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Simone Rürup, mayor of the municipality of Baindt, takes part in the blood ride: for the first time, women are also included
Photo: Silas Stein / dpa
The so-called blood ride is no longer just for men: this morning, women rode for the first time in the Catholic cavalry procession in Upper Swabia.
According to old tradition, the Holy Blood relic was first handed over in Weingarten in Baden-Württemberg.
According to legend, the relic contains blood from Christ's crucifixion mixed with earth.
Then some women in tails and top hats rode among the approximately 2000 riders in almost 100 groups from the region.
The organizers could not give an exact number.
According to the organizers, the tradition with tens of thousands of spectators has existed for more than 900 years.
Women have so far not been allowed to take part in the largest equestrian procession in Europe, according to the city of Weingarten.
The responsible parish council had already decided in November 2020 to allow »blood riders«.
However, due to the corona pandemic, the procession took place in 2021 with only a few riders - and the association responsible for it had not yet changed its statutes, so that again only men were on horseback.
ptz/dpa
