A women is drinking beer out of a beer mug at the Auer Dult in Munich.

Traditional Munich

Markets and festivals: time for traditions

Munich sees itself as a city that exists between the traditional and the modern. A separate culture of tradition has developed in the metropolis. Munich customs, the city festivals and markets, really have their own flair and are more imbued with urban history and the traditions of craftspeople and burghers than with rural customs.

Most of the traditional events take place annually. The exceptions to this rule are the Schäfflertanz which is performed once every seven years – next event in 2019 – the Central Agricultural Festival, which takes place every leap year, and the Metzgersprung (Butchers' Leap) into the Fischbrunnen on Marienplatz (every three years, next event in 2019).

Carnival in Munich – Fasching – has its own character. It is rung in on November 11 in the city center, on Marienplatz and on Viktualienmarkt, by the two Mardi Gras associations, Würmesia and Narrhalla. The pinnacle of the Fasching celebrations is, besides the balls, the last three days, which come under the heading "München narrisch" ("Munich tomfoolery"), the dance of the market women on Viktualienmarkt, and the washing of the city heads' wallets in the Fish Fountain in front of the New Town Hall on Ash Wednesday.

From the dance of the market women to the washing of wallets at the Fischbrunnen: Munich celebrates in all seasons.

In recent years, however, the "Damische Ritter" ("Daft Knights") have found more and more fans and followers. The Fasching balls are a nice way to dance the cold out of your bones in the early part of the year, but the visitors to the May Dance enjoy all the gifts of spring: beautiful weather, putting up the maypole and the ubiquitous May celebrations in various parts of the city.

Video: simply Kocherlball

The Kocherlball (ball of the servants) every summer also draws a lively crowd. This event, featuring folk dances, usually takes place on the third Sunday in July at the Chinese Tower beer garden in the Englischer Garten. It starts before sunrise. For many, it is the perfect occasion to put on an authentic traditional Munich costume, which evolved from the age of Biedermeier and is unique in the way it is made.

Munich's folkloric costumes, the Tracht, is cultivated by folkloric associations such as "Die Schöne Münchnerin" and "Lechler". Loden, a kind of felt used for clothing, also dates to the Biedermeier age. In fall, everyone trips the light fantastic at the Kirchweihtanz, a parish fair. But one month later, the tone changes: "Kathrein stellt den Tanz ein" ("Kathrein stops the dancing") is the motto for the Kathreintanz, the Dance of St. Catherine's Day, which heralds the end of the annual cycle of dances.

Once a month, singers and musicians perform in various public venues for the Münchner Hoagartn. Modern Bavarian music has become something of a tradition on its own. It has produced some outstanding Bavarian bands, like Schlachthofbronx, LaBrassBanda and Blumentopf, or any number of ensembles featuring the sons and daughters of the great family of musicians, the Wells.

May devotions, Corpus Christi, Christmas mass: Munich's festival calendar is also marked by religious traditions.

Munich's festivities calendar is deeply marked by church traditions. Open-air masses are part and parcel of the high religious holidays: Archbishop Reinhard Marx will be celebrating the city's May devotions at the Marian Column on Marienplatz together with the faithful from the regional parishes around Munich. These devotions are accompanied musically by the Munich Cathedral Choir and the Munich Cathedral Winds. 

The Corpus Christi service will also be held on Marienplatz, if the weather is good. If not, it will be in the Frauenkirche (church) .Following the mass, a procession will wend its way through the decorated streets of the Old Town, to the Ludwigskirche (church) and then back to Marienplatz. Visitors to the Munich's popular midnight masses at the inner-city churches often drive in from a long way away. Christmas Eve music at wintery cemeteries is the perfect way to tune into the quieter mood of Christmas.

Festivities for the meditative or the cheerful: The Spring Festival, the "little sister of Oktoberfest" on the Theresienwiese, has long become a popular alternative to the "big sister" for Munich's visitors. The Maidult in the Au district is the launchpad for the fair season, which features three events. The booths at the Maidult are a thrill for collectors: they offer antiques, curiosities, porcelain, books, art, clothing and junk.

Video: Auer Dult

The Stadtgründungsfest in mid-June features music, games and dancing, as well as booths with culinary specialties and crafts in the Alter Hof in the middle of the city. An entire "craft village" is set up, and children can enjoy tinkering as well, or peening and other activities. The Magdalenenfest is a "small fair" with rides and gastronomical specialties. It is held in the beautiful Hirschgarten. The Jakobidult bridges July and August.

The undisputable high point of the year is Oktoberfest or "Wiesn”, the world's most famous popular festival. Two weeks following the "Wiesn," the season of fairs ends with the Kirchweihdult. And then the mood goes from the cheerful back to the meditative: The year of festivals comes to an end with the Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz and its many little offshoots in the various districts of the city. 

The Viktualienmarkt is the perfect place to experience local traditions: The Brass Music and Traditional Costumes Festival, for instance, is held in June and July on the marketplace. "Gärtnertag", which originated in the 17th century, is held on the first Tuesday in August. It involves a procession of wonderfully decorated fruit, vegetable and flower floats that moves from Viktualienmarkt to the Hofbräuhaus accompanied by music bands.

Spectators on the way are given flowers and vegetables. And where else but on Viktualienmarkt could one find a tradition like Weighing the VIP. It has been done every year on the first Thursday following Oktoberfest since 1974. The choice of VIP remains a secret until the event itself. Their weight in groceries is then donated (along with a cash donation) to charity. 

simply Auer Dult

Meet a true Munich original: explore this authentic Munich folk festival and all of its delicious treats with an official city tour guide. Read more

Munich is the city of beer, and celebrates this fact wholeheartedly, for instance, with the Strong Beer or the Maibock beer festivals. The "Derblecken" celebrations on the Nockherberg, with the Strong Beer tapping, and the Maibock beer tapping have now become major social and media events. And even if it is not simulcast on television, the Bavarian Beer Day is a very lively festival that is held within the framework of a "Beer Week." And in June of every even year, Munich's brewers swear the "Preu-Aid" (an oath to traditional brewing of beer) during Brewer's Day (next time 29 June 2019) and hold a small parade from the Peterskirche (Church of St. Peter) to the Viktualienmarkt. 

 

 

Text: München Tourismus; Fotos: Christian Kasper
A women is drinking beer out of a beer mug at the Auer Dult in Munich.

Time for tradition

Munich sees itself as a city that exists between the traditional and the modern. About customs.

Munich sees itself as a city that exists between the traditional and the modern. A separate culture of tradition has developed in the metropolis. About customs.

Drummers at the Oktoberfest Costume and Riflemen's Parade in Munich.

Customs are in!

From fresh approaches in fashion to exciting experiments in the kitchen: an overview.

Tradition and customs in Munich are more fashionable than ever before. From fresh approaches in fashion to exciting experiments in the kitchen: an overview.

A grandfather is carrying his granddaughter in his arms at the Auer Dult in Munich.

Dult is cult!

Three times a year for nine days of shopping, searching, watching, and amusing. Maidult, Jakobidult and Kirchweihdult are cult in Munich.

Three times a year for nine days of shopping, searching, watching, and amusing. Maidult, Jakobidult and Kirchweihdult are cult in Munich.

A couple is sitting in front of a lot of gingerbread hearts at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

All you need to know about the Wiesn

A letter-by-letter guide to Oktoberfest: from O like O' zapft is to T like Tracht.

We have put together everything you need to know: from O for O’Zapft is, the famous festival greeting, to T for Tracht.

A man dressed in a traditional costume is celebrating and dancing on a table in a beer tent at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Which beer tent is the right one for me?

Getting in is tough; but once you’re in, the fun never stops. A brief typology of the different beer tents at Oktoberfest - and the people inside.

Getting in is tough; but once you’re in, the fun never stops. A brief typology of the different beer tents at Oktoberfest - and the people inside.

A woman who is wearing a dirndl is smiling at the Oktoberfest in Munich.

Munich’s Dirndl Idol

Tradition or trash? We photographed nine visitors to the Oktoberfest – and asked a panel of experts to judge their traditional outfits.

Tradition or trash? We photographed nine visitors to the Oktoberfest – and asked a panel of experts to judge their traditional outfits.

Maxi Schafroth at his fasting sermon at Nockherberg

A lot of humour and a lot of beer

A good portion of Bavarian conviviality can be experienced at the strong beer festival on the Nockherberg.

A good portion of Bavarian conviviality can be experienced at the Paulaner-Brauerei's strong beer festival on the Nockherberg.

Guests at the Kocherlball sit at beer tables during dawn in Munich.

Munich is dancing till dawn

Dressed to impress at Chinesischer Turm.

When the people are dressed to impress and meet to dance till dawn at Chinesischer Turm: it's Kocherlball time.

Close-up of a young woman with a orange hair ribbon at the festival Tollwood in Munich.

simply magical

Since the end of the 1980s, visitors have associated this festival with an atmosphere of tolerance, internationalism and openness.

Culture for all: since the end of the 1980s, visitors have associated this festival with an atmosphere of tolerance, internationalism and openness.

Tollwood winter festival in Munich

The alternative Christmas market

Spreading joy, celebrating culture and raising awareness for the environment and social equality are all on the agenda at this Munich festival.

Spreading joy, celebrating culture and raising awareness for the environment and social equality are all on the agenda at this Munich festival.

Christmas angels in a sales booth at the christmas market in Munich.

Christmas magic

When the snow shines in the glow of countless lights, the Christmas market on Marienplatz is the most beautiful.

When it gets dark and the snow shines in the glow of countless lights, the Christmas market on Marienplatz is the most beautiful.

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Small meeting room of the Neues Rathaus in Munich

New Town Hall Tour

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

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Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Exterior view of the Hofbräuhaus Munich at dusk.

Hofbräuhaus Tour

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

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Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Towers at Marienplatz in Munich

Old Town Tour

The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

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The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

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Our guide pedals you between the green hills of the Olympic Park and along the Olympic Lake from sports venue to sports venue. The perfect exploration tour!

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Our guide pedals you between the green hills of the Olympic Park and along the Olympic Lake from sports venue to sports venue. The perfect exploration tour!

Wort kettle at the Spaten brewery in Munich.

Spaten Brewery Tour

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Buy now vouchers for your visit in Munich. The ideal gift! Guided tours, guest cards and more...

Panoramic view of the Neues Rathaus in Munich with the Frauenkirche in the background.

Visit of the New Town Hall Balcony

Join us on the famous balcony of the New Town Hall, where FC Bayern has celebrated a triumph many times - and enjoy the beautiful view over Marienplatz.

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Join us on the famous balcony of the New Town Hall, where FC Bayern has celebrated a triumph many times - and enjoy the beautiful view over Marienplatz.