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Customs

Tradition erleben

In Grainau wird auf Brauchtum und Tradition noch viel wert gelegt. Heimatabende, Bauerntheater und Maschkera (Fasching) sind nur einige der fixen Termine im Jahreskalender. Hier begegnen sich Gäste und Einheimische, hier wird gemeinsam gefeiert, gelebt und erlebt!

Festivals and home evenings

Boarisch guad gred

Bei den Heimatabenden und Parkfesten ist Stimmung garantiert. Vorab ein Festzug, mit Trommlerzug und Musikkapelle zum Musikpavillon, wo gefeiert wird. Grainauer Blaskapelle, „Dreier Tanz“ und „Alter Tanz“, die Plattlerkinder, Madln und Buam, stehen für gelebte Grainauer Tradition. Grillspezialitäten, Kaffee und Kuchen, a´ frische Maß oder frischen Topf’nnudeln an Parkfesten vom Holzhacker Verein gehören natürlich auch dazu.

Peasant theater

Grainauer Bauerntheater

A visit to the Grainau Farmers' Theater should definitely not be missing from your vacation program! Experience Bavarian theater culture up close and let the original plays take you into the charming world of Bavarian dialect. Here you can not only enjoy the language, but also laugh heartily when the actors perform their humorous stories.

During the intermissions, the Grainauer Theatermusi provides the right atmosphere. With traditional Bavarian music, every performance becomes an unforgettable experience.

And there is also plenty of food and drink on offer! My Marenn and her team will spoil you with traditional Bavarian delicacies that round off the evening perfectly. Enjoy local specialties and indulge in culinary delights.

Please note that the Ticket sales exclusively at the box office takes place. Secure your seats in good time and look forward to an entertaining evening full of Bavarian joie de vivre!

Entry 2025:

Start: 20.00 / Admission 19.00

Free choice of seats - With catering by my Marenn!

St. John's bonfire in Grainau

Mountain fires in the Werdenfelser Land

The St. John's Daywhich is celebrated on June 24, has a special tradition in Grainau: the lighting of the mountain fires on the evening before, i.e. on June 23. These fire spectacles have a deep-rooted meaning and are eagerly awaited by the entire village community.

The importance of the church "John the Baptist"

The St. John's bonfire has its religious background in the Christian feast day in honour of John the Baptist, which is celebrated on 24 June. This day, also known as St. John's Day, is close to the summer solstice and is therefore often celebrated with various traditional customs, including the St. John's bonfire in Grainau. The Catholic parish church is named after "John the Baptist" and therefore also celebrates St. John's Day on June 24 with the many St. Johns and the like. name day. St. John's Mass is always held in the church on this day.

The children's preparations

In Grainau, preparations for the St. John's bonfire begin months in advance. Many children's groups in particular invest a lot of time and effort in building their fire piles. They have been busy collecting the necessary wood and building their fire pits since Easter. This not only promotes manual skills, but also teamwork and perseverance.

The Waxenstein ridge, Sandreiß and the Ziegspitze

Regardless of the weather, the boys from Grainau climb the mountains to light fires up there. The paths are often narrow and rocky. After lighting the fires, the men have to make their way back in the dark, which makes the activity particularly challenging. The whole village is happy when all participants are back in the village unharmed.

The return at night perhaps also symbolizes the return to the light and the safety of the community after the spiritual and physical challenge on the mountain.

The highlight: lighting the fires

On the evening of June 23, the time has come: the mountain fires are lit. This tradition not only serves to celebrate the sun, but also to drive away evil spirits and strengthen the community. The spectacle of the glowing fires in the mountain landscape is an unforgettable experience and captivates locals and visitors alike.

This tradition impressively demonstrates how important cohesion and customs are in Grainau. St. John's Day and the St. John's bonfire are living proof that old traditions are still maintained and passed on with joy today.

We are all looking forward to the June 23when the fires are finally lit and the village shines in a magical light!

Carnival in Grainau

the fifth season

For centuries, the "Fosenacht" Nowhere else in the whole of Bavaria is it as lively and original as in Werdenfelser Land.
Each of the "Maschkera" carries a wood-carved larva, which often comes from the family estate, but many newly carved works can also be admired.

Die Schellenrührer, das Muiradl, die Untersberger Mandl oder der Bär mit seinen Treibern. Die Maschkeramusi und eine Vielzahl an kreativen Maschkera kann man an den traditionellen Maschkeratagen, Unsinniger Donnerstag und Faschingsdienstag in Grainau antreffen.

TIPP: Sagen-, Hexen- und Wildererführung

An exciting Themed hike to the topic Legends, witches and poaching in Grainau leads us through the village and over the Höhenrain.

Look forward to an exciting journey through the local history of Grainau with the Grainau author Josef Bader.

You can find the dates of the hike in our calendar of events.

Books by Josef Bader:

GSCHICHTLAN FROM POACHING, New edition 2022 Alliteraverlag
FANTASTIC ADVENTURES IN WERDENFELSAdam-Verlag, Ga.-Pa.
MICHL PÖSSINGER - LIFE PICTURES OF A MOUNTAIN HUNTER, self-published
GANTERBAUM (autobiography), Buchendorferverlag, Munich
IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME (Stories from the end of the war), Edition Lempertz
WALDBRÜDER (poacher's novel), Bayerlandverlag Dachau
WORLD HIKER (Time Leap Saga), Kindle ebook and print
MAGDALENA (witchcraft novel), Kindle ebook and print
THE BRUT-TARUGA (fantasy novel), Kindle ebook and print
DEUS VULT - The Children's Crusade (historical novel), Kindle ebook and print
Acorn lobe (Sheepshead thriller) Kindle ebook and print

Customs

Tradition erleben

Festivals and home evenings

Boarisch guad gred

Peasant theater

Grainauer Bauerntheater

St. John's bonfire in Grainau

Mountain fires in the Werdenfelser Land

The importance of the church "John the Baptist"

The children's preparations

The Waxenstein ridge, Sandreiß and the Ziegspitze

The highlight: lighting the fires

Carnival in Grainau

the fifth season

TIPP: Sagen-, Hexen- und Wildererführung

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