swarm Monday - Swearing and Celebrating: Ulm's Shrove Monday is here again
Ulmer and visitors traditionally celebrate Mondays again, Swabian Monday, with numerous festivities. The centuries-old event on the second-to-last Monday in July attracts thousands of visitors to the Danube city every year. The mayor swears an oath every year, "a common man for the poor and the rich." Oberburgermeister Martin Ansbacher (SPD) will take the oath during the swearing-ceremony (11:00 AM).
Following the ceremony, there will be celebrations. Neu-Ulm city on the Bavarian side of the border is also traditionally involved in the festivities. The highlight is a procession on the Danube, the "Nabada" (4:00 PM). Every year, numerous people let themselves be carried down the river on rafts, boats, or inflatable tires. Ulmer often speak of their "highest holiday." The seriousness of the matter is evident in the businesses. Many have altered opening hours or do not open at all.
After the swearing-ceremony, leisure activities abound in Danube City, reflecting the centuries-old tradition of Swabian Monday. The celebration extends to Miscellaneous neighboring towns, such as Neu-Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, honoring a shared past. The highlight of the festivities is the "Nabada" procession on the Danube at 4:00 PM, a time-honored Ulm tradition that invites participation from numerous visitors. The river serves as a communal playground, with people enjoying rafting, boating, or floating on inflatable tires, turning the occasion into a cherished annual leisure activity.
