The Frankfurt Dippemess looks back on a tradition dating back to the 14th century. Back then, the "Maamess", as it was known, was a medieval sales market for household goods.
To discover the origins of Frankfurt's oldest folk festival, the Dippemess, you have to travel back in time to the late Middle Ages. Potters from the Wetterau region, and later also the manufacturers of the stoneware decorated with grey-blue salt glaze from the Kannebäckerland - to whom we owe the typical Frankfurt Bembel - moved to the Main for the spring and autumn fairs. The latter has been documented since 1240. In addition to the countless stalls with merchandise from all over the world, the "Krugmänner" and "Topfkrämer" sold their goods, known in Frankfurt as "Dippe", at stalls on the Main. The fairs have always attracted jugglers, acrobats, tightrope walkers and comedians. Gradually, the medieval fair was joined by fairground stalls and showmen. These "fair attractions" were soon separated from the actual fair and, after several inner-city locations over the centuries, the Dippemess found its current location on the fairground on Ratsweg in the east of Frankfurt in 1968.
As technology developed, the rides also became more spectacular. The number of visitors increased rapidly as new attractions attracted more and more guests. The classic dippers are no longer available to buy there today, as these can no longer be bought.