The year of 1517 marked a dark period in Munich's city history. For the third time within a few years, a highly contagious plague dramatically decimated the city's population. All of the remaining residents, who  did not get infected, anxiously stayed at home. City life was dead and doctors even feared that other diseases would spread throughout the homes of survivors, if people did not start to catch some fresh air again. In order to get residents out of their homes, a citizen of the Schäffler (cooper) guild had the idea to dance through the streets. Many other members of the guild joined the plan and thus the so-called Schäfflertanz (coopers' dance) was created. The choreography follows a fixed set of marching elements and dance steps, all of which are performed while dancers hold an arc-shaped garland. Dancers are also required to wear the traditional coopers' attire.