Kirchweih Weißenberg

Kirwa — an Upper Palatinate Tradition

The Kirwa (short for Kirchweihe, meaning church consecration) is the most important village tradition in the Upper Palatinate. Originally religiously founded — as a festival for the consecration of the village church — the Kirwa has developed into a three-day club festival that combines religion, conviviality, traditional costume, dance, and the social life of the village. In the northeastern Upper Palatinate, the Kirwa is a top-tier heritage of customs; every village has its own Kirwa with its own rituals.

Weißenberg — an old Upper Palatinate village of customs

Weißenberg is a district of the municipality of Edelsfeld in the Amberg-Sulzbach district (northeastern Upper Palatinate). With only a few dozen inhabitants, it's a classic small Upper Palatinate village — yet a place with an unusually vibrant culture of customs. The Jugendfreizeitstätte Weißenberg (open from April to October) forms a fixed point in the village, from which the Kirwa activities are often coordinated.

The typical course of an Upper Palatinate Kirwa

An Upper Palatinate Kirwa follows a clearly defined ritual: raising the Kirwa tree (often on Thursday or Friday), festive church service on Saturday or Sunday, 'Wecker' action on Sunday morning (Kirwa lads parade through the village with a music band and 'wake up' the residents), Kirwa dance with local dance music, 'Brezenreihen' (pretzel rows) by the Kirwa lasses, and the traditional 'Holen' des Kirwa-Buschens (fetching the Kirwa bush) at the end of the festival. Much of this is deeply ingrained in the awareness of the villagers and is carried out with dedication year after year.

Catering and Festival Tent

The local community of Weißenberg provides catering in the festival tent on the village square or festival grounds. The menu includes Upper Palatinate delicacies such as roast pork, 'Karpfen blau' (a local specialty), bratwurst, sauerkraut, 'Brotzeit' (bread and cold cuts), along with draught beer from a neighboring brewery. A dance band (or DJ on Sunday) provides musical accompaniment.

Edelsfeld and the northeastern Upper Palatinate

Edelsfeld is a municipality in the Amberg-Sulzbach district, located in the Jura hill country of the northeastern Upper Palatinate. With its several districts — including Weißenberg, Achtel, and Kürmreuth — the municipality cultivates a rich club culture and lively customs. The Weißenberg Kirwa is one of the most important traditional events in the Edelsfeld summer calendar.