In Kochel, a small Bavarian town in the foothills of the Alps, the summer festival on Assumption Day is still a major event: in the church and at the lake.
(For more Germany photos, click here: May/June 2007 May 2008 August/September 2008 October / November 2008 August 2009)
“Oh Jesus
Christ, please protect us from lightning, hail and storm.” The small church is hazy
with incense and full of locals in their best dress: Women in dirndls and small
black felt hats pinned to their carefully wound buns, and men in lederhosn und
loden jackets. They hold pointed hats with feathers and flowers stuck in their
hatbands, and some have brought old weapons. The flails, guns, halberds and
morning stars commemorate a local revolt against Austrian rule in 1704. The women
have brought bunches of flowers and herbs to be consecrated. “There should be
more herbs in it,” a woman in full traditional costume admits. “I just took
what I had ready to hand: rosemary, basil, valerian, chamomile, chives, …” With
that, she sticks a small blue flower to Isa’s bicycle “It will protect you from
traffic accidents!”
In the evening, everyone gathers at the lake
for the local summer festival. An old man in full costume is stumbling away,
having apparently gone through a few Mass (each is about 1 liter) of beer since
the morning. Benches and a dancing stage are put up, a brass band in
traditional costume plays, and young locals sell grilled fish, grilled pork’s
neck and cakes baked by the Kochel housewives.
“We were looking for the path along the
lake.” Luckily for them, we do know most of the paths in the area by now,
having spent several days on various sectors of the sports climbing area around
Kochel. Most of the climbing walls are situated deep in the mountainous forests
above Lake Kochel, but the approach is worth it: Nice rough limestone with some
easier vertical routes, much less slippery than we had expected in a popular
climbing area, and with well-positioned bolts.
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