Schützenfest

Schützenvereine (associations of marksmen) und Schützenfeste (their festivals) belong to communal life in the Germanic regions of Europe.

The word Schütze means marksman and protector, as contained in "to shield", e.g., a Schutzmann is a German policeman.

The main event of a Schützenfest is the shooting competition to determine the marksmen's king (Schützenkönig) of the following year.

The scarcity of medals has increased over the years due to the awards being melted for bullion, being lost, and general attrition.

Swiss shooting thalers began mintage in 1842, with the Eidgenössisches Schützenfest in Chur, still under the cantonal authority of Graubünden.

Shooting thalers between 1855 and 1934 were minted under federal authority, and were legal tender (with a nominal value of 5 francs).

Participants from other parishes and, at times, even the feudal heads of state were also invited to these Marksmen's Courts (Schützenhöfe).

The military significance lessened over the centuries and became meaningless with the creation of regular troops and garrisons for national defense.

Schützenfeste played a central role in the Old Swiss Confederacy, during the 15th century, participants shooting the crossbow, contributing significantly to the coherence between the individual cantons.

The 2020 event, postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland, is scheduled to be held from 11 June to 11 July 2021 in Luzern.

[needs update][1] Countless cantonal and regional Schützenfeste take place in Switzerland every year.

Varying traditions may include shooting wooden animals other than birds or special awards won by hitting certain body parts, e.g., wings, beak, etc.

In Neuss, for example, the Rhine Guards Drum and Bugle Corps (based on the bands of the United States Marine Corps), and the Quirinus Band and Bugle Corps (under its current Bandmaster Peter Hosking - Ex Light Division), Germany's 1st ever band and bugles in the traditions of the British Army Light Division regiments (now The Rifles), that were based in West Germany during the Cold War years, have been a part of the parades there in recent years.