WARNGAU, Germany — Farmers and their horses walked in a festive parade by way of the small Bavarian city of Warngau on Sunday to honor their patron saint, St. Leonhard.
Their manes neatly combed, the huge horses had been embellished with ribbons and greenery as they pulled the adorned carriages to an area church as a part of the procession some 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Munich.
Farmers donned colourful regional costumes and hats embellished with tufts of animal hair referred to as Gamsbart, or chamois beards, as townspeople joined in amid the pounding of hooves. After the procession, the revelry historically turned to toasts with schnapps.
Typically referred to as Leonhardiritt or Leonhardifahrt, the standard pilgrimage dates again centuries in Bavaria and Austria. It was revived in Warngau in 1983, after an 80-year break, and takes place there annually on the fourth Sunday in October, forward of the annual Nov. 6 feast day.
St. Leonhard (St. Leonard in English) is the patron saint of farmers, horses and livestock. Also called St. Leonard of Noblac, he was a Frankish courtier who requested God to repel an invading military, in line with the Catholic Information Company. His plea labored, and he transformed to Christianity following what he believed was a miracle.
Different Bavarian cities have related traditions. In Dangerous Tolz, southwest of Warngau, this yr’s Nov. 6 procession would be the 169th in a row.
Dangerous Tolz’s pilgrimage is listed on the Nationwide Stock of Intangible Cultural Heritage by the German Fee for UNESCO. Solely cold-blooded horses — giant draft horses like Clydesdales — are allowed within the procession, which begins at 9 a.m. when all the city’s church bells ring.
The gang journeys to a Leonhardi chapel for blessings and an open-air Mass. The custom includes your complete city, from the youth to the clergy and the town councillors.
St. Leonhard largely lived in monasteries and in seclusion in what’s now France, although Dangerous Tolz calls him the “Bavarian Lord.” Based on legend, his prayers had been believed to be breaking the chains of captives. He’s additionally the patron saint of prisoners, amongst different teams.
He died of pure causes across the yr 559, and plenty of Catholic church buildings have been devoted to him all through Europe.
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Related Press journalist Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed to this report.