Tölzer Leonhardiffahrt

Tölzer Leonhardiffahrt
Intangible cultural heritage
Special stamp for the 150th anniversary of the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt 2005, after a painting by the Hungarian artist Medard Varsányi from 1978
State (s):	Germany
List:	National list
Weblink:	unesco.de
Admission:	2016

The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt in Bad Tölz in Upper Bavaria (in the local dialect Lehardi or Lehards ) is a pilgrimage in honor of the cattle patron, Saint Leonhard . The first guaranteed Leonhardifahrt in Tölz took place in 1772, in its present form annually since 1856, usually on November 6th. As the largest and most important Leonhardifahrt, it achieved national fame and was recognized in July 2016 as the “Tölzer Leonhardifahrt” as the intangible cultural heritage of Bavaria. In December 2016, the German UNESCO Commission included it in the nationwide directory .

history

Origins

A "holy tree" is said to have once stood on the Höhenberg in Tölz, which already served as the target of a pagan ritual, which is now considered unlikely. Because the veneration of Leonhard in Tölz as cattle patron began only after the chapel had already been built. This was originally built in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows , while Leonhard was still simply the patron of the prisoners.

Leonhardikapelle and Leonhardifahrt (from the "Calendar for Catholic Christians" 1862)

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin has had a St. Leonhard's and Georg's benefice since 1415 , donated by the duke couple Ernst and Elisabeth and the Hereditary Prince Albrecht . There are also reports of masses in honor of Leonhard in the 16th and 17th centuries.

During the Murder Christmas of Sendling in 1705, Tölz carpenters vowed to build a chapel as a thank you in case of a happy return home . But only after the withdrawal of the Austrian occupiers and the return of Elector Max Emanuel in 1715 could this pledge be fulfilled. A chapel was therefore built on the Höhenberg in honor of Our Lady . The builders were the master carpenters Kanzler, Meier and Lindner, supported by 22 journeymen, the Pfarrmesner Müsner as a craftsman, as well as other Tölz citizens. On November 17, 1718, this chapel was inaugurated by the Tölz pastor Nicodemus Samweber. The prince-bishop's blessing was given on September 14, 1722 by Bishop Johannes Franz Eckher von Kapfing and Lichteneck, at the same time as the Calvary complex that had just been completed . An expansion of the chapel suggested by Samweber was rejected by the Tölzer Council in 1722, as there was enough space in the neighboring church and it would be unclear which church was the most popular.

There was still no talk of veneration as Leonhard's cattle and horse patron, since Leonhard was then only considered the patron of the prisoners and the sick. Since one of the two Tölz execution sites was located on this mountain, a connection to the increasing veneration of Leonhard seems possible, who as the patron of the prisoners is also that of the convicted. Such a connection between earlier places of execution and the veneration of Leonhard can also be found elsewhere. The increasing cattle epidemics in the 18th century then led to Leonhard's expansion as cattle patron and the place increasingly served as a destination for pilgrimages and petitions.

However, the proximity of the gallows to the chapel led to protests because of the "bad prospectus" and because a gallows next to the chapel "does not want to send itself". Therefore it was demolished in 1761 and rebuilt further north. As early as 1718 there was a bust of Leonhard in the chapel , which was placed in the center in the middle of the 18th century. The veneration of Leonhard and the corresponding votive offerings rose sharply, while that in honor of Mary fell sharply. The Tölz hall plan from 1812 already mentions the “Leonhard's Chapel”, although Maria is still the main patroness of the church.

During the secularization , the chapel was threatened with demolition. This was already ordered by the Tölz district judge in 1804, but could be delayed by Tölz carpenters and finally averted. Since at that time there was already a lively ritual custom, the future mayor Anton Niggl in particular campaigned for its preservation.

Beginnings of the “wild” pilgrimage

It is not certain when the first pilgrimage in honor of Leonhard took place in Tölz. The first guaranteed date is November 6, 1772, which is recorded in the proclamation book of the parish of Tölz. Earlier pilgrimages are considered likely, but a votive hoof iron from 1719 or a chest wagon from Gaißach from 1732 are not considered reliable evidence. It is likely that the cattle epidemic of 1743 triggered the first appeal to the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows . At this point in time, Leonhard was not yet venerated as the patron of cattle. After 1772 the pilgrimage took place regularly, with the exception of the period of secularization, when the pilgrimage was forbidden. A horse blessing has not yet taken place. In 1913, the traditional researcher Georg Schierghofer quotes: "Even in the 1950s, on the earliest morning of Leonhard's Day, a few horsemen appeared on the mountain, blew up three times around the chapel and went away again, while the festive tour only took place in the morning."

Girl in traditional costume with a crown (2016)

The description of an unknown author from 1803 describes: "This journey is made by the farmers of local and neighboring areas on wagons, which are decorated with colored paper and brightly colored ribbons and pulled by differently decorated horses." At the same time, the author also criticizes journeys " in great haste with mortal danger ”,“ daring actions ”and“ beer frenzy ”.

Orderly pilgrimage from the 19th century

It is primarily thanks to Pastor Joseph Pfaffenberg that the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt developed into the largest and most famous of its kind. In 1855 he came to Tölz as a pastor. His liking for the religious character of the pilgrimage, however, clouded "plane disorder" as well as "improper and dangerous things", as he explained in a letter to the Tölz magistrate . In 1856, Pfaffenberg brought about a reorganization and a tight set of rules. On November 4, 1856, he announced in a sermon: “The St. Leonhardiffahrt next Thursday will be held in the following order this year: All those who take part in this venerable journey gather outside the Gottesackers before 9 am. At 9 o'clock the journey through the market to the St. Leonhardikapelle on the Höhenberg begins with a priest with the cross particle and prayer, where the participants attend the office after which the procession is given the holy blessing, which is immediately reflected on the Paths back to the Mühlfeldkirche , where the last blessing is given and the train is closed. ”This order is still valid today, but was not undisputed at the time. Even out of defiance, the Tölzer Official and Wochenblatt reported, ten years later some riders were still controversial about the chapel before the actual move. "Young boys" in particular have "made the journey for themselves and only partially stuck to the train". The magistrate, however, welcomed these reforms and most of the peasantry also approved them. Pfaffenberg received headwinds from its own ranks. On November 5, 1856, the Archbishop's Ordinariate in Munich asked Pastor Pfaffenberg in writing to “keep the previously common way” during the journey. The Dean Bachmair from Gaißach complained of "excessive reform zeal". Nevertheless, Pfaffenberg was not deterred. Nine years later, the Munich Ordinariate inquired whether there were "abuses or improprieties" and accepted the new order.

The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt always took place on November 6th, unless this date fell on a Sunday, since Leonhardi was not supposed to hinder the pilgrims' regular attendance at church services. After the reorganization in 1856, Leonhardi was always postponed to Martini day , a Friday. However, due to the fasting requirement of the Church, this brought problems. Both participants and visitors complained about the ban on meat in the inns. In 1870 the Tölzer Magistrate applied for a fasting dispensation from the Archbishop's Ordinariate for the first time , but this was strictly rejected. From 1881, the following Monday was therefore set as an alternative date. In order to enable the working population to visit, Leonhardi was brought forward to Saturday under Mayor Gregor Schöttl from 1966, which was until 2010. Still, the problem persisted when Leonhardi fell on an ordinary Friday. In 1885 a renewed application was made to the bishop, also because Tölzer innkeepers "a lot of grumbling arose". Nevertheless, this application also failed again. It was not until October 16, 1891 that the Ordinariate was convinced to issue a fasting dispensation for pilgrims and guests, which allowed them to eat meat on Fridays, but only on Leonhardi.

Typical Leonhardi hairstyle, based on the Biedermeier pattern, with hair rolls, "monkey swings" and woven asparagus. The oval crane is only worn by unmarried women. (2016)

The number of visitors grew almost continuously from the beginning, reaching 10,000 for the first time at the end of the 19th century. After the construction of the Holzkirchen – Bad Tölz railway line, special trains ran from Munich to Tölz, including 16 special trains in 1894.

In 1910, the city of Bad Tölz acquired the land around the chapel for 6,500 marks , thereby ensuring the continued existence of the pilgrimage. In 1911 the Oberpollinger department store in Munich offered replicas and toys from the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt for the first time , and in 1912 this was first recorded in cinematography and shown in cinemas across Germany. Due to the war, the pilgrimage was canceled for the first time since 1856 in 1917 and 1918. The Benedictine Father Magnus Lorenz Meiller, who came from Bad Heilbrunn , worked as a missionary in Zululand , in today's South Africa, in the 1920s , and organized a Leonhardi drive there in 1925 based on the Tölzer model, with more than 1000 head of cattle being blessed.

The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt also received prominent visitors again and again, e. B. 1877 by Prince Regent Luitpold , in 1887 by the wife of Duke Carl Theodor , Maria Josepha of Portugal , with children and entourage, and in 1893 jointly by the Queen of Württemberg , the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and the Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden with entourage, as well as Richard Klemens von Metternich . In 1904 Eugenio Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII. the pilgrimage and expressed himself about it "in the most pleasant way". As the Leonhardifahrt became more and more well-known, more and more prominent guests from politics, clergy and the region were recorded, in particular also local and traditional curators .

time of the nationalsocialism

After they came to power , the National Socialists tried to instrumentalize and reinterpret the Leonhardiffahrt in their favor. A report in the Völkischer Beobachter of November 4, 1934 about the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt contained detailed descriptions of Germanic mythology and Nordic gods. The Christianity have simply adopted the Germanic Umrittsbrauch: "The Christian saint who takes the place of Thor came, is seen the ancient cult of our tribe Leonhard and we can from the Leonhardi celebration today." The Tölzer newspaper evaluated 1,933 visiting Hermann Esser , Adolf Wagner and Franz Ritter von Epp as “confirmation of the truest, most beautiful folk culture”. In 1935, 15 old war horses were honored with a sign with the inscription "War comrade", which was donated by the city administration.

In 1937, the Tölzer chamberlain noted that the National Socialists' goal was to transform the Leonhardi trip into “a secular celebration, a peasant rally”. At a meeting with representatives of the city and the district office presented NSDAP - district leader Edward Bucherer in July 1938 clearly that "the Toelzer Leonhardifahrt in its present form no longer fits the time." The intention was to turn the pilgrimage into a big farmers' day, in which the entire farmers of the Tölz- Miesbach - Wolfratshausen districts should take part over two days . A pageant should refer to Thanksgiving . According to these plans, a large staging area should be created, with "a sea of ​​flags" and a large grandstand. After the pageant, peasant horse races and SS equestrian games were to take place.

Chest trolley (2006)

The city of Bad Tölz viewed these plans and developments with displeasure. Chamberlain Franz Xaver Rotterfusser stated in 1937 that "the previous purely religious character of the Leonhardiffahrt must not be changed". As before, invitations should come from the city council and the Catholic rectory. In the parish chronicle it was read that the Christian manifestation should be eliminated and a secular peasant festival should be established instead. At the later meeting with district leader Bucherer, however, there was no longer any question of this and Mayor Alfons Stollreither merely stated that if the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt had to disappear, this would also apply to the rides in Benediktbeuern and Lenggries , as the farmers would otherwise simply go to these places would evade. The local farmers' leaders would have to be won over for the new ideas in order to use their influence on the peasantry, otherwise the new event would be a fiasco. District farmer leader Hahn-Walleiten, however, agreed with the conversion to the farmers' day, as the interest in Leonhardi had meanwhile decreased. On November 5, 1938, Rottenfusser noted in the town chronicle that he was afraid that the Leonhardi trip would no longer be approved because a big farmers' day with a Wotan trip was now to take place. In fact, the event was canceled that same year; the reason given was foot-and-mouth disease , whereby Rottenfusser saw this only as an advanced reason, as it had long since disappeared by then. Kaplan Georg Hunklinger also agreed with this view : “The reasons for the rejection are deeper. One wants to switch off this Christian manifestation from the public and put in its place a secular peasant festival. ”The party only wants to gain time to be able to set up the farmers' day and its financing. However, the pilgrimage took place on a smaller scale this year. Due to the Second World War , there was no official pilgrimage from 1939 to 1944. In the years 1939, 1940 and 1944 there was an unofficial appeal, however, according to Hunklinger, "no comparison with previous years".

Post-war and subsequent period

Leonhardi did not take place again until November 6, 1945, according to District Administrator Anton Wiedemann "with great sympathy from the population". Even for the white and blue Bavaria flags and the black and yellow city flags with which the old town was adorned, the American occupiers needed permission . In 1950, Leonhardi characters (metal badges) were introduced for the first time, which are still available in different designs every year. Although there was a Leonhardi sign (with a swastika) as early as 1933, this remained a one-time exception. In 1955 the Süddeutsche Zeitung praised : “The nicest thing about the Leonhardifest is that in Tölz no artificially refreshed customs are kept in the spirit. Everything is real there. "

Table wagon with married peasant women (2016)

In the 1960s, the Leonhardifahrt had massive problems due to a lack of horses and a declining number of participants. The low point was reached in 1970, when only 29 wagons took part in the journey, the lowest number since 1916. In agriculture, steeds had largely become superfluous and many farmers now viewed horse keeping as an unnecessary luxury. A renewed upswing is mainly due to the Königsdorf pastor Paul Fischer (1921–2005). For years Fischer, himself a horse owner, tirelessly campaigned among farmers for horse keeping and participation in pilgrimages. District Administrator Josef Niedermaier also noted in 2005 that Fischer deserves respect, as the preservation of the Leonhardi trip “was largely thanks to him”.

In 1971, the lot decided for the first time on the sequence of trains. Before that, there was often rivalry among the farmers, which led to some moving out as early as midnight to get front seats. Traditionally, however, the procession begins with civil riders with a standard. This is followed by the cars of the clergy, with the city councils, in frock coat and cylinder , and mountain troops . Recurring exceptions are the participation of large Munich breweries , drummers or fanfare riders . The mounted Bavarian State Police could not prevail as a participant. In 1978 Cardinal Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. first the pilgrimage. In 1983 the pilgrimage reached a new visitor record, with estimates fluctuating between 30,000 and 60,000 visitors.

Leonhardi today

Today around 80 chariots and other riders take part in the pilgrimage every year. Due to the limited space on the Kalvarienberg, new teams are rarely allowed. Depending on the date and the weather, the Leonhardifahrt in Tölz usually attracts between 15,000 and 25,000 visitors today. Traditionally, only four-in-hand cars drive. Great emphasis is placed on authenticity, which is why only shod wooden wheels and no rubber tires are permitted, which sets Tölz apart from other pilgrimages. The oldest wagon that takes part in the pilgrimage today is the chest wagon by Lorenz Heiß from Heimberg from 1785. Traditionally, women are not allowed to ride. Like children, these can only be found on the wagons. Married women wear the shawl , young, single women wear the bodice . Participants are mainly farmers from the Tölz area, with the farms having been participating for more than 100 years. In Tölz there is only talk of a Leonhardi ride and not a ride, as the focus is clearly on the car.

Leonhardi has the status of a city holiday in Tölz. Schools, authorities, banks and numerous shops are closed on that day. Taverns open early in the morning and offer breakfast such as white sausage . Numerous bars and discos open immediately after the Leonhardi ride in the morning and stay open until the next morning.

Visitor numbers

Sources: until 1976

year	Number of visitors (approx.)	annotation
1882	2,000
1883	1,400
1895	5,000-6,000	1,000 of them from Munich
1899	10,000	3,000 of them traveled by bike
1902	9,000	3,000 of them traveled by train
1903	5,000	3,800 of them traveled by rail
1927	14,500
1930	9,200
1932	7,500
1933	9,000
1934	11,000
1936	10,500	including many English and Americans
1937	9,500
1945		"The influx of viewers was particularly large"
1951	10,000
1954	12,000-13,000
1955	15,000
1956		"There were significantly fewer spectators than in previous years."
1960	15,000
1962	12,000
1971	20,000
1975	10,000
1976	30,000
2018	17,000-18,000

procedure

The current process is still based on the changes that Pastor Pfaffenberg introduced in 1856. At 9 o'clock the pilgrimage starts from Max-Höfler-Platz. The train runs through Badstrasse, over the Isar bridge, through Marktstrasse, Jägergasse and Nockhergasse, over Maierbräugasteig up to Kalvarienberg. There are grandstands for guests of honor, including visitors from the twin cities, in Marktstrasse and on Kalvarienberg. On the Kalvarienberg all pilgrims ride around and drive around the Leonhardi Chapel and are blessed by a clergyman. For reasons of space on the Kalvarienberg, the three times bypassing that used to be the case is now dispensed with. After the blessing of all those involved, there will be a service , which will also be broadcast today over loudspeakers.

Car shapes

At the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt there are mainly three types of wagons: chest, table and presentation wagons (motif wagons).

Chest trolley (2016)

Chest trolleys, in their typical form, were often used as transport trolleys, e.g. for gravel. Their shape and construction correspond to the centuries-old Tölz Kistler tradition. These wagons are decorated and painted like old chests and the famous Tölzer boxes. The primary colors are often a light blue or green, based on the sky and the Bavarian landscape. The motifs originate from the rural world of belief and often show landscape paintings, views of towns, pilgrimage scenes, the rose as a recurring motif, as well as short prayers. Usually eight to twelve occupants sit in rows of two in chest trolleys. The oldest preserved chest trolleys from the 18th century are now, partly restored, in the Tölzer City Museum, but because of their value they are no longer used for pilgrimages.

Table wagons used to be mostly simple agricultural utility vehicles that were mostly used to transport hay or straw. For the Leonhardi trip, they were and will be cleaned and lavishly decorated, for example with box , Almenrausch , evergreens , fir twigs, juniper and tissue paper . The occupants sit opposite each other in two rows, although these cars offer significantly more space.

Table wagon (2016)

Carriages show landscapes and buildings or scenes from the life of Leonhard, for which so-called bridge wagons are mostly used. These cars are usually occupied by small children.

Preparation and jewelry

The pilgrims begin their preparations long before November 6th, usually at the beginning of October, as decorating the floats takes a lot of time, and the decoration of the table floats in particular requires a lot of manual skill. For the pilgrims, the preparations for Leonhardi begin early in the morning, as dressing and hairdressing takes hours. On this occasion, the horses are also given elaborate plaits and decorations on their mane and tail, and their harness is decorated with bells.

Goaßlschnalzen

Traditionally, the “ Goaßlschnalzen” in Marktstraße concludes the Leonhardifahrt in Tölz . The roots lie in pagan customs, whereby evil spirits were to be banished by the noise of the cracking whips. Several groups whip at the same time, whereby a certain rhythm is intended and it is mainly the technique, not the strength, that matters.

Adorned Horse Mane (2016)

Brettlhupfer

The Brettlhupfer or Praxer fulfills an important function. He stands on a running board at the rear of the car and always hops (jumps) from it when it is necessary to slow down the car. This is especially necessary on the steep ascent on the Maierbräugasteig. For this they use special wooden blocks, the "car shoes". The praxers (carters) are also considered to be Leonhardidrescher, who ring in the journey with their whips in the morning to wake up the population, and always crack the whip when the train comes to a halt.

Leonhardilader

In the post-war period, the custom of the Leonhardilader developed in Tölz. Weeks before the pilgrimage, municipal Leonhardiladers, from their own Leonhardi committee, visit farmers with the mayor to personally invite them to the pilgrimage.

The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt as a cultural heritage

As early as 2013, the Tölz city council considered submitting an application for the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt as an intangible UNESCO World Heritage Site . The city ​​council initially decided against it, however, because they feared too strict regulation and interference on the part of UNESCO and they did not want to give up the event. Benjamin Hanke, who is responsible for UNESCO in Berlin, disagreed with these views of the city council: “With the world cultural heritage, the focus is on the active protection and preservation of unique sites. But currently, with intangible cultural heritage, it is about customs, traditions that are lived and passed on by people, and which of course are also changing. "

The city council later considered it and now shared the view that admission would rather be a protection of customs and an award and in 2015 the application for admission was finally made. One of the expert reports written by Nina Gockerell, the head of the folklore department at the Bavarian National Museum , described the Leonhardifahrt as “an excellent example of an evolved culture of remembrance”. It is "an event that is based on religious self-image and civil self-confidence and is deeply anchored in the rural world". For the population of Tölz and those of the entire Isarwinkel, “it is of a strong identity-creating quality. When recognizing the pilgrimage as an intangible cultural heritage, the appreciation of traditional knowledge and skills should not be missing ”. As examples, it lists the artistically braided horse manes and tails, the floral decorations of the wagons, as well as the chests built and painted in the old Tölz Kistler tradition.

In 2016, the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt, explicitly only in Bad Tölz, was included in the Bavarian state list and recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Bavaria. This was announced in July 2016 by the Bavarian State Minister for Education and Culture, Science and Art , Ludwig Spaenle .

On December 9, 2016, the Tölzer City Council was informed that the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt, after being recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Bavaria, has now also been included in the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage . This was decided by the Conference of Ministers of Education, under the leadership of the Bremen Senator for Education Claudia Bogedan and the Minister of State for Culture and Media , Monika Grütters , following a recommendation by the expert committee of the German Commission for UNESCO. Klaus Pelikan from Tölzer Rathaus, co-organizer of the Leonhardifahrt, assessed this as “great recognition for all those involved in the Leonhardifahrt - from the drivers, through the city and the church, to the traditional costume associations”, as well as “the attitude of the city, the pilgrimage to leave it as it always was, is right ”. In the reason for the admission, the Leonhardifahrt is praised as a "form of culture that connects the people of the entire region around Bad Tölz". It was also emphasized: “The extensive participation of the city population, many farming families in the region and the local club scene creates an identity and integrates. The experts also consider the inclusion of children and young people to be exemplary. Also to be positively emphasized are reflections on sustainability as well as the measures to maintain the local framework so that the festival does not become a pure tourism event. "

Recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site continues to be the goal. In April 2017, the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt was also awarded the “Heimatpreis Oberbayern” by Markus Söder .

criticism

Leonhardi traditionally takes place in Tölz on November 6th. However, if this day falls on a Sunday, the event is now postponed again to the following Monday. This was a response from the city to increasing alcohol excesses and associated problems, such as rioting and violence, which increased steadily and reached unprecedented proportions in 2010. The Münchner Merkur reported: "Drunks stumbled into each other, there were fights, one alcohol oak after another was treated: The Leonhardi ride on Saturday in Bad Tölz was partly like a real binge."

Schnapps on the Kalvarienberg (2016)

A possible alcohol ban on Kalvarienberg, a reduction in the number of open bar areas, of which there were 31 in 2010, and a new security concept were then discussed. Josef Mayr, the deputy head of inspections of the Tölz police, also complained that Leonhardi in Tölz had long since assumed the character of an event and was becoming “more and more of a binge. However, for reasons of tradition, there was no alcohol ban on Kalvarienberg.

It is also intended to focus more on the pilgrimage character again. Auxiliary Bishop Wolfgang Bischof also took this view: “These riots cast a bad light on Bad Tölz. I am very concerned. Every effort should be made to ensure that this does not happen again. Here some lacked the understanding of a pilgrimage, which is about bringing one's concerns before God and receiving the blessing. What worries me is the general phenomenon that now large events - be it spiritual or secular - are often abused for pure pleasure. It's all about the happening. The actual occasion slips into the background. "

The trip was postponed to Monday earlier, but in order to be able to use the pilgrimage better for tourism, Saturday was set as an alternative date in 1966. In addition to the planned restriction of alcohol capades, Monday is also supposed to save the city from too large a crowd. “Bad Tölz cannot cope with 30,000 visitors”, said Mayor Janker at the debriefing in 2010 after the pilgrimage this year attracted an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 visitors, a crowd “that could no longer be controlled”.

This development is now also being satirically taken up, for example by the painter and caricaturist Hans Reiser or the cabaret artist Tom Oswald, who said that for young people today, “the only point of contact with religion is the fat monk in the Augustiner bottle ”, and that Leonhardi “is the time for the most beautiful near-death experience one can imagine ”, with the city center increasingly“ reminding me of a scene from The Walking Dead ”.

Schnapps on the Kalvarienberg (2016)

However, such criticism is not new. A description of the pilgrimage from the Tölz parish archive from 1803 already mentions: “The only benefit of this trip is for brewers , cooks , butchers , bathers and shopkeepers . The disadvantage, however, mostly falls on the farmers themselves, in that they commit some sins while being intoxicated, and the next day repentant sacrilege. ”Around 1900, critics also complained about the excesses of the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt and compared it with the Munich Oktoberfest . Eugenio Pacelli, who later became Pope Pius XII, complained after his visit in 1904 that he was “very uncomfortable”, that “a couple of drivers could not refuse to do this sacred act even at the benediction with burning cigar stubs in their mouths desecrate and refrain from taking off their hat ”. He also took the view that "beer and schnapps drinking during high mass should be kept within more moderate limits". Even after the Leonhardi trip in 1924, some Tölz citizens complained about the prevalence of schnapps drinking during the pilgrimage.

Locals also ironically refer to Leonhardi as "BMW Day" (for bakers, butchers, landlords) because of their massive sales on this day.

In 2015 for the first time there were voices criticizing the wearing of fox skins, which was described as “tasteless” and “unreasonable”. However, the organizers and participants did not understand this criticism. The fox pelts are a traditional part of the costume. These have been in the family for generations, and foxes are not hunted just for their fur. Alexander Wandinger from the Trachten-Informationszentrum confirmed: “Incense, i.e. fur, has been part of festive clothing for centuries. It is difficult to convey a 'vegan costume' to the rural population ”. The fox pelts came from urban fashion around 1910 and 1920 into peasant and bourgeois festive clothing and replaced shawls and scarves. Since then, fox fur has been part of the bodice, Schalk and Spenzer: "That was something precious and it is to this day."

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literature

• Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt . CS-Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-00-016788-9 .
• Gabriele Stangl: Leonhardifahrt in Bad Tölz . Günther Aehlig publishing house, Bad Tölz 1977, DNB 780189485 .

Web links

Commons : Tölzer Leonhardifahrt  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Official website
• Private website about the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt

Individual evidence

1. ^ Roland Haderlein, Claudia Petzl, Christoph Schnitzer: Bad Tölz. City and country in portrait; CS-Verlag, 2006; Page 57
2. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 16
3. ↑ Bad Tölz; Christoph Schnitzer, Roland Haderlein, Claudia Petzl; CS-Verlag; 2006; Page 55
4. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 19
5. ↑ ^{a b} Georg Westermayer : Chronicle of the castle and the market Tölz; Publishing house Günther Aehlig; 3rd edition 1976; Page 207
6. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 17
7. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 22
8. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 23
9. ^ Gregor Dorfmeister: Bad Tölz; Löbl-Schreyer Verlag, 1988; Page 45
10. ^ Peter Blath: Bad Tölz. Everyday impressions. In: The series archive images; Karl M. Sutton-Verlag, 2009, page 95
11. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 26
12. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 27
13. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 28
14. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 29
15. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h} Gabriele Stangl: Leonhardifahrt in Tölz. Verlag Günter Aehlig, Bad Tölz 1977, DNB 780189485 , p. 72 ff.
16. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 33
17. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 40
18. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 46
19. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 39
20. ↑ Christoph Schnitzer: The Nazi era in the Altlandkreis Bad Tölz and its consequences; Verlag Tölzer Kurier; 3rd edition 2015; Page 36
21. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 54
22. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Nazi era in the Altlandkreis Bad Tölz and its consequences; Verlag Tölzer Kurier; 3rd edition 2015; Page 37
23. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 55
24. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 56
25. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 57
26. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 64
27. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 179
28. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 75
29. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 77
30. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 83
31. ^ Peter Blath: Bad Tölz. Everyday impressions. In: The series archive images; Karl M. Sutton-Verlag, 2009, page 96
32. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 84
33. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 184
34. ↑ Nora Linnerud: 18,000 visitors - This is how it was at the 163rd Leonhardifahrt in Bad Tölz. In: Merkur.de. November 6, 2018, accessed November 6, 2018 . 
35. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 35
36. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 68
37. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 69
38. ↑ Jens Hendryk Däßler: Leonhardi trip as a world cultural heritage: A long way to Unesco. In: Merkur.de . November 18, 2013, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
39. ↑ ^{a b} Christoph Schnitzer: Reports support Unesco application. In: Merkur.de. November 3, 2015, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
40. ↑ Intangible cultural heritage. In: www.km.bayern.de. Retrieved November 9, 2016 . 
41. ↑ Ten traditions and customs included in the Bavarian state list. In: www.km.bayern.de. Retrieved November 9, 2016 . 
42. ^ Leonhardi rides: Selfie with horse. In: Süddeutsche.de . November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016 . 
43. ↑ Tölzer Leonhardifahrt makes it into the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage. In: Merkur.de. December 9, 2016, accessed December 11, 2016 . 
44. ↑ That is why the Leonhardifahrt is a German cultural heritage. In: Merkur.de. December 10, 2016, accessed December 11, 2016 . 
45. ↑ "Heimatpreis Oberbayern" for the Leonhardifahrt. In: Merkur.de. February 9, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017 . 
46. ↑ Söder awards "Heimatpreis Oberbayern". In: Bayern.de. April 4, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2017 . 
47. ↑ ^{a b c} Christoph Schnitzer: After excessive alcohol: Leonhardi trip moved to Monday. In: Merkur.de. December 22, 2010, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
48. ^ Leonhardi: Alcohol excesses like never before. In: Merkur.de. November 8, 2010, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
49. ↑ ^{a b} Armin Geier: Auxiliary Bishop angry after Leonhardi excess. In: Merkur.de. November 10, 2010, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
50. ↑ ^{a b} Frederik Obermaier: Too much schnapps on the Leonhardi trip. In: Süddeutsche.de. March 14, 2011, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
51. ↑ Steffi Brendebach: Leonhardi 2011: Away from Excess. In: Merkur.de. November 4, 2011, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
52. ↑ ^{a b} "Didn't expect these masses". In: DasGelbeBlatt.de . November 30, 2010, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
53. ↑ Tom Oswald - The Truth about Leonhardi on YouTube , accessed on November 7, 2016
54. ↑ Veronika Ahn-Tauchnitz: A satirical look at Leonhardi. In: Merkur.de. July 29, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016 . 
55. ^ Christoph Schnitzer: The Tölzer Leonhardifahrt; CS-Verlag, 2005; Page 156
56. ↑ Christian Vordemann: Leonhardifahrten: Are Trachtlerinnen allowed to wear fur? In: Merkur.de. November 11, 2015, accessed November 9, 2016 . 
57. ↑ Susanne Weiß: Critics put pilgrims on the fur. In: Merkur.de. November 11, 2015, accessed November 9, 2016 .