Important information at a glance
Gun salute shooting is an ancient custom in many Alpine regions, also in the Miesenbacher Valley. When the salvos, salutes and rapid fire of the shooters who belong to the “Königlich privilegierte Feuerschützengesellschaft Ruhpolding” sound, there is usually something to celebrate.
Christmas Eve. The air is cold and clear and there are stars in the sky. Snow covers the roof of the small, wooden "Schützenkapelle" St. Sebastian. Next to it, the Christmas tree lights up. There is a really wondrous, celebratory atmosphere – and then it gets loud.
The shots fired by the “Böllerschützen” pierce the night. With the salute of honour, they commemorate the club’s deceased members, just as they do on 20 January, the name day of Saint Sebastian. He is the patron saint of their chapel.
Shot master Erwin Plenk is holding two torches, with which he gives the commands. The 20 Ruhpolding gun shooters would not understand him if he called out. They stand lined up next to each other, torches stuck in the snow in front of them. They fire hand-held saluting guns, only the men in the last row have the larger and heavier gunstock saluting guns. Each shooter already has precisely weighed charges of black powder with them, one for each shot. The powder is put into the gun’s barrel, then a cork is knocked into the opening with a mallet, this is called “tamping”. The powder is then ignited with a detonator. The rule is: the better the tamping, the louder the bang.
Ruhpolding’s “Böllerschützen” belong to the “Königlich privilegierte Feuerschützengesellschaft Ruhpolding”, whose roots go back to 1411. At that time, their primary task was to defend national borders. Gun salutes were fired for church and secular festivities and probably also to pass on information or warnings quickly, which was not possible otherwise in a village as large as Ruhpolding. Ruhpolding’s “Böllerschützen” don’t have to worry about new recruits. Their youngest member is 21 years old, the oldest 90 years old and still active. Anyone who wants to join the club has to take an exam. Not just anyone is allowed to shoot saluting guns. In the past, when more dangerous devices like the state saluting guns were used, accidents happened all the time.
Ruhpolding’s “Böllerschützen” are in action all year round: at weddings, where it is customary to wake the bride and groom up at the crack of dawn with salvos. At Corpus Christi, to announce the procession. On the 4th Advent Sunday, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. At receptions, farewells, anniversaries or major events such as the Biathlon World Cup. Then continuous fire sounds, with people shooting in unison. And the snappier rapid fire, or the accelerated chain, where the last shooters are already firing almost simultaneously. During the salute, all the shooters fire at once, so it sounds like the sound of a single shot. The gun fire on Christmas Eve also ends with a salute. After that, silence returns. Merry Christmas!
