Scheibenschlagen

Origins and history

The earliest recorded instance of this tradition occurred in March 1090. A disk launched during the event accidentally ignited a building near Lorsch Abbey. Historical records confirm the activity existed over nine centuries ago. The custom has survived through local preservation efforts in rural areas. Modern organizers include scout groups and traditional carnival associations known as Funkenzünften.

How it is kept

Participants use long hazelnut sticks to launch square wooden disks about ten centimeters wide. The wood glows red after being held in embers. People stand on hillsides called Scheibenbühel and throw the discs toward the valley floor. Verses are recited before each throw. In some Swiss villages, young men call out names of girls while launching the disks. If a throw misses, specific phrases acknowledge the failure.

Regional variations

The practice appears in Swabian-Alemannic areas, South Tyrol, Vorarlberg, and Alsace. Local names differ significantly. Swiss Rhaeto-Romanic speakers call it trer schibettas. Alsatian communities use Schieweschlawe. Some towns refer to the disks as Reedli and the event as Reedlischwinge. Romanian Swabians in Satu Mare also maintain the tradition. Northern Baden hosts regular events in Ersingen.

Preparation and equipment

Communities collect wood for bonfires weeks before the event. Recruits or confirmands often carry carts through town singing songs to request materials. The disks themselves are made from hardwood like beech. A central hole allows multiple discs to thread onto the launch stick. Participants swing the stick to intensify the glow before striking the disk against the ramp.

How Scheibenschlagen is kept

Groups gather at dusk on hillsides with bonfires. Participants heat square wooden disks until they glow red. They hold the disks on long hazelnut sticks and launch them into the darkness below. Verses accompany each throw. After all discs are used, torchlight processions return to the village. Young people then visit homes for food and drinks.

When and where

The event falls on the weekend of Septuagesima or during Easter. Specific days vary by region, including Laetare Sunday or nights within fasting week. The timing marks seasonal transitions in the agricultural calendar.

The tradition thrives in the Black Forest, Breisgau, Basel-Landschaft, Alsace, Vorarlberg, and parts of Tyrol. It persists in rural Swiss cantons like Graubünden. Northern Baden and Romanian Swabian communities also observe it.

What Scheibenschlagen means

The glowing disk represents light returning to the valley. The act of throwing connects participants to their ancestors. Verses often reference luck, harvest, or social bonds. The community gathers to share warmth and food after the cold evening activity.

Days Scheibenschlagen is marked

Questions people ask about Scheibenschlagen

See also

ChristmasA festival of Jesus's birth, kept on 25 December with gifts, lights and shared mealsChristmas treeA decorated evergreen or artificial tree placed indoors to mark the Christmas season.Christmas EveThe evening before Christmas, marked by church services, family meals, and gift preparations across Christian cultures.AnnunciationA Christian feast marking the angel Gabriel's message to Mary about bearing Jesus, kept on 25 March.

Good reading and sources

• Scheibenschlagen on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.