Blacksmithing in Pettingen: tradition meets creative diversity!

Blacksmithing in Pettingen: tradition meets creative diversity!

On June 11, 2025, the 7th International Blacksmiths' Meeting took place in Pettingen near Mersch, which attracted numerous visitors to watch the blacksmiths at work. This event is organized by the Hephaestus Brotherhood, which has existed for 29 years now and had around 35 members. Romain Ruscitti, a 67-year-old member of the brotherhood, emphasized the importance of the meeting for the preservation of the blacksmith profession in Luxembourg.

The brotherhood's headquarters are in the Farmers' Museum in Peppingen. At the international meetings, which take place in various historical locations, participants have the opportunity to learn and apply various blacksmithing techniques. Ruscitti explained that the members of the brotherhood are trained blacksmiths, although few of them work in the profession full-time. There are currently only around five professional blacksmiths in Luxembourg and more than a dozen hobby blacksmiths.

The role of the Hephaestus Brotherhood

The Hephaestus Brotherhood is not only a place for exchange and learning, but also for promoting community among blacksmiths. Ruscitti highlighted the solidarity of his colleagues, while Alassane Dermé from Burkina Faso demonstrated the lost wax process for making bronze figures. Dermé is already the fifth generation of his family to work in the blacksmith trade.

The training for aspiring blacksmiths takes place through the “Centre national de formation professionnelle continue” (CNFPC) and lasts a total of three years. Enrollments begin in September and training takes place once a week in the evenings, with participants ages 16 and older taking part. At local schools, students are initially trained as locksmiths before they can then specialize in blacksmithing.

Blacksmithing and its techniques

A central element of blacksmithing is the ability to draw projects before they are carried out. The product range ranges from impressive iron gates to delicate decoration. The blacksmiths use special “forging coals” that allow high temperatures to optimize material processing. Various techniques were presented at the meeting, including the use of the so-called “slamming” machine.

The art of blacksmithing is closely interwoven with mythology and history. Hephaestus, one of the 12 Olympian gods, is worshiped as the god of blacksmithing, fire and metalwork. Historical accounts indicate that Hephaestus was said to have run a workshop on the island of Lemnos or on Olympus. This is supported by volcanic eruptions on the island, which the population viewed as evidence of his blacksmithing activities. Hephaestus, known as a tragic god, was banished from Olympus by his mother Hera and spent his time on Lemnos, where he was nursed back to health by sea nymphs.

The legends of Hephaestus also contain many personal tragedies, including his unhappy marriage to Aphrodite, who was unfaithful to him, and his revenge when he discovered her infidelity. These stories not only illustrate the character of Hephaestus, but also reflect the diverse aspects and challenges of the blacksmith's craft.

Overall, the blacksmith meeting in Pettingen shows that the tradition of blacksmithing is alive in Luxembourg and is successfully preserved even in modern times through the efforts of the Hephaestus Brotherhood and its members.