New citizens welcome! Ziegenhain celebrates a unique tradition with Lattchen

New citizens welcome! Ziegenhain celebrates a unique tradition with Lattchen

Things will be celebratory in Schwalmstadt-Ziegenhain today, June 23, 2025: The traditional Lattchen ceremony, which takes place as part of the 297th Ziegenhain salad fair, offers new citizens the opportunity to be officially accepted into the community. The participants are not only dressed festively, but also symbolically tied to their arm with a head of lettuce, the so-called “latch”. This ritual is carried out by the Ziegenhain volunteer fire department, which then lifts the new residents into the air three times to celebrate their acceptance into the community. As hessenschau.de reports, this is not only a custom, but also a sign of appreciation and welcome for everyone who moved to Ziegenhain or lived there before May 1, 2025 have taken up business.

The event takes place in the festival tent in Ziegenhain, where the air is filled with excitement and anticipation. The Lattchen is not only a symbolic gesture, but also part of a rich German tradition that includes numerous local customs. Germans are known for their diverse cultural practices, which vary from region to region, as life-in-germany.de shows.

Appointment and registration

Anyone interested can register by phone at 06691-207486 or by email at f.gonther@schwalmstadt.de. Tickets for the Lattchessen and the duck race are available at the Tourist Information Office or can be purchased online at www.salatkirmes.de. What belongs together comes together here: New residents not only experience their individual welcome, but also become part of a larger whole, which plays an important role in many German communities.

Such traditional customs are not only an expression of regionality, they also promote coexistence and integration. In a country that is characterized by a variety of cultures, it is very important that immigrants have the opportunity to become part of the local community. Over 26% of people in Germany now have a migrant background, and it is becoming increasingly important to create opportunities for participation and integration, as the Lattchen custom in Ziegenhain shows.

A call for participation

In this sense, the volunteer fire department also calls on all readers to share their own traditions and rituals. What makes your village special? Whether it's the largest Oktoberfest, popular Christmas markets or culinary festivals - the variety of traditions in Hesse and Germany is huge and it's exciting when young and old come together to celebrate them. Celebrating together brings generations together and creates a sense of belonging.

The salad fair celebrations are not only a celebration for new residents, but also an excellent opportunity to strengthen the sense of community. So it's not just about customs, but also about promoting social contacts and celebrating commonalities, because as the saying goes: "Together you are less alone!"