Young tradition: Kerwa youth celebrates at the Schalkau bird shooting event!

Young tradition: Kerwa youth celebrates at the Schalkau bird shooting event!

The Kerwa season in Franconia has reached its peak in all its splendor and many villages are celebrating their church consecrations. A very special event took place last weekend in Schalkau, where the Kerwa youth from the region met for the first time to shoot birds. Members from Mengersgereuth-Hämmern, Effelder, Theuern and Wehd near Sonneberg gathered in the festival tent to celebrate together and take part in various competitions. This idea of ​​bringing the young people of Kerwa and bird shooting together comes from Petra Walgenbach from Schalkau. Your initiative shows how alive traditions still are and how important it is to involve young people. At a time when so much takes place digitally, the meeting not only connects history, but also promotes social cohesion.

But what are the roots of the Kerwa? The Kirchweih has its origins in the religious celebration of the consecration day of a church or the name day of the church patron and has been the central event of the year in Franconia since around 1500. Even though many villages have their own Kerwa dates and these are often celebrated without any direct church connection, the connection to tradition is still strong - even if the customs have changed over the centuries. That's what they report in Franconia about the different faces of the fair and how secular elements such as dancing, market activity and banquets were steadily gaining ground.

Traditions and customs

In many Franconian villages, the Kervas are often accompanied by exuberant celebrations. One could even say: “We ham Kerwa!” The festival is not only a reason to celebrate, but also an opportunity for family celebrations and social gatherings. The MainPost emphasizes that typical food, beer and schnapps should not be missing. Horseradish meat, slaughter bowls and Küchla are just some of the delicacies that can be found on the festive tables. But it's not just the culinary delights that are a highlight - setting up a Kerwa tree or parades bring color and life to the celebrations.

A particularly notable custom is dancing on a dance platform in the crown of a linden tree in Limmersdorf, which has even made it onto UNESCO's nationwide list of intangible cultural heritage. Such highlights show how diverse and deeply rooted the Kerwa traditions are in Franconian culture. The customs are alive and subject to constant change. It is fascinating to see how the Kerwa adapted to social changes over the centuries and yet remained preserved as a valuable cultural asset.

Now the question is, what does the future hold for this tradition? Experts see a positive outlook for the Franconian Kerwa even in these uncertain times, which are characterized by security requirements and additional costs. Despite all the challenges, church consecrations and similar events are very popular, especially after the restrictions caused by the corona pandemic. It remains exciting to see how these unique traditions will evolve as communities come together to celebrate and recreate their roots.