Celebrating Spirituality 365 Days A Year

October 7th

Kermesse

This unique festival dates back to 15th-century Germany. Traditionally, this weeklong celebration focused on the digging up of an effigy that had been buried the year before. The object was ritually unearthed and then mounted on a brightly decorated pole that was paraded through the streets to announce the beginning of the festival. The opening procession was followed by a week of games, feasting, and dancing. At the end of the festival, the participants would dress up in their mourning attire and rebury the effigy in its grave, where it would remain until the next Kermesse.