The night watch, carried out by citizens of Dilsberg, has a long tradition that goes back to 1510. However, the night watch was discontinued in 1878, as now there were electric lights and police in the little town. Yet since 1923 the tradition of the night watch in Dilsberg lives on in the custom of the New Year's Eve Parade of the night watchmen.
12 men meet at the Dilsberg Gate Tower (Torturm), clothed in long coats and three-cornered hats, carrying halberds and shining lanterns. The "Dorfwaibel" blows into the large night watchman's horn twelve times before the group strikes up the following tune:
"Hört, Ihr Leut, und lasst Euch sagen:
Unsre Glock` hat Zwölf geschlagen.
Das alte Jahr ist vergangen,
das neue hat angefangen.
Wir wünschen Euch allzu gleichen,
den Armen wie den Reichen,
wir wünschen Euch allzumal
ein glückseliges neues Jahr.
Lobet Gott, den Herrn."
"Listen, people and let us tell you:
Our bell has struck Twelve.
The old year is past,
the new has begun.
We wish you all,
the poor and the rich,
we wish you all
a happy new year.
Praise God, the Lord."
Then the night watchmen walk through the town, accompanied by a band in traditional costumes, a musical train and a large audience.