A great atmosphere is guaranteed at the folklore evenings and park festivals. Beforehand, a procession with drummers and band to the music pavilion, where the party begins. Grainau brass band, "Dreier Tanz" and "Alter Tanz", the Plattlerkinder, Madln and Buam, stand for living Grainau tradition. Barbecue specialties, coffee and cake, a' fresh Maß or fresh Topf'nnudeln at park festivals from the Holzhacker Verein are of course also part of it.
Dates take place in the summer months!
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.
The Schellenrührer, the Muiradl, the Untersberger Mandl, or the bear with his drivers. The Maschkeramusi and a variety of creative Maschkera can be found at the traditional Maschkeratage, Unsinniger Donnerstag, and Faschingsdienstag in Grainau.
The Bauerntheater Grainau has been providing entertaining evenings full of humor and tradition for many years. More about current plays and dates. The Bauerntheater Grainau puts on a new comedy every year in the fall. In the Kurhaus-Saal Waxenstein, guests and locals experience traditional folk theater with lots of humor and lively playfulness.
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
Join the author from Grainau on a journey of discovery. Josef Bader on an exciting themed hike around Legends, witches and poaching. Or discover the Höhenrainweg on your own. Poacher's bench with audio book for download and learn fascinating stories about life in Grainau in the past.
A journey through history, myths and nature - vividly told and impressively experienced.
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