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Bavarian FestivalsThey are not only enjoyed by the locals but many are also a huge attraction for visitors and they help promote Bavaria tourism with vast numbers attending the more popular events. These festivals are very much part of Bavarian culture and many date back centuries. They allow the Bavarians to connect with their past and give visitors to the region the opportunity to appreciate, and participate in, Bavarian history. Just about every city, town, village and community in the region will hold annual events with some running for weeks at a time. Some festivals are only local and will mean little to people outside the area. But there are others such as Munich’s Oktoberfest which has mushroomed into a major and lucrative tourist magnet for the city.
Bavarian festivals can range from the huge to the quaint to the bizarre. One of those in the latter category is held in the Allgau. The Viehscheid, in English the ‘Sorting of the cows’ is quintessential of Bavaria. This takes place every year between September 11th and 20th. This is where the cows are brought down from their summer grazing in the hills. Basically, the cows have been grazing together and the Viehscheid is where the owners reclaim the animals belonging to them. This sounds quite straightforward but the locals turn into an occasion of celebration. Quite naturally there is a beer tent; an orchestra plays and people are decked out in traditional Bavarian attire. Bavaria is a strongly Roman Catholic and this is reflected in many of their traditions and festivals. In June there is the Fronleichnamsprozession, the Corpus Christi procession. There are processions along decorated streets, with decorated arches throughout Bavaria. Bavaria is famed for its cultural festivals, including the Munich Opera Festival. It is a major event on the world’s cultural calendar and lasts for five weeks. Munich is also home to Bavaria’s biggest festival, the Oktoberfest. Held annually between late September and early October it is renowned around the world, and not only among beer drinkers. The Octoberfest in Munich is the first thing many people seem to think of at the mention of the city. This is a little strange as there are over 100 days of festivals and carnival events in Munich every single year. Of course we can’t think about Bavarian festivals without turning our thoughts to Christmas. Nobody does Yuletide like the Germans and their Christmas traditions have taken hold right around the world. The Munich Christmas Market is one of the biggest in the region but to find one better you only have to travel to Nurnberg. The Nurnberg Christkindelsmarkt has been going since the Seventeenth century and was the inspiration to every other Christmas festival in Bavaria. The Christkindelsmarkt is held every year and runs from the Friday before Advent right up until Christmas Eve. There are many more Christmas markets and festivals held in Bavarian towns and villages and so matter where you are in the region come December there will be a Christmas festival near you. Related Articles Bavarian Festivals And Tourist Attractions In Germany |
