The ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” in Schramberg – in a wooden tub flowing down, defying the ice cold floods.

The question must be allowed, as to what the “Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” (for non Swabians: ”the journey down the river”) and highlight of the Schramberg carnival has to do with clocks. Is it due to the punctual start at 13.00 hr on Carnival Monday? But that would be a rather banal connection.
The origin of the event is much more in direct connection with the Histories of Schramberg as a clock industry town and requires a look back into the thirties of the last century. The majority of the Schramberg citizens wanted to celebrate Carnival Monday – although they had no opportunity. Carnival Monday was a normal working day with no exception, not even at the Junghans Clock Manufacturing.
On Carnival Monday in 1936 – February 24th – the ”Young Parliament” had their conference in the Bruckbeck restaurant. It was an extensive meeting of morning drinking among creative carnival activists. They also discussed the question as to how the industrial workers, at least in the afternoon, could be kept from working.
Finally, they had the idea, to use the Schiltach river for rides in wooden tubs, which at that time were customary for home slaughtering. Thousands of employees passed the bridge in front of the Bruckbeck restaurant on their way to work in the different factories, also at Junghans as well. The tubs were collected in a hurry and signs carried through the city in order to spread the news of the intention. Shortly before 13.30 hr, the work begin after lunch, the first ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” started. Most of the workers stopped and watched this crazy spectacle and forgot to go back to work. and although it may sound like a fairy tale, but ever since then, practically no one works in the Schramberg factories on carnival Monday. Today the ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” is a very wet pleasure and great fun for the round 25.000 spectators at the Schiltach river banks. The ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” has become a “trademark” for Schramberg. 80 tub captains, among them many brave women, are allowed at the start by the ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrer-Gild”. The teams have three weeks to turn their tubs into a most original and splendid carriage.
Each year, 40 colorful decorated tubs are pushed to the starting ramp. Local, as well as topics of world politics are caricatured with fantastic constructions. Start and final riders are clad in traditional customs. At 13.00 hr sharp the starting signals can be heard. Along the course of 600m, the tub captains are encountering quite a bit of harassment. Consequently, for many of them a bath in the ice cold floods is programmed. The river riders are cheered by the spectators with calls like “patsch nass” (totally wet), “furztrocken” (fart dry) or “Kanal voll” (channel full), while only a few manage to arrive fully dry at the final destination. At a ball in the evening of the same day, the winners are honored. The decision of the jury depends on originality of the topic, the garb of the two person tub force, a ”good figure” during the journey and the arrival in a possibly well condition.
By the way, the next ”Da-Bach-na-Fahrt” is on February 23rd 2004.

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