576th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Stonecutters and Bricklayers

Last week, the Steinhauer- und Maurerbruderschaft Hof und Umgebung visited Hof Town Hall.

In front of the town hall, Lord Mayor Eva Döhla, Christian Herpich, Vice President of the Chamber of Crafts for Upper Franconia, Head of the Cultural Department Peter Nürmberger and his successor Fabian Riemen, former journeyman Olaf Jarsetz and bachelor Rüdiger Auerswald celebrated the 576th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Stonemasons and Bricklayers. As part of the celebrations of the oldest surviving guild in Germany, the members of the brotherhood presented the Lord Mayor with a bouquet of flowers, which was received with heartfelt thanks.

"People make up the craft and it needs craftsmen who hold up the flag," emphasised Lord Mayor Eva Döhla, expressing the importance of and solidarity with the craft in Hof.

Traditionally, the "Bricklayers' Day" was opened by a report from the former journeyman, who looked back on the events of the past year and gave an outlook on the challenges and opportunities facing the trade. Among other things, he emphasised the difficulty of attracting young skilled workers to the time-honoured trade, which is a key challenge for the future.

The celebrations also included a musical serenade by Bernd Günther, which contributed to the festive atmosphere. The official speeches and reports were followed by an exchange among those present, during which experiences and thoughts about the future of the craft were shared. The tradition of the brotherhood was later continued by playing further serenades for dignitaries, masters and journeymen in the Hof city area.