Lower Saxony Customs

The East Friesian national sport boßeln, or road bowling

Although in many ways similar to other sports such as bowling, boccia, skittles, etc., no other sport displays the same unique characteristics as boßeln: boßeln is a traditional East Frisian national sport whereby two teams of four players compete against each other. The aim is to throw the balls as far as possible in as few throws as possible. The sport is played on normal streets. Boßeln is a recognised sport in which a career can be made – from district level to the top league.

Trachten, or traditional national costumes

Lower Saxony is second to none in terms of its wide variety of traditional costumes. Schaumburg, Grönegau, Artland, Emsland, East Frisia, Ammerland, the Stade Geest, Scheeßel, Altes Land, Winsen and Brunswick are just some of the key areas and places with their very own style of regional dress, which can vary from village to village.

Knowledge of the Trachten worn primarily during the last century – some of which are still worn every day by people in rural areas – has not been lost. Quite the opposite in fact, as various Trachten groups in Lower Saxony nurture this cultural tradition by providing an authentic reconstruction of traditional costumes and parts thereof, introducing them to interested audiences through dance, music, song and customs at many minor and major events.

Lower Saxon dishes

Lower Saxon cuisine is distinguished by its variety of regional specialities.

Fish, shrimps and seafood straight off the boat on the North Sea coast, a feast of wild game dishes fresh from the Harz forest and delicious roast Heidschnucke (a type of moorland sheep) in Lüneburg Heath. Eels from Lake Steinhude in the region of Hanover are also a much-loved speciality.

The southern part of Lower Saxony is renowned for its tasty asparagus and those from Oldenburg know the Pinkel, a specialty sausage traditionally made of bacon, groats of oats or barley, beef suet, pig lard, onions, salt, pepper and other spices.

And let’s not forget East Frisian tea: a cup with rock sugar and a small spoonful of cream is typical Frisian.

Lower Saxony’s alcoholic beverages have even become famous worldwide. King Frederick William I of Prussia only ever drank Duckstein beer from Königslutter in his smoking club and the Bavarian bock beer is in fact an invention from Einbeck. But the most well-known alcoholic beverage comes from Wolffenbüttel: Jägermeister, the herbal liqueur with the stag emblem, is known throughout the world.

Folk festivals

The Heideblütenfest is the biggest folk festival in Lüneburg. Besides various singing and theatrical performances, the highlight of the festival is the Heath Queen Contest. Festival celebrations are held every autumn, when the heath is in full bloom.

Although geographically no longer part of Lower Saxony, every year on 30 April, the Harz Brocken puts on a “spine-chilling” show. A legendary gathering place for witches, it is the ideal place to celebrate the night of the dancing witches. Early in the evening, a “Miss Witch” contest is held, whereby a jury votes in a dance of the witches for the witch with the fastest broom and most original costume. Witches can also obtain a witch driving licence – perhaps so they can fly themselves home afterwards?

Visitors should be sure not miss out on the world’s biggest Schützenfest (marksmen’s festival) in Hanover. The Schützenfest has been held for more than 450 years in the first week of July on the Schützenplatz (marksmen’s square) in Hanover. More than two million visitors flock every year to the approx. 10-hectare square to be part of this spectacle.

Evaluate article

Your evaluation of this article

Our reader's comments

Footer