Manuel Berz and Patrizia Hansel rule the shooting festival in Sönnern!

Manuel Berz and Patrizia Hansel rule the shooting festival in Sönnern!

On Saturday, July 20, 2025, the atmosphere in Sönern could not be overlooked. The St. George Rifle Brotherhood celebrated their new royal couple with joy: Manuel Berz and Patrizia Hansel were impressively introduced to their new positions. This celebratory event followed a successful bird shooting that took place the previous evening. True to the motto “Celebrate like real kings”, the program was peppered with many highlights that thrilled the numerous visitors. The festival not only offered plenty of entertainment, but also strengthened the sense of togetherness in the community.
[Soester Anzeiger reports]

Shooting has a long tradition in Germany that has developed over the centuries. It ranges from the Christian brotherhoods in the Rhenish-Westphalian region to folkloric customs in southern Germany. A central part of this tradition is the annual shooting festival, which is celebrated in different regions with idiosyncratic customs. These festivals are known for shaping local social and cultural life.
[UNESCO informs]

All generations celebrate with us

One of the great things about shooting is its inclusion: people of all ages and backgrounds come together to maintain the tradition. Regardless of gender, religious belief or origin, everyone finds their role in the shooting brotherhood. This not only strengthens solidarity, but also ensures that the custom remains alive in the future. In addition to bird shooting, there are also other forms of youth work that introduce young people to the tradition at an early stage.

Every shooting festival, including the one in Sönern, is accompanied by processions and parades in which the shooters appear in their uniform costume and with club badges and flags. These colorful parades reflect a strong sense of community and show appreciation for the tradition that the community can rely on throughout the year. The celebrations also include social gatherings such as balls, morning pints and concerts in the Schützenhalle or festival tents, all of which create an exuberant atmosphere.

A look forward

The great commitment of the shooting associations is clearly noticeable and shows how deeply the custom is rooted in society. It is not only a celebration of the moment, but also a transmission of tradition to future generations. So the shooting festival, like the one in Sönern, is not only celebrated, but also lived and carried into the future.
[St. George's Shooters]