Schützenfest (Adelaide)
Encyclopedia
The Schützenfest is a German
cultural festival held annually in Adelaide
, the capital of South Australia
. Translated from German, it means 'Shooting Festival
', though Adelaide's youth
attend the event to drink beer
.
South Australia experienced from its inception in 1836, a large migration of Germans, predominantly of Lutheran religion. They mostly migrated after 1838. In 1853, the Shooting Society was established and in 1861, the Shooting Party was established. 1865 saw the closure of the German Club. With its closure, a picnic was organised in St Peters
, Adelaide. The main activity of the picnic was shooting. Some 5000 Adelaideans attended the picnic.
Prior to the outbreak of World War I
, numerous Schützenfests were held around Adelaide areas by the German Association, such as in Walkerville
, Lobethal and Barossa Valley
.
The festival was reinstated after World War II
. It was held for many years in Hahndorf but is presently held in the western Parklands. It is still a highly popular festival with the attendance being around 20,000 and festivities involve German food, beverages, dances and music. A shooting competition also occurs.
This event generally happens in the height of the Australian summer
, and often results in people needing treatment for heatstroke, due to excessive sun exposure and alcohol consumption
.
Culture of Germany
German culture began long before the rise of Germany as a nation-state and spanned the entire German-speaking world. From its roots, culture in Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe, both religious and secular...
cultural festival held annually in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the capital of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. Translated from German, it means 'Shooting Festival
Schützenfest
A Schützenfest is a traditional festival or fair featuring a target shooting competition in the cultures of both Germany and Switzerland....
', though Adelaide's youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
attend the event to drink beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
.
South Australia experienced from its inception in 1836, a large migration of Germans, predominantly of Lutheran religion. They mostly migrated after 1838. In 1853, the Shooting Society was established and in 1861, the Shooting Party was established. 1865 saw the closure of the German Club. With its closure, a picnic was organised in St Peters
St. Peters, South Australia
St Peters is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Norwood Payneham St Peters.The suburb was first settled in 1838, with allotments sold to investors in the South Australia Company. It was originally a separate town and was named after the Church of England's school of St Peter...
, Adelaide. The main activity of the picnic was shooting. Some 5000 Adelaideans attended the picnic.
Prior to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, numerous Schützenfests were held around Adelaide areas by the German Association, such as in Walkerville
Walkerville, South Australia
Walkerville is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It lies just north east of the city centre, about 4 kilometres from the Adelaide GPO.-History:Walkerville was named after Captain John Walker R. N...
, Lobethal and Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
.
The festival was reinstated after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was held for many years in Hahndorf but is presently held in the western Parklands. It is still a highly popular festival with the attendance being around 20,000 and festivities involve German food, beverages, dances and music. A shooting competition also occurs.
This event generally happens in the height of the Australian summer
Summer
Summer is the warmest of the four temperate seasons, between spring and autumn. At the summer solstice, the days are longest and the nights are shortest, with day-length decreasing as the season progresses after the solstice...
, and often results in people needing treatment for heatstroke, due to excessive sun exposure and alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption may refer to:* Alcohol consumption by youth in the United States* Alcoholic beverage* Legal drinking age* List of countries by alcohol consumption* Long-term effects of alcohol* Short-term effects of alcohol...
.