The conscripts wore two ribbons on their costumes ; one of them would be given to their betrothed
THE MESSTI
Conscripts’ Day
In Alsace, Messti marked the day on which young men of the same age group were honoured and who would soon be drafted for military service. The Conscripts’ Day held in summer brought together all the villagers in a joyful and rustic atmosphere. Balls and shows were held in the streets and restaurants, and a funfair was held at the Messtiplatz in each village…
The Conscripts’ Day was a proper ritual that was intended to make boys “real men”, a kind of rite of passage in traditional society. On that day, they wore a costume that, over time, became more and more lavish : Scottish fabrics, coloured ribbons, a flowery hat, a tricolour flag embroidered with the name of the class, etc.
The term Messti comes from Messtag, the day of Mass.
In Hoerdt, a predominantly Protestant village, the Massti (in its local pronunciation) was an energetic time of
celebration and festivities that took place at the end of August. It was organized by the Conscripts of the Year Group. Since the end of conscription, this group is today composed of young men and women, who reach their age of majority during the year.
A lost ritual
Now fallen into disuse, the Massti was long an important village festival during which conscripts performed particularly elaborate rituals, including the Maïe (a large trunk of a delimbed tree that the conscript had to climb to reach the food that hung at the top) and the Masstibar (the Massti bear, the man walking through the village with a black-smeared face to scare children and young girls, inspired by the bear tamers).
A village fair
The traditional Massti no longer exists as such in Hoerdt. These days such events are more along the lines of simple village fairs. These include the D’Pfengschtmassti, which takes place during the Pentecost weekend, the annual Market at the end of August, the Messti march, and competitions between the village’s various associations, which are an opportunity for members to meet up and share a friendly and festive time together.