To what extent can violence be justified by cultural tradition?
Traditions are bits of knowledge, beliefs, or customs that are passed down through generations.
They help children form their identity and create a sense of belonging within a community, while keeping alive the cultural heritage of our regions.
However, many traditions of the past – some of which have been handed down to our present generation – have sexist and violent roots. In recent years there has been an ongoing struggle to modify or eliminate them from practice.
In some parts of the world, traditions based on violence are still celebrated despite the fact that they are humiliating and dangerous for both local residents and the individuals involved.
Thanks to a German media company that managed to document it, the world was recently made aware of a peculiar tradition that takes place on the German island of Borkum, which goes by the name of ‘Klaashom’.
‘Klaashom’ is a hundred-year-old tradition that takes place on the night of the 5th of December, with many people from Borkum returning to the island to take part in it.
On this night, men – wearing a full disguise and armed with cow horns – go out into the streets to ‘hunt for women’.
The women are then captured and beaten on their backsides with the horns multiple times. When this ‘ritual’ is over, the men are given a ginger cake for their participation.
The documentary features testimonies by women who were forced to participate.
Many of them described this experience as one of ‘horror,’ noting the bruises and wounds they were left with as unwitting participants in this tradition.
Not surprisingly, the rest of the world was unaware of this festival on the island of Borkum, as it is forbidden to document it.
The event is intentionally scheduled for a time when few tourists are visiting the area and it is done out of sight by journalists or the media.
The moral debate over Klaashom left the inhabitants of Borkum island divided.
The moral debate over Klaashom left the inhabitants of Borkum island divided.
Many men believe that it is their right to continue with this tradition, and a few women also expressed their consent to this activity.
They argue that even thoughsome people are against this tradition, they should not be deprived of the possibility to take part in it.
The counterpart argued that while we all have free will to decide whether we want to participate in activities that are considered dangerous, we should also be aware that people who do not want to do so should not be forced to do so.
As the public debate grew bigger, authorities came out and commented that this year they would make sure that the festival would take place without violence towards any person, and it seems that this was achieved.
On Friday morning, the Borkum police announced that the celebration took place without a single incident of violence.
Officials stated that more than 600 people had celebrated peacefully, and the club organizing the festival assured that violence towards women would no longer be tolerated at the annual celebration.
This violence-free year of Klaashom was thanks to an announcement by the city of Borkum that they planned to introduce telephone numbers where women could report if an unpleasant situation arose.
This situation could be considered unique, as it managed to maintain the essence of the tradition and respect the local culture while simultaneously eliminating the violent component that had characterized the celebration for so long.
This case demonstrates that it is possible to preserve significant cultural traditions while adapting them to contemporary values.
It is crucial for our society today to recognize that the evolution of traditions does not imply their destruction, but rather their adaptation to ensure that they respect all members of society.
This transformation process demonstrates that it is possible to maintain cultural richness while eliminating harmful elements, creating a new standard for the responsible preservation of cultural heritage.
Hello, I\’m Eunice(She/her), born and raised in Mexico. I write about Latin American pop culture, my writing focuses on showcasing emerging talents who are disrupting their respective industries, and to help you discover new things to break your routine.
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