Bavaria is a land like no others. Its history and bavarians’ strong feeling of belonging, sets it apart from the other 15 German Bundesländern.
The dialect in itself is a great divider, and even Germans themselves sometimes have a hard time when Bavarians speak. Alongside with the language, Bavaria has developed and maintained throughout the centuries a number of peculiar and odd traditions, which are well intact today. Beyond Oktoberfest, some of them are quite popular, while others we only discovered when researching for this article: this land never stops surprising us!
Here is a list of our 12 favorites.
Schuhplattler
Period: all year
The Schuhplattler is a folk dance traditional not only to Bavaria, but popular also in Tyrol and Salzburg. The dancers stomp, clap, and strike the soles of their shoes (Schuhe), thighs, and knees with their hands held flat (platt). Its origin is lost in the myth, but it was first recorded in 1030 AD, when a monk in the Tegernsee Abbey of Bavaria described a village dance with leaps and hand gestures. The dress code concedes no exceptions: lederhosen and dirndls are a must. Two variants exist: traditionalists still perform the Schuhplattler as a partner dance, with the women spinning across the stage in their dirndls, offering color and graceful movement to counterbalance the leaping and slapping of the plattlerists, while also separate men and women dances exist.
2. Fingerhakln
Period: all year
This is the real Bavarian wrestling! The king of the game is your…finger! Allegedly, this is how you could settle any disputes in the Alps back in the day.
In finger wrestling, both opponents sit opposite to each other at a table and try to pull their opponent towards them by the finger. In principle, any finger can be used for hooking (with the exception of the thumb), although the athletes’ preferred is the middle finger (no joke intended!).
Today it is a recognized and organized sport with set rules for the equipment: leather straps (approx. 10 cm long and 6 to 8 mm thick), table (79 cm high, 74 cm wide and 109 cm long), stool (40 by 40 cm, 48 cm high) and distance between the center line and the sidelines (32 cm) are standardized. Two catchers sit behind the two hookers. There is also a referee, a chairman and two assessors. Every year, Bavarian, Austrian, German and Alpine championships are held in various weight and age categories.
3. Tracht: Dirndl and Lederhosen
Period: all year
A dirndl - so the dress of the woman in the picture ‘ is the Bavarian and Austrian traditional dress that was invented towards the end of the 19th century. It is worn at fairs, ceremonies and folk festivals like the Oktoberfest. Also the bow has its own tradition, so be careful where you tie it. On the left: the wearer is single. On the right: the wearer is already taken, engaged or married. In the center back: the wearer is a waitress or widowed.
Lederhosen are shorts or long trousers made from leather. Mostly wear by men, but woman can also wear it, but be careful if you are a woman and you do so, everyone is allowed to slap your a*s.
4. Father’s Day - Männertag
Period: on Father’s Day (on Ascension Day, generally falling towards mid-May)
In Germany, the US-originated Father's Day, officially became a public holiday in 1934.
The day has many different appellatives, ranging from Father's Day and Men's Day to Lord's Day and Ascension Day, as the day is known to Christians (after all, devout Christians primarily celebrate Jesus' return to his father in heaven on this day).
Today it is not uncommon for men to celebrate it with a handcart, beer and some best friends wandering in the forest or hitting the city centers, with a very cheerful attitude.
Maybe born 200 years ago from the growing pub culture, accompanied by a romanticized image of nature, it is now a central part of the celebrations.
5. Kirchweih
Period: 3rd Sunday of October, Kirchtag
Kirchweih is a firmly established tradition, where the consecration of a church is officially celebrated every year. It is now known as an outdoor fair or festival that is usually organized for charitable purposes.
In culinary terms, Kirchweih stands for large, sumptuous feasts in which dumplings always play an important role. In most cases, the local brewery even brews a special beer for the occasion, known as Kirchweihfestmärzen. It is usually a stronger, darker festival beer. A beer that harmonizes wonderfully with festive roasts and dumplings.
6. Krampus and Perchten
Period: 5th of December, Saint Nicholas Day
An old tradition that is maintained and propagated with lots of passion and effort, revolves around the creepy figure of the Krampus, ensuring noisy uproar and goosebumps in the otherwise quiet Christmas time. Krampus Night (in German “Krampusnacht”) starts on the evening of the 5th of December when the creature and St. Nicholas are said to arrive.
This archaic tradition has been running since the 17th Century when Saint Nicholas, accompanied by these terrifying figures, went from house to house asking to be let in. While the well-behaved children were presented with gifts from Santa, the naughty children were punished by the devilish companions. It is certainly impressive when hundreds of Kramperl storm through the village and you can admire their masks – usually from a safe distance.
7. Münchner Kindl
Period: all year (and particularly important at the Oktoberfest opening)
Munich was first mentioned in documents in 1158 as "Munichen". Due to the similarity to the Latin word for monk and because the areas surrounding Munich belonged to the Schäftlarn monastery, the city's coat of arms with the monk began to develop in the 13th century. Since 1957, a Münchner Kindl designed according to fixed graphic specifications has been the emblem of all municipal offices and institutes.
For a time, the depiction alternated between boys and girls, until finally, in the 1920s, the female gender prevailed in the depiction of the Kindl. For Munich's flourishing brewery industry, it sometimes puts aside the Gospel book and poses with a beer mug instead.
At Oktoberfest, at the traditional tapping of the beer in the Schottenhamel tent, the Kindl, today a young woman, stands by the mayor of Munich. Munich women have been chosen as Münchner Kindl since 1938.
8. Maibaum
Period: May
Maypoles are usually large, tall, decorated trees with the branches removed close to the top, which are erected in a central location in the village during a festive event.
In rural areas, they are erected using muscle power, ropes and support beams, while in large parts of Bavaria they are usually erected by members of the local boys' club. This is now prohibited in most cities, where machines are used due to the increased risk of accidents.
In Bavaria, a trunk that is laced (painted) according to Bavarian tradition has the spiral turned from the bottom left to the top right. The Bavarian diamonds, which represent the white-blue sky, serve as a model.
In Bavaria the trees permanently installed all year round can reach record heights of up to 56 m.
9. Aperschnoizn
Period: during Christmas and carnival season.
Aperschnalzen is a Bavarian-Salzburg custom and a form of whipcracking (in German Goaßlschnalzing) It is a rhythmic snapping and cracking of a whip, the Goaßl, in small groups, the Passes. Aperschnalzen in the historic Rupertiwinkel region was recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage in 2013.
10. Fischerstechen
Period: all year
Fischerstechen is the name given to an old fishing custom. The same custom is also known as ship jousting, which usually has its origins in river transport shipping, e.g. salt shipping. It is a sporting competition between two teams competing against each other on (rowing) boats. The aim is usually to push the members of the other team off their boats into the water with the help of a spear. Fishermen's jousting is practiced not only in Germany but also in France and Switzerland. One of the most renowned examples is in Ulm where das Ulmer Fischerstechen takes place every 4 years in mid-July along the Danube river in front of thousands of spectators. Its origins date back to the 14th century. Worth a trip, don’t you think?
11. Leonhardiritt
Period: November 6th or on a neighboring weekend.
The Leonhardiritt is a procession on horseback that is part of the customs in old Bavaria and western Austria. It takes place in honor of St. Leonhard of Limoges (6th century) on his memorial day.
As the patron saint of farm animals, today mainly horses, pilgrimages with animal blessings are undertaken on Leonhardi. The reason for the blessing of animals is the role they played as beasts of burden and workhorses for the rural population.
As the largest and most important Leonhardi ride, the Tölz Leonhardi ride was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Bavaria in July 2016 and added to the national list of intangible cultural heritage by the German UNESCO Commission in December 2016.
12. Eisstockschießen
Period: year-round, but particularly in winter
Eisstockschießen ( in English Ice stock sport) is a sport that is particularly widespread in the Alpine region and has a certain similarity to curling. However, Eisstockschießen has its own focus, which can be considered independent of curling. Eisstockschießen is an old folk sport and, historically speaking, a custom that only spread in areas with freezing water and was only played in winter. In its modern form, characterized by rules and clubs, Eisstockschießen is played all year round as a recreational or competitive sport, and a distinction is made between team, distance and target competitions.
If you came all the way down here, you are on your way to become an expert on Bavarian tradition, an entire world beyond Oktoberfest. Did you know them all? Which one intrigued you the most? Write to us and let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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