Fair

An annual fair ( elsewhere also fair or carnival ) is since the Middle Ages a several-day market, which takes place in a city once a year and enjoys special attention. Today the term is used also for other unständige markets, the use of the terms amusement park and popular festival is very common. This is mostly due to the fact that over time, a fair has turned into a folk festival.

Fairs are often held on a holy day or feast day of a highly revered spot saints, such as Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas markets or the Annafest. Occasionally there are still seasonal or product-related fairs, such as for example wood, horses or wine markets.

The fair subject since 1869 of the Commercial Code and applies ( see § 68 Industrial Code ) as " a generally regular intervals extended recurring, time-limited event, where a number of providers Hawks goods of all kinds. On ... a specialized market or fair and activities may be carried within the meaning of § 60b para 1;, § § 55 to 60a and 60c to 61a remain unaffected. "

History

In the Middle Ages fairs were among the most important events in the politically disentangling the cities. The necessary right to hold a fair was mostly from the Emperor, King, earls or other sovereign of a place - often as part of the municipal law (see also Markets) - awarded. As one of the oldest such festivals in Germany applies the Magdeburg Autumn Fair (formerly Mr. Fair), which is occupied since the year 1010.

Economically, it was significant because he fed not only from the surrounding farming communities with livestock and agricultural products and the local dealers, but was also attended by remote merchants and thereby the local ( municipal ) Craft opened a sales opportunity, so this could be transferred from wage work to Preiswerk and local specializations allowed ( cloth, pottery and wrought goods, and others). He also increased the circulation of money and the dissemination of locally valid currency. He sat - especially as his visitors spent a long time on the market town and there parts of their profits in hostels, shops, etc. were - thus the economic multiplier regionally in transition.

The Fair also fulfilled social functions: On it were exchanged news and rumors from remote areas, making the world aware of its visitors has been extended. There were set court dates and executions on him and often held special religious events.

At the fairs often traveling showmen also the cyclist people bear trainers, jugglers, fortune tellers, quack, musicians, incidentally, also cutpurse. An annual fair was thus also an opportunity to amusements, such as the idea of ​​traveling menageries, and honky-tonk, this aspect prevails at the fairs still exist today, trade in goods is the opposite resigned. Some fairs developed to the flea market or flea market, on the next virgin also lot would be sold second hand.