The regions, towns and places, and their highlights, stories, traditions, customs and festivals
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Fest: engl.: festival The overall term for most celebrations and festivals, like Oktoberfest, Maifest, Bierfest, Weihnachtsfest (Christmas celebration).
Markt: engl.: market place Refers to the market place as a whole or describes a specific event as in Jahrmarkt (a market held once a year) or the Viktualienmarkt in Munich, a year round farmers market close to the center of town
Bierfest:
A festival centered on beer. The most famous one is the Oktoberfest in Munich, with many others like the Starkbierfest and Bockbierfest held to celebrate the custom of some breweries to make a stronger beer once a year.
Bockbier or Starkbier: (stark = strong)
Beer with more than double the alcohol level of regular beer. Not originated by but made famous by the Paulaner monks, who were only allowed to take liquid nourishments during lent. Drinking beer was accepted and one of the mainstays of the monks during that time.
For more information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bock
Brunnenfest: (water fountain festival)
Celebrated in towns to honor the life giving power of the water these fountains supply. Usually the fountains are decorated and an official procession visits each fountain, reciting poems or singing songs.
Christkindlmarkt or Weihnachtsmarkt:
Christmas market usually is an outdoor market held during Advent or the 4 weeks before Christmas. The most famous is in Nuremberg with over a million yearly visitors. Please note, that our list represents only a small number of all the Christmas markets available. If you know of other great ones let us know, that we could include them in the future. (Please understand, that submitting a location does not automatically mean it will be included)
Click here for a list of some of them.
Fasching: Fastnacht , Karnival.
German version of Mardi Gras. Karnival is a fun time which ends at the start of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of lent.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival for more information
Feier: celebration, party or ceremony
i.e. Geburtstagfeier = Birthday celebration
Gaufest:
Gau is a county and could be compared to a county fair, with less agricultural products but more celebration.
Gautrachtenfest:
Let’s start again with Gau equal to a county, Tracht or plural Trachten is the costume worn by the locals and they differ from village to village and we all know by now what a Fest is. So a Gautrachtenfest is a festival were all the surrounding villages come together dressed in their traditional Sunday’s Best. It is a way to preserve the old ways and styles, with music and dance exhibitions from various local groups
Jahrmarkt: (yearly market)
This tradition goes back to the middle age, when traders came to town. These were merchant caravans making their rounds from town to town, selling, buying and bartering. They brought with them merchandise from the towns next door or from far away places, like spices, salt, trinkets and cloth, jewelry and many other things which were locally not available. This was another great chance to celebrate
Johannisfest:
Midsummer festival. Dedicated to the birth of John the Baptist and celebrated on the summer solstice (Sonnwendfeier). It is celebrated in many locations with the dance around the Johannisfeuer (a bonfire). In pagan times it was a ritual to head off demons and other bad things.
Kirchweih: Kirmes, Kerwe
It is originally the day on which the towns church was founded and consecrated. Nowadays these exact dates are mostly forgotten, but the festival occur in almost every town or village, some of which are too small to even have their own church. It is still another good excuse to have a “Fest”.
Maibaum: (may tree)
A decorated tree trunk, with the top of the tree in tact and a wreath encircling it below,erected in the center of town in time for the Maifest.
The German tradition is not ancient, but has similarities in many cultures, like the obelisk of the Egyptians and totem pole of the American Indians and it’s origin is said to go back to the Babylonians.
Maifest:
It is in many towns and villages the biggest festival of the year, celebrating the start of the warm season.
Stadtfest: city festival
Usually held on the anniversary of the day when a village received the charter and the right to be called a city
Schuetzenfest:
Shooter’s fest-- The celebration of the local target shooters society or club when they announce their annual king. It is the winner of the target shooting contest within the club and usually only open to club members. But for the celebration of the day everyone is welcome.
Stammtisch: Table reserved for regular guests
Any table in a restaurant or bar marked or labeled “STAMMTISCH” is exclusively for the use of the regular patrons of the establishment and requires an invitation by one of them to join and sit there. If you receive this “honor” - you belong!
Sylvester: New Year’s Eve
Celebrated all over the world, with some special traditions in some towns or villages
Volksfest: the people’s festival
Carnival like midway and rides plus a beer tent with oompah music. The most famous world wide is the Oktoberfest in Munich.
Wallfahrt: pilgrimage
A pilgrimage to a sacred place, often a specific church or event, the most famous in Christianity would be to the Holy Land , Lourdes, France or time specific the Easter service at the St. Peter’s Square, Vatican, Rome. Smaller events are held annually in Germany to places like the Wieskirche (church in the meadow) and many others.
Walpurgis:
A pagan celebration when witches come to the Harz mountains.
Please see the complete wikipedia page about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walpurgis_Night
Weinfest: wine festival
As we have beer festivals all over Germany, these festivals celebrate the excellent German wines and are part of all the wine areas in Germany.
Wiesenfest: festival on the meadow
These are Volksfest, usually in late spring or early summer, which center around the local kids, with parades and games, besides the carnival rides and the beer tents for “us, older kids”
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