Kirwa Burschenverein Eichenlaub Ponholz

Upper Palatinate Kirwa — A World of Its Own

The Upper Palatinate Kirwa has its own festival culture, which differs significantly from the Kirchweihen (church consecration festivals) in Upper and Lower Bavaria. At its center are the Burschenverein (young men's association) and its Kirwamoidla (local girls), who, as Kirwapaare (Kirwa couples), carry the festival week. The actual highlight is the Austanzen des Mailgerls — a decorated tree on the festival grounds — where the Kirwa couples dance around the tree to folk music until the last couple becomes the "Oberkirwapaar" (head Kirwa couple) and holds the Kirwa's dignity for a year.

Burschenverein Eichenlaub Ponholz

The organizer of the Ponholz Kirwa is the Burschenverein Eichenlaub Ponholz, a typical Upper Palatinate village association whose main task is to preserve the Kirwa tradition. Each year, the association erects the Kirwabaum, organizes the festival tent, invites friendly Burschenvereine from the neighborhood, and ensures catering and safety. The Eichenlaub association — one of the most traditional Burschenverein structures in the Upper Palatinate — gives the club its identity.

Kirwabaum-Steckung and Festival Tent

The festival kicks off with the Kirwabaum-Steckung on the eve of the festival (Friday evening): The up to 30-meter-high decorated tree is erected using traditional manual labor without machinery — a physically demanding and acoustically impressive act that traditionally takes several hours. Afterwards, the festival operations begin in the Festzelt (festival tent). A live band, draft beer, Upper Palatinate delicacies, and a lively atmosphere characterize the festival night.

Festival Saturday and Sunday

On Festival Saturday, the Kirwa couples gather in Upper Palatinate traditional costume — the Burschen in Lederhosen with hats and oak leaves, the Moidla in Dirndls. The festival parade winds through Ponholz, followed by the festival evening in the tent with a live band and dancing. On Festival Sunday, the day begins with a festive church service, followed by a parade, lunch in the festival tent, and in the late afternoon, the Austanzen des Kirwabaums — the highlight and emotional conclusion of the Kirwa.

Maxhütte-Haidhof — Industrial History and Village Life

Maxhütte-Haidhof is a town of around 11,000 inhabitants in the district of Schwandorf in the Bavarian Upper Palatinate. The town owes its name to the former ironworks Maximilianshütte (Maxhütte) and is a typical example of the Upper Palatinate's connection between industrial history and rural village culture. Ponholz is one of its districts, characterized by its village atmosphere, lively club life, and one of the most important Kirwa dates in the district of Schwandorf.

A Piece of Living Upper Palatinate Identity

Anyone who wants to experience the Upper Palatinate Kirwa tradition authentically will find themselves in the right place in Ponholz: not tourist folklore, but lived village culture. Burschenvereine from the district of Schwandorf and the entire Upper Palatinate are invited as guests and guarantee a festival tent atmosphere with local color. Those who want to experience Upper Palatinate folk music, traditional costumes, and the Austanzen des Mailgerls will find the right festival in Ponholz at the end of August 2026.