Sometimes blond, sometimes brunette: big mystery about the Munich Kindl - close observers are amazed
Created: 05/07/2022, 08:47
By: Christoph Gschossmann
This year the Munich Kindl of Schäffler was called Franziska Grillenberger.
© Twitter/Mio
Well, who is that?
That's what many a spectator might have thought at the Schäfflertanz on Thursday when they saw the Munich Kindl.
The official Kindle was missing.
Munich – When the maypole was erected on the Viktualienmarkt, the Munich child was still blonde.
At the Schäfflertanz it is now brunette.
And otherwise the Kindl der Schäffler looks different – also pretty, but different.
The solution to the riddle: While Viktoria Ostler, the official Munich child of the city, was in action at the maypole, the child is called the Schäffler Franziska Grillenberger.
A case of identity theft?
Not at all, says Ostler, who put on the monk's habit for the first time in 2016 as a 23-year-old.
She clarifies: "Every guild in Munich is entitled to have its own Munich Kindl." The bakers and butchers should also send their own into the race.
There is also the official Kindl, which is determined by Festring Munich.
"You see me and that of the Schäffler most often," says the Ostler.
Munich: Puzzle solved - Schäffler have their own Munich Kindl
Grillenberger (27) was appointed the Munich Kindl of the Schäffler in 2019 – and is also a native of Munich.
Before each season, someone new slips into the habit.
Grillenberger's term of office is seven years.
Her task: "I climb onto a barrel and hold the prologue." She explains to the audience why the coopers dance.
The fact that she is already doing this again in 2022 is due to the pandemic.
The Schäfflertanz is said to have its origins in the plague epidemic - and so the Schäffler are now performing their dance because of the corona pandemic.
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"A nice idea," agrees with Ostler.
In general, the two Munich Kindl have no points of friction.
Ostler usually performs at brewery and city events as well as at the Wiesn.
Grillenberger roams around with the coopers – "and sometimes I'm the brewer at events," she says.
But only if Ostler is not on duty there.
"The top priority is: We mustn't duplicate ourselves," says Grillenberger, who works in hotel marketing.
What if both are there?
"Then I'll wear a dirndl," says Grillenberger.
The official Munich Kindl: Viktoria Ostler.
© dpa
Official Munich Kindl Viktoria Ostler is getting married on October 21
It is a relief for Ostler that she is not also present at the Schäfflertanzen.
"It's a voluntary job, so it would certainly be a bit much if I also had the appointments," she says.
In any case, the woman from Garching will only hold office until October 21 – but not because the Kindl des Festrings has a fixed term.
"I'm getting married that day," she says.
And because the Munich Kindl has to be single, her happy day also means the end of her Kindl career.
- ANDREAS DASCHNER
You can find more current news from Munich at Merkur.de/Muenchen.
