Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top 10 Holidays &
Celebrations
! New Year's Eve
Best places to enjoy the
spectacular fireworks: Bavaria
statue, Olympiaberg, high-rises,
and the highest banks of the Isar.
@ Epiphany
During the week before 6
Jan, children dress up as the
Three Magi and go door to door,
collecting money for charity.
Folk costumes, Bad Tölz
foot of the Chinese Tower in the
Englischer Garten. This tradition
harks back to an annual ball for
Munich's domestic servants.
d Munich, Englischer Garten, Jul
& Leonhardi Processions
£ Ash Wednesday
Carnival (Fasching) is fol-
lowed by a fasting period and the
start of the bock beer season.
$ Easter
Easter egg hunts in Tierpark
Hellabrunn and other locations.
% Labour Day
Bad Tölz, Schliersee, Murnau,
and many Bavarian towns stage
processions on horseback or in
painted carts in honour of St
Leonard, the patron saint of horses.
d Oberbayern, 1st Sun in Nov
* Christkindlmärkte
The raising of the Maypole
and union marches are on 1 May.
^ Corpus Christi
One of the most important
days in the Bavarian Catholic
calendar. Munich has a large
procession.
& Thanksgiving
Wonderful Christmas mar-
kets with stalls, mulled wine, and
treats. On Marienplatz and in
many other areas of the city.
d Bavaria, Advent to 24 Dec
( Alphorn, Yodeling &
Thanksgiving and Kirch-
weih (consecration of church-
es) fall on the same day. The
Auer Herbstdult (see p52)
often begins on Thanksgiving,
as does the Almabtrieb , when
the cattle are driven from
Alpine summer pastures.
* All Saints' Day
Schuhplattler
The Alphorn was a means of com-
munication between cow-herders
across long distances, as was
yodelling, which evolved into a
style of singing. Young men
danced the Schuhplattler - a folk
dance involving much slapping of
shoe soles. These traditions are a
mainstay at regional folk festivals.
) Folk Dress
On 1 Nov, graves are
decorated and lanterns lit.
Halloween is celebrated the
night before.
( St Martin's Day
Children carry lanterns in
processions led by a rider
dressed as St Martin. Roast
goose is traditional at dinner.
) Christmas
Each region has its own dis-
tinctive folk dress, and folklore
associations keep the tradition
alive, parading regional costumes
in processions and at festivals
such as the Wiesn.
Christkindl markets start on
the first day of Advent. Midnight
mass is held 24 Dec.
75
Curling and a trial of strength called Fingerhakeln (finger
wrestling) are traditional Bavarian sports.
 
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