Freihunger Kirwa

Upper Palatinate Kirwa Customs in Freihung

Freihung is a market community in the Amberg-Sulzbach district in the Upper Palatinate. The Freihunger Kirwa is the central Kirchweih of the town and is organized by the association Freihunger Kirwaleit e.V. It stands in the vibrant tradition of the Upper Palatinate Kirwa — a form of Kirchweih that is still particularly intensively cultivated with customs in the region today.

Kirwabaum, Kirwapaare and Baumaustanzen

The centerpiece of every Upper Palatinate Kirwa is the Kirwabaum, a tall, decorated tree around which the Baumaustanzen takes place at the climax of the festival. The young Kirwapaare (Kirwamoidln and Kirwabuam) dance in traditional costume around the tree; the Oberkirwapaar, who leads the Kirwa, is determined by a lottery with a bouquet of flowers. The customs are accompanied by Kirwamusik and traditional dances.

Festival Schedule in the Community Center

The Freihunger Kirwa spans several days around a November weekend and takes place in the Freihung Community Center. Typically, there is an opening on Friday evening with bar and tent operations, on Saturday the setting up and decorating of the Kirwabaum as well as a children's program, and on Sunday the climax with the fetching of the Kirwapaare and the Baumaustanzen. The event usually concludes with a convivial get-together with card games.

Other Kirwa Dates in the Municipality

In addition to the main Kirwa in the town center, there are other Kirwa festivals in the municipality, especially the Kirwa in the Seugast district with its own date (around mid-October, at the Gasthaus Hammer Weickenricht and the Sportheim Seugast). This decentralized Kirwa culture is typical for the Upper Palatinate, where many districts maintain their own Kirchweih.

Significance in the Upper Palatinate Festival Calendar

The Freihunger Kirwa is one of the numerous autumn Kirwa events that characterize the late autumn in the Upper Palatinate. As an annual association festival with lively customs, it attracts visitors from Freihung, the Amberg-Sulzbach district, and the surrounding region.