What is celebrated today in a fun carnival style with a Rathaussturm, parade and meetings has a serious background. The washerwomen and bleachers of Beuel defended themselves against the unreasonable physical and mental burdens imposed on them.

They met for a coffee klatsch, at which a fixed set of rules applied: the women had a duty to report on their husbands' gross breaches of domestic peace and marital fidelity or their alcoholic excesses. The culprits were of course excluded. The ladies wanted to discuss their problems among themselves, because they could get all their frustrations off their chest unobserved.

The custom of the washerwomen survived the various political eras from the Prussian occupation to the Bismarck Empire, the monarchy, the first democracy and the Nazi era to today's democracy, which is inextricably linked to the name Bonn.

Every year since 1958, the women of Beuel have named a representative from their own ranks, the Wäscherprinzessin. Supported by the Obermöhn and resolute, battle-hardened ladies, she sets out every year on Weiberfastnacht to storm the Beuel town hall, which is defended by the head of Bonn, the district mayor and their representatives. But it's no secret that the defenders have failed every time so far...

So in the end, the Wäscherprinzessin, Obermöhn and the jecken Wiever and the unsuccessful defenders stand together on the town hall balcony to toast the men's defeat - and the foolish goings-on throughout the city begin!

You can find more interesting information about the Beuel washerwomen's uprising  here. (opens in a new tab)