Bet on Cabbage - Is the Weser River Frozen? - Bremen’s 200-Year Ice Bet Tradition Ends the Same Way Every Time
Every year since 1829, a peculiar tradition has played out in Bremen. A group of merchants gathers to bet on whether the Weser River will freeze over by early January. The wager, which began with just 18 participants, has grown into a long-standing event with a quirky twist—it almost always ends the same way.
The bet traces back to 1829, when 18 Bremen merchants placed their stakes on the Weser freezing in the first days of January. According to custom, an actor dressed as a tailor tests the river’s ice with a hot iron. If the ice holds, the tailor can cross on foot, and the bettors win. But for nearly two centuries, the river has rarely frozen solid enough.
For decades, the tailor has relied on a boat instead, as the Weser continues to flow. The verdict is always the same: 'De Werser geiht!'( 'The Weser flows!'). The losing side must then host a communal feast of kale and sausage, a meal that has become a cherished part of the tradition. The Ice Bet feast takes place on the third Saturday in January, drawing around 800 guests each year. Beyond the fun and food, the event also serves a charitable purpose, raising donations for the maritime rescue service. Despite its lighthearted nature, the bet has only been cancelled a handful of times since its inception.
The tradition remains a quirky highlight of Bremen’s winter calendar. Year after year, the Weser refuses to freeze, and the feast goes ahead. Yet the event’s real success lies in its ability to bring people together—whether for a bet, a meal, or a good cause.
