Crashing cultural barriers: ‘flying pigtails and fluttering skirts’ – women conquer the stubble field at the German schäferlauf

Abstract

The Schäferlauf is one of the oldest rural festivities in the southern German state of Württemberg. It has its origin in a race across a stubble field. Shepherds and shepherdesses have to run barefooted 300 ‘steps’, or approximately 200 metres. Both winners get crowned for a year as king or queen of the Schäferlauf. The main focus of this article is to elaborate on the gradual integration of females in this rural festivity. Since the 1650s women have had their own race. Readers are shown how participating females were perceived by the public in various publications and paintings throughout the centuries.