Cologne's carpenters celebrate the leap into journeyman life - a new beginning!

Cologne's carpenters celebrate the leap into journeyman life - a new beginning!

On July 15, 2025, the time had come: This year's carpenters were ceremoniously included in the journeyman in Cologne. The ceremony took place at the Marco Greis carpentry in Dünnwald and the mood was exuberant. Master carpenter Marco Greis, Günter Glöde and Sascha Nitsche congratulated the newly baked craftsmen.

Sascha Nitsche, the apprentice keeper, encouraged the new journeyman to actively shape their professional future and explore opportunities in craft, study or on a hike. The inclusion in the community of the carpenters was characterized by a symbolic jump over a bar, a handshake and a sip of Labetrunk. A special custom was the feast with the fell on the buttocks, which symbolically gave the new carpenters of absolution of the sins of their apprenticeship.

traditions of carpentry

The tradition of carpentry has deep rooted customs, which are often lived on in the hiking. This, also known as a roll, has its origin in the late Middle Ages and is still cultivated by many journeyman today. Originally, the hiking was the prerequisite for the master's examination to get to know new ways of working and gain life experiences. The duration of this trip is usually three years and one day.

Nowadays, journeyman voluntarily meet on a hike to expand their skills and discover foreign places. From the time of the late Middle Ages to industrialization, it was the norm that journeyman gained experience in other cities before returning to parental operation. Today, only a few crafts, including that of the carpenters, have kept the wandering to a certain extent.

The life of a journeyman

hiking journeyman wear a special gap that she characterizes as such. These include a black hat, pants with a wide blow and a collarless, white shirt. An important utensil is the "Charlottenburger", a square cloth for personal objects and tools. The rules for the hiking are strictly: young journeyman can only take portable belongings with them and have to imagine in foreign cities at the guild or zech father.

In addition to the traditional rules, there are also mysterious rituals, such as the audition by the mayor of new cities, to preserve the honor of the craft. Despite the decline in the number of participants - less than 0.5 percent of the new craftsmen in Germany are doing a roll nowadays - the fascination for the hiking stays alive.

like the craft itself, the tradition of hiking continues: journeyman adhere to centuries -old customs and proudly carry their special equipment. In this way, the connection between modern carpentry and the roots of the craft can be impressed. An exciting way to maintain the old values of the craft.

They celebrated in Cologne not only the newly baked journeyman, but also the already experienced guild members the opportunity to exchange ideas in a sociable group and to welcome the newcomers to the community. It was a day full of memories and exciting hopes for the future.

Information on the traditions and the hiking formulates a comprehensive picture of the carpentry craft. Further details can be found on Bauenholz.de , Holzbau-deutschland.de and planet-wissen.de .