Kirwa in Franken

We just returned from a weekend in Franken, where we visited the in-laws and experienced Kirwa (Kirchweih). Kirwa is essentially a local country fair, generally limited to the immediate village.  The vendors go from town to town during this season, and the different villages coordinate their schedules so as not to interfere with the others. Other regions of Germany do similar things, but in spring with a Maibaum (Maypole).

There’s special food, naturally, like specially shaped donut-like edibles, and plenty of beer. But the event is centered around young people and is essentially a party.
First comes the raising of the Kirwabaum, a very tall tree stripped of most of its branches. It’s cut down by the young men and hidden carefully until the day it is to be raised. It’s hidden, because it’s a game for other villages to steal your tree, and a sign of honor to not let your tree be stolen.

On the day the tree is raised, it is paraded through the town, while drinking lots of beer. Then it’s decorated and raised in a great show of manly strength.  Here’s someone else’s Youtube video of the raising. 

The day we attended was the day when the prize is awarded. Then these strong young men paraded again through the town to the Kirwaplatz, this time with beautiful young women on their arms. See photos. Of course a brass band is playing, and if you look closely, you will see that they have been drinking out of liter beer glasses during the parade. Most of the glasses were empty by the time I took my photos, so most guys have put them down already. Look at all the nice Tracht: Dirndls and Lederhosen.

Upon arrival at the platz, the dancing begins. An alarm clock has been set, and as the song plays, the couples dance. There is one bouquet of flowers which gets regularly handed off from one couple to the next. Whoever holds the bouquet when the alarm goes off wins the prize. The prize is hanging from the lowest bar of the Kirwabaum. There’s a beer stein and various other things. I think usually there’s a bit of cash as well, which is pretty often immediately spent in  buying beer for the others.

A nice event, and it’s always good to see the family.