March music trumpets down the Hauptgasse or Main Street. The streets are filled with the townspeople and many others that have also come from neighboring villages to see this spectacle! Sun shines down on youthful faces of the Kirchweihgruppe as they parade to the Gasthaus! The beautiful girls are a sight to see in their exquisite pleated skirts and vibrant shawls. At the front of the procession, a young man with a smile upon his face leads the Kirchweih ram, just one of the sought-after prizes of the Kirchweihfest! Just behind him the Kirchweih Herr and his Kirchwiehmädel march proudly with the coveted symbol of the Banater Kirchweihfest; The Rosmarein Strauss! He holds it up for all to see. The lovely colorful silk ribbons sway back and forth with the beat of the music. The men in flowered hats that follow him swing decorated bottles of the new wine! The crowds cheer with excitement as they pass on by. Then with boisterous voices, they call and respond to their peers.
“BUWE WAS HAM’R HEIT?” (Boys what do we have today?),
and the inevitable answer stirs up strong feelings.
“KIRCHWEIH!”
The German-Hungarian People
This vivid picture is that of a Banater Kirchweihfest. This was the festival of the year in the lands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The countries that are today Hungary, Serbia and Romania were once ruled and populated by ethnically German people that were settled there as far back as the 1700s by the Emperors and Empresses of the German and Austrian realms. While the most popular term for these people today is “Donauschwaben,” they go by many names. German-Hungarians or Ungarn-Deutsche is a slightly older term that relates to the people being ethnically German but living in Austro-Hungarian lands. Many of our ancestors came from the Banat region.
The Origins of the Kirchweihfest
The German people who settled the Banat carried with them their memories their allegiances and their faith and traditions to this new land. Here they worked to build flourishing societies in various villages and cities. With them, they also brought the ancient German celebration of the Kirchweihfest, which is celebrated across Europe in many cultures! Literally meaning “Church Consecration,” the festival has its roots in the religious. Each town had a Church and a patron Saint. Most often, the town Kirchweih could be celebrated on or near the feast of the Saint. They would celebrate a mass as well.
Traditions did vary from town to town though many were similar. The Kirchweih was also a village festival that celebrated the town and its people. Some were multiple days going or an entire week. The new wine was a large part of the celebrations and many households slaughtered a spanferkel (small pig). They danced and sang as well as ate and drank. The local band played music and the Gasthaus or the local tavern was certainly open.
The young people were essential to these events. The unmarried men and women dressed up and processed. Some villages wore the traditional Tracht while others adapted having the Kirchweih couples dress in more modern suits and gowns. The men collected money to pay for the celebrations and they would often raffle or auction off the Kirchweih ram, a hat and a scarf, and of course the desirable “Rosmarein Strauss”.
This Strauss is a rosemary bush that is decorated with ribbons. It symbolizes fertility, health and life-creating power. The winner of these prizes was blessed with good luck and fortune for the whole year. Some towns also erected a Kirchweihbaum at the center of town. Similar to the maypole it was topped with more rosemary and the group often danced around it.
The Kirchweih Herr or “Geld Herr” was most often elected from amongst the men. He would be the leader that year and he would speak at the celebrations. They spoke about God, their forefathers and the town and its people. They would speak about the fest and the meanings of its celebrations.
Kirchweihfest today in America
The Germans of Banat, the Batschka and a number of other places brought these traditions again with them when they came to America. They re-created their traditions that now connected them back to their homelands. When they organized social clubs, they celebrated these fests as the highlight of the yearly calendars. Across the United Stated and in Canada, German, German-Hungarian and Donauschwaben clubs still celebrate the festival of Kirchweih.
Today, we the German Hungarians hold our Kirchweihfest celebrations very dearly and we celebrate the tradition with fervent pride. It is the most important tradition we perpetuate. Every generation takes hold of the tradition and educates each other and the next generation on its customs. Our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents remember the Kirchweihfest when they were children gain a twinkle in their eyes. Look around this room and you will see them filled with joy. In our strong men, gorgeous girls, traditional tracht, and music from home we remember how far we have come and we look forward to continuing our proud traditions.
By Michael Fricker
EDITOR’S NOTE: this piece was written in 2013 and was originally published in the “Monthly Progress.” It has been re-published here in 2023 with minor edits.
