Namborn Kirmes

A Kirmes in the Name of the Mother of God

The Namborn Kirmes — also known as Marienkirmes in the Catholic-influenced Sankt Wendel region — is a classic patronage kirmes. The occasion is the high feast day of the Assumption of Mary on August 15th, one of the most important feast days of the Catholic church year and the patronage festival of Namborn's parish church. For generations, the festival has combined religious customs and village festival culture: festive service, herb blessing, festival tent, showmen and club participation.

High Mass with Herb Blessing

The religious highlight is the high mass in the parish church of the Assumption of Mary on August 15th. In the tradition of many Catholic Marian shrines, herb bouquets are blessed during the high mass — a folk piety tradition that has remained alive in the Sankt Wendel region. The herb bouquets usually consist of at least seven plants (mugwort, centaury, wormwood, St. John's wort, yarrow, chamomile, tansy) and are then hung up in homes.

Spießbraten and Potato Salad

Culinary, the Namborn Kirmes revolves around Spießbraten — the Saarland classic of folk festivals: cooked over open embers, seasoned with pepper and mustard, traditionally served with homemade potato salad. In addition, there are classic festival dishes — Bratwurst, Lyoner, fries — as well as coffee and homemade cake on Sundays. The clubs provide a large part of the stalls.

Club Focus

Organizationally, the kirmes is supported by SV Namborn and the parish community of the Assumption of Mary, in close coordination with other clubs in the village (music club, fire brigade, church choir). Travelling showmen bring a children's carousel, a shooting gallery, a confectionery stand and small rides — manageable, but fitting for the village format.

Namborn — Marian Community in the St. Wendel Region

Namborn is a municipality with just under 5,000 inhabitants in the Sankt Wendel district and consists of several districts (Namborn-Hauptort, Baltersweiler, Hofeld-Mauschbach, Furschweiler, Pinsweiler, Roschberg). The Marienkirche is the religious and identity-forming center of the main town; the patronage festival is considered the most important annual festival in the village. The region around Namborn — Bostalsee, Schaumberg, Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park — is diverse in landscape and developed for tourism.