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Klaasohm 2025: Cows stay in the pasture, beatings are a thing of the past!
The Klaasohm Festival on Borkum 2025 is changing traditions: hitting with cow horns will be abolished to prevent violence.
Klaasohm 2025: Cows stay in the pasture, beatings are a thing of the past!
The anticipation for the popular Klaasohm festival in Borkum is palpable, but there will be a significant change in 2025. Like the NDR reported, the tradition of beating women with cow horns was removed from the festival program. This decision came after a critical report by the ARD magazine “Panorama”, which caused outrage nationwide in 2024.
The strict measures to ensure safety during the festival have been established. The police plan to find a creative solution to secure the event again this year, relying on a zero-tolerance policy towards violence. The Leer/Emden police station emphasizes that there is no place for such practices and their responsiveness is clearly emphasized. The proven protection concept will be reintroduced, with organizing teams and specific offers of help for women in dangerous situations being a central element.
Criticism and tradition in change
The Klaasohm Festival, often referred to as the “highest holiday” of the people of Borkum, has a long tradition. However, the origin of these celebrations is unclear and they have been celebrated for generations. Young men dress up as Klaasohm and wear the characteristic cow horns. Many islanders see this custom as part of their identity, but have also recognized the problematic aspects. The “Borkum Boys” association has now finally decided to abolish beating with cow horns. The move was met with mixed reactions, with some young women expressing displeasure at the changes. She felt that the cultural background was not sufficiently appreciated.
Police presence has already been increased over the last year and those responsible emphasize that there have been no significant incidents. The festival will not be advertised to tourists in 2025 either, but will be reserved for a group of around 600 islanders and a few invited guests.
Festivals as part of culture
The Klaasohm Festival is not only an opportunity for the people of Borkum to celebrate their traditions, but also reflects part of the cultural diversity in Germany. Cultural festivals like this offer insights into history, customs and ways of life, promote a sense of community and maintain regional identity, as well culture-and-nature.com is explained. The meaning of such celebrations is now being questioned more than ever, with adaptations to modern values inevitably becoming more important.
With the Klaasohm Festival 2025, the topic of “tradition in change” will become very concrete in Borkum. The event will not only be a celebration, but also a sign of changing social norms and increasing awareness about the protection of women. The people of Borkum are showing that they are prepared to reconcile cultural preservation with current social challenges.