Schäfflertanz

[1] Early documented cases of Schäfflertanz are dated by 1702 when the Münich magistrate approved the performance of the dance as a well-established tradition.

[1][2] However, for a long time the date 1517 was prevalent in the literature, following the 1830 book Der Schäffler-tanz in Münchhen[3] by Anton Baumgartner (1761–1831), who originated the discredited legend that the tradition started after the 1517 plague, to revive the spirits of the people, "to lure them out of their houses", although other authors tried to suggest other dates.

[5] After marching in various formations and performing standard figures, the final number is the barrel hoop swinging.

The idea is to swing the hoops in intricate ways without spilling the schnapps (relying on the centrifugal force).

[5] Of other traditions of the dance, only the costume survived: white shirt, white waistcoat, red jacket, leather apron, knee breeches, sash, brogue shoes and, a green cap adorned with down feathers [5] The author of the current standard tune (the so-called the Second or New Münich Schäfflertanz, 1866) is Johann Wilhelm Siebenkäs (1826-1888).