Sommertagsumzug Germersheim

The Sommertagsumzug Germersheim is part of the regional Sommertag tradition and is one of the most important spring rituals in the Palatinate. The date is traditionally Lätare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, or the Sunday three weeks before Easter.

Significance of the Custom

Sommertag is deeply rooted in the Palatinate and Baden regions. The procession symbolically bids farewell to winter and ushers in summer. Children parade through the city with handmade sticks (Sommertagsstecken made of boxwood with ribbons, pretzels, eggs, chocolate) and sing the traditional song Stricke, stracke, stroh, der Sommerdag is do. The highlight is the symbolic burning of the snowman on a pyre — the end of winter.

Route and Schedule in Germersheim

Assembly is from 2:45 PM at Königsplatz. At 3:00 PM, the procession begins. At the front are the children with their Sommertagsstecken, followed by a float with the snowman (straw figure in snowman appearance). The procession is accompanied by music bands and fanfares. The route leads through the historic city center to the symbolic final stop at the Ludwigstor.

Burning at the Ludwigstor

The Ludwigstor is one of the landmarks of the former Prussian fortress town and provides a fitting historical backdrop for the snowman burning. Amidst the assembled festival crowd, the snowman is set alight, the children sing the traditional songs, and small sweets are distributed.