Kirmes in Germany

ParadeThe holiday begins with the excavation of Kirmes, a straw effigy with a bottle of schnapps, who is buried in the ground 2 weeks before that day.

Then the stuffed man is solemnly carried across the village to a tree decorated with ribbons, garlands and fruits, and fixed it on top. After a lavish service and lunch, dances begin around Kirmes. Dancing couples pass each other a bouquet of flowers, and the couple, which at the time of the signal-shot will be a bouquet, as a sign of victory, enjoys a pretzel. On the next day of the holiday, it is customary to visit the graves of relatives. On the third day, everyone is invited to the funeral of Kirmes.

A humorous mourning procession of torches goes to the wasteland, where they bury the effigy along with an inseparable bottle of schnapps, glass fragments, the head of a rooster, ham bones and pieces of cake. All this symbolizes the gratitude of the people for the harvest year and it is believed that the more joyful it is to spend the holiday of Kirmes, the better the next harvest will be, and the destruction of the stuffed one is getting rid of bad habits and all troubles.