Wanderjahre

The journeyman years (Wanderjahre) refer to the tradition of setting out on travel for several years after completing apprenticeship as a craftsman. The tradition dates back to medieval times and is still alive in German-speaking countries. In the British Isles the tradition is lost and only the title journeyman itself remains as a reminder of the custom of young men travelling throughout the country. Normally three years and one day is minimum period of journeyman/woman. Crafts include Roofers, metal workers, wood carvers, carpenters and joiners, and even hatters and musical instrument makers/organ builders.

In medieval times the apprentice was bound to his master for a number of years. He lived with the master as a member of the household, receiving most or all of his compensation in the form of food and lodging. An apprentice could not charge a fee for his day's work (the French word journée refers to the time span of a day); in Germany it was normal that the apprentice had to pay a fee (German: Lehrgeld) for his apprenticeship. After the years of apprenticeship (German: Lehrjahre, literally "teaching years") the apprentice was absolved from his obligations (German: Freisprechung, "being declared free"). The guilds, however, would not allow a young craftsman without experience to be promoted to master - they could only choose to be employed, but many chose instead to roam about.

In parts of Europe, such as in later medieval Germany, spending time as a journeyman (Geselle), moving from one town to another to gain experience of different workshops, became an important part of the training of an aspirant master.Carpenters in Germany have retained the tradition of travelling journeymen even today, although only a small minority still practise it.

In the Middle Ages, the number of years spent journeying differed by the craft. Only after half of the required journeyman years (German: Wanderjahre, literally "wandering years") would the craftsman register with a guild for the right to be an apprentice master. After completing the journeyman years, he would settle in a workshop of the guild and after some more years (German: Mutjahre, literally "grit [courage] years") he would be allowed to make his masterpiece (German: Meisterstück) and present it to the guild. With their consent he would be promoted to guild master and as such be allowed to open his own guild workshop in town.

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