on the region, and is an integral part of folkloric celebrations that feature frightening costumes and processions.

The Krampus, a mythical figure from Austrian and European folklore, is not the only intriguing character associated with the Saint Nicholas tradition. On the North Sea island of Borkum, Germany, which boasts a population of over 5,000, the “Klaasohm” festival is a unique and fascinating celebration observed every year on the night of December 5.

The Klaasohm festival recently gained widespread attention in Germany, thanks to a video report by public broadcaster NDR. The report featured two male journalists who attempted to capture the 2023 festivities on camera. Using their cell phones, they were able to easily film the daytime celebrations, which centered around young, unmarried men dressed in traditional Klaasohm costumes. These elaborate costumes consisted of masks adorned with sheepskin and bird feathers, adding to the festive atmosphere.

As the Klaasohm festival progresses, the celebrations take on a more intense tone. The islanders engage in a traditional wrestling match, which is strictly reserved for locals, excluding tourists and reporters. This exclusive event marks a turning point in the festivities, as the atmosphere becomes increasingly lively and the party continues into the night.

However, a disturbing aspect of the festival has been secretly captured on camera by the NDR reporters. Under the cover of darkness, a group of “catchers” can be seen chasing and restraining women, while the Klaasohms strike them on the buttocks with a cow's horn. The shocking scene is met with cheers and applause from the surrounding crowd, including children. The victims and witnesses of this ritual have come forward anonymously, fearing repercussions.

The NDR report sheds further light on this disturbing tradition, featuring anonymous interviews with three women and a former male resident of the island. These individuals, who have personally participated in the ritual, now strongly condemn it. Their testimonies provide a harrowing insight into the darker aspects of the Klaasohm festival, sparking concerns about the safety and well-being of those involved.

The women who shared their experiences in the NDR report revealed that, as children, they were socialized to view the ritual as an exciting game of hide-and-seek, deeply ingrained in the island's cultural identity. This perception led them to willingly participate in the ritual as teenagers, unaware of the pain and discomfort that awaited them.

A young man who has since left Borkum also shared his thoughts on the ritual, albeit anonymously, fearing repercussions for his family. He expressed concerns about speaking out against the tradition, citing the pressure to conform to the island's cultural norms. As he explained, “On Borkum, if you talk openly about wanting this to stop, you're told that you don't understand the festival, that you're not honoring the tradition and that you're somehow bowing to pressure from outside [the island).”

When approached by NDR reporters, several islanders initially agreed to share their thoughts on the ritual, but later retracted their statements, insisting that their comments be removed from the report before it was broadcast. This reluctance to speak openly about the tradition suggests that there may be a culture of silence or even intimidation surrounding the ritual.

One older woman, however, did speak candidly about her experiences with the ritual. Recalling being beaten during the festival in her youth, she expressed her longstanding disapproval of the tradition. When asked why the ritual remains important to the people of Borkum, she replied, “It's important to the men.” She went on to explain, “The Borkumers grow up that way and that's the way it is. It's purely a men's day. So you need to ask the men, see what they have to say about it.”

One islander attempted to downplay the severity of the ritual, dismissing it as harmless fun. With a laugh, he explained, “When they [the young men] see a woman, they beat her up a bit with a cow's horn,” adding that “it's not really violent.” However, this casual attitude towards the ritual is starkly contradicted by the testimonies of the anonymous interviewees.

The anonymous individuals who shared their experiences with the NDR report revealed that being struck with the cow's horn left them bruised and in pain for several days. One former islander pointed out that, disturbingly, men would often take pride in their ability to inflict pain, boasting about instances where women were unable to sit for five or six days after being hit.

The organizers of the festival, as well as the police and the mayor of Borkum, all declined to be interviewed by NDR reporters, maintaining a wall of silence around the ritual. Furthermore, the report highlights that social media coverage of the event is actively discouraged, seemingly to protect the identities of the Klaasohms and maintain the secrecy surrounding the ritual.

In response to the public outcry sparked by the NDR report, the authorities on the island of Borkum issued a statement acknowledging that they had erred in avoiding the media. The chair of the association Borkumer Jungens e.V. 1830, which oversees the Klaasohm tradition, stated, “We realize that the report, which paints a distorted picture of the festival and contains numerous journalistic inaccuracies, is the result of us rejecting all of their requests.”

The association conceded that the Klaasohm tradition can be viewed as contentious in today's society. They acknowledged that beating women with cow horns was indeed part of the tradition in the past, and, as they put it, “in individual cases in recent years.” However, they unequivocally distanced themselves from any form of violence against women, stating, “We expressly distance ourselves from any form of violence against women and apologize for the historically-based actions of past years.” The association emphasized that the community has collectively decided to abandon this aspect of the tradition, declaring, “We as a community have clearly decided to leave this aspect of the tradition behind us.”

Instead of perpetuating violent customs, the association aims to refocus on the true spirit of the festival, which they believe is rooted in “the solidarity of the islanders.” Similarly, the police have adopted a firm stance against violence, with a spokesperson stating, “We are adopting a zero-tolerance policy. Violence will not be accepted.”

On Sunday, a significant gathering of approximately 150 to 200 women from Borkum took to the streets to demonstrate in support of preserving the contentious Saint Nicholas ritual. This public display of support underscores the complex and deeply ingrained nature of the tradition within the island's community.

The NDR journalists, in their report, highlight the importance of addressing media criticism in a more transparent and open manner. To illustrate this point, they cite the example of the Krampus run in Austria, where participants dressed as the devilish figure Krampus use birch rods to whip spectators as part of the traditional procession. This example demonstrates that it is possible to engage with criticism and maintain the integrity of a tradition, even one that may be perceived as controversial.

The Krampus runs, notorious for their frenzied atmosphere fueled by alcohol and collective energy, have garnered significant attention in recent years due to violent incidents and injuries sustained by participants. In response to these concerns, the Austrian events have implemented enhanced security measures.

To ensure a safer experience for all attendees, the organizers have established designated safe spaces for those who wish to avoid being struck by the Krampuses. Additionally, each Krampus participant is assigned a unique identifier, enabling them to be held accountable in the event of any incidents. Furthermore, the Krampuses are now encouraged to adopt a more symbolic approach, gently brushing festival-goers with their birch rods rather than inflicting actual blows.