Punkendeich
The Punkendeich was a dike (floodbank) between the the river Weser and the city of Bremen that was known for prostitution. It ran from the city wall (Altenwall} to Sielwall (today's Deichstraße to Siel am Dobben). Originally called the Sieldeich, the Punkendeich was incorporated into the larger Osterdeich in 1850.
Etymology
Punke is an obsolete German word for prostitute that was used in Bremen and the surrounding areas.[1]
The name probably dates from the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), when the soldiers' prostitutes - the so-called Punken - were not tolerated within Bremen itself and set up on the dike outside the city wall.[1]
Ferry
The Bremen passenger shipping company Hal över , which operates the Sielwall ferry across the Weser river at the level of the former punk dyke, christened one of its passenger ships the name Punke in 1990 and thus recalls this old Bremen term.
Bremen ice bet
Every year on January 6, the Bremer Eiswette takes place near the former Punkendeich , a local folk festival whose history dates back to 1829 .
The Bremen ice bet still takes place at the level of the former punk dike .
The Bremen Ice Bet has been held here every year since 1829 .
References
- ^ a b Schwarzwälder, Herbert (2002). Das grosse Bremen-Lexikon [The Great Bremen Lexicon] (in German). Edition Temmen. ISBN 978-3-86108-986-5.