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Send, Muenster's biggest funfair

The approximately 40,000 m2 large fairground on the Hindenburgplatz is located close to the city centre on the 'green' promenade in front of the beautiful backdrop of Münster castle. At every Send, around 210 fairground businesses come here with high-tech accelerating rides for the adventure seekers, the classic rides, like the Ferris wheel and carousels, amusement shops and ghost trains.

Synod - market - folk festival

The Send hasn't been a pure entertainment market for long - at least in terms of its long history: The name 'Send' derives from 'synod', a bi-annual meeting of the clergy and leading representatives of the diocese, since the 9th-century.

Probably in the 11th-century, a market joined the synod, which was different from the usual farmer's market: selling restrictions and privileges of local merchants and craftsmen were revoked for the Send market. That means everybody was allowed to offer their wares freely. The rural population of the wider environment flocked to this fair to purchase products cheaply. In additition, special market rights were effective, which meant a considerable tightening of the applied town rights. Until 1578, every break of market rights, which ended in bloodshed, was punished with death in Münster; after 1578, the council was able to mete out milder punishment in less severe cases.
The funfairs were announced by public signs, firstly through red flags on one of the cathedral towers, since the autumn Send by the Send sword in the town hall since 1578.
On a picture, the wooden arm can be seen, which was exhibited till 1923. In 1923, a new arm was produced, which still hangs at the town hall today, at the time of Send - but today, market rights are not maintained by the executioner!

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