Celebrations, Festivals
Martensmann Festival Rehna
Saturday, 07/11/2026 / 02:00 PM - 11:30 PM / Kloster Rehna
Traditional city festival with a colorful program
On November 7, Rehna will once again be celebrating: Starting at 2:00 p.m., the focus will once again be on the Lübeck Martensmann, who will be spending the night in Rehna on his journey from Lübeck to Schwerin. This ancient custom, which connects the two cities and dates back to the Middle Ages, continues to this day. Back then, the good relations between the Hanseatic city and the Mecklenburg ducal house were maintained by delivering a barrel of wine each November. This tradition remained alive well into the 19th century and was not discontinued until 1819. The Martensmann, with his carriage and the gifts he distributed—which the children eagerly awaited—remained in the memories of the people of this region, however, and was rediscovered and revived after 1991; he has been celebrated ever since in Schönberg, Rehna, and Schwerin.
Starting at 2:00 p.m., there will be a colorful program in the monastery courtyard and at the Deutsches Haus. The district administrator of Northwest Mecklenburg, representatives from Rehna’s partner municipality of Holm, and the mayor of Schönberg are also expected to welcome the Martensmann. The afternoon program will feature, among others, the Rehna Low German Association, the Rehna Trombone Choir, and the children from the Youth Welfare Center. In addition to the entertainment program, there will be a small fair behind the monastery, and music will continue into the night. The 2026 Martensmann Festival is sponsored by the Northwest Mecklenburg District.
Since 2020, the Martensmann has been part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage: Documents dating back to 1520 attest to the delivery of a barrel of wine from Lübeck to Schwerin by the Martensmann. The custom is a symbol of a vibrant civil society. The revival of the tradition following the political transition in 1991 and the interest shown by the population in the reunified region demonstrate the Martensmann’s significance as a historical and contemporary figure of identification. Since 1991, this cross-state custom has brought together municipalities and associations from Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
For more information on the history of this traditional event in Rehna, please visit the City of Rehna’s website:
https://www.stadtrehna.de/tourismus/martensmannfest.html
With the kind support of the Northwest Mecklenburg District.
All statements without guarantee.
