The war is raging in the Ukraine, many displaced people have fled to the district of Munich - but in this country firecrackers are letting it rip.
Is that still appropriate?
District – Is firecracker shooting still up-to-date?
The question is hotly debated in a Facebook group for Unterföhring: no, say some;
during the war in Ukraine and out of consideration for refugees one should avoid it.
Supporters of the custom, however, do not understand what the salute has to do with the war.
The firecrackers in the district feel misunderstood.
The dispute began last Sunday, the Unterföhring Soldiers' and Warriors' Association fired several gun salutes for the flag consecration of the boys' association.
From 5 a.m. there was a bang - the traditional wake-up call for the flag mother and the first board.
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular district Munich newsletter.
A Facebook user is bothered by it: It is "megaunnecessary" to fire up Sunday mornings.
"Especially when you consider that there is currently war in Europe and the refugees are looking for protection with us," she writes.
A "really ruthless action".
Discussion about firecrackers: "Refugees flinch when sirens go to the test"
Another Facebook user thinks that there is no need for firecracker shooting at the moment – also with regard to displaced people.
In an interview with the Munich newspaper Merkur, the Ismaning native says that she looks after two refugees from the embattled Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.
After the gun salute on Sunday morning, they were irritated.
"Our refugees already flinch when the sirens go to the test on Saturday." She likes such traditions, "but not at 5 in the morning".
Thomas Geier, deputy chairman of the Soldiers' and Warriors' Association in Unterföhring, says that the discussion came from fellow citizens "who are generally against tradition." There have never been any complaints from refugees, he assures.
Cannon shooting has nothing to do with the glorification of war
Before each use of the firecrackers, the association would inform the community and police in Unterföhring - as well as the asylum helpers' group.
Even before last weekend, the firecrackers had enlightened the circle of helpers.
This is confirmed by the chairman of the helpers' association.
The news probably did not reach many people in the neighboring municipality of Ismaning.
"Of course, such shots in times of war make you think," says club Vice Geier.
But the firecracker shooting has nothing to do with the glorification of war.
"It's just a beautiful custom."
Geier believes that if you ban firecracker shooting out of solidarity with Ukraine, you should no longer be able to celebrate at folk festivals.
Josef Griesberger, shot master of the D'Hachingertaler Böllerschützen from Unterhaching, argues in a similar way: “The cracking of Goaßl is also loud.
If it's up to you, you shouldn't be allowed to do anything anymore."
Firecrackers cause traumatic experiences - "I'm against this custom"
However, Griesberger understands that firecrackers can cause traumatic experiences.
During the shooting on the day of remembrance a few years ago, he saw two African refugees suddenly flee.
"But we're going to keep going," he says.
You just have to explain to people that firecrackers are part of it “here in Bavaria”.
And what do the refugees say about the shooting salute?
"I am against this custom - at least in these times," says Zuheir Darwish from the Unterföhring refugee aid "Tree of Hope".
He fled Kurdistan 22 years ago, and even then Darwish didn't like the shooting salute.
You can find more current news from the district of Munich at Merkur.de/Landkreis München.