- German head of state, President Joachim Gauck, attended the event in Miesbach, Bavaria
- In total, 47 companies from Berchtesgaden to Garmisch-Partenkirchen marched in parade
19:01 GMT, 4 May 2014
|
20:54 GMT, 4 May 2014
17
View
comments
Wearing full traditional costumes 4,500 Germans in hats adorned with flowers march down a street brandishing rifles and clubs.
Then they stop for some schnapps.
This is the annual Patron Saint day festival in Bavaria.
For the first time this year, the German head of state, President Joachim Gauck, and his partner Daniela Schadt attended the event in which troops of Bavarian mountain riflemen show off their costumes.
In total, 47 companies from Berchtesgaden to Garmisch-Partenkirchen marched in their different uniforms during the parade.
The event was held in the rural town of Miesbach, which this year celebrates its first documentary mention 900 years ago.
Bavarian Mountain infantrymen dressed in traditional uniforms take part in the Patron Saint day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry, in Miesbach, southern Germany
In the club: A Bavarian Mountain infantryman dressed in a traditional uniform takes part in the Patron Saint day festival
Companies from Berchtesgaden to Garmisch-Partenkirchen marched in their different uniforms during the parade
Members of Bavarian Mountain Riflemen Companies march in a procession during their annual gathering to honour the Patrona Bavariae
After a day’s parading, the marchers stopped for some schnapps
Bavarian mountain riflemen in traditional outfits attend a parade in the southern village of Miesbach
Members of Bavarian Mountain Riflemen Companies march in a procession during their annual gathering to honour the Patrona Bavariae in Miesbach, Germany
For the first time this year, the German head of state, President Joachim Gauck, and his partner Daniela Schadt attended
Christian Social Union member Peter Gauweiler (left) walks among Bavarian mountain riflemen in traditional outfits and (right) a woman wears a fox-skin scarf
Two members of a Bavarian Mountain Riflemen Company stand in front of a Bavarian-style-painted wall in Miesbach, Germany
Men in traditional Bavarian dress erect a Maypole in Grossweil near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, southern Germany
German President Joachim Gauck (second left) and his partner Daniela Schadt (left) and Horst Seehofer (right), Prime Minister of German State Bavaria and protector of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen, and his wife Karin (second right) pass Members of Bavarian Mountain Riflemen Companies
German President Joachim Gauck (right) and Horst Seehofer (second right), Prime Minister of German State Bavaria have a traditional schnaps from a female Bavarian sutler
German President Joachim Gauck (second right) and his partner Daniela Schadt (third right) and Horst Seehofer (third left), Prime Minister of German State Bavaria and protector of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen, and his wife Karin (second right) and Ilse Aigner (left), economy minister of Bavaria, follow a holy mass of the Bavarian Mountain Riflemen Companies
Bavarian Mountain infantrymen dressed in traditional uniforms take part in the Patron Saint day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry, in Miesbach, southern Germany
A conductor of the Bavarian Mountain infantry dressed in traditional uniform takes part in the Patron Saint Day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry, in Miesbach, southern Germany
A Bavarian woman of the Mountain infantrymen dressed in a traditional costume carries a small schnapps barrel and cups in Miesbach, southern Germany
Bavarian Mountain Infantrymen dressed in traditional uniforms
Bavarian Mountain infantrymen dressed in traditional uniforms take part in the Patron Saint day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry
Bavarian women dressed in traditional costumes take part in the Patron Saint day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry, in Miesbach
Two young Bavarian Mountain infantrymen dressed in traditional uniforms take part in the Patron Saint day festival
A Bavarian Mountain infantryman dressed in a traditional uniform takes part in the Patron Saint day festival of the Bavarian Mountain Infantry
People dressed in traditional uniforms and costumes take part in the Patron Saint day festival
Share or comment on this article
Comments (17)
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have been moderated in advance.
george,
london,
11 hours ago
I grew up in Switzerland and seeing picture like this brings back childhood memories. It’s wonderful to see another culture’s traditional dress and customs.
Switzerland had a very strong “dad’s army” culture where most people have a “bunker” in their cellar (although we use them for food storage) and this has contributed to Swiss men and women using guns for sport.
I myself have done target practice as a child.
As an adult, I have now realised that I can’t tolerate hunting as a “sport” and means of entertainment. Seeing the photo of the rather fat girl with a dead box on her shoulders made me feel sick and ashamed. I understand the necessity of hunting to cut down numbers of animals which would otherwise not have enough territory and food.
Tedz,
Cheshire,
11 hours ago
Nice of the DM to give space to this story. The DM is always at the forefront of the campaign to encourage closer relations with Europe.
Englishbob,
BIRMINGHAM,
11 hours ago
nice selection of K98k Rifles Meine Herrn,impressive day out by the looks of it,obviously our German cousins are allowed to have fun and follow their old traditions,unlike the English, were our traditions are seen as racist……
Vlad,
Bucharest, Romania,
11 hours ago
Here we start again…
saracen,
london, United Kingdom,
11 hours ago
I don’t like the fox fur stole but I like the celebration of the cultural traditions. It is a shame we in the UK, feel so embarrassed to celebrate our own regional traditions. We should do and before the homogeneous wave of the EU wipes it out for ever :o(
lyn edmunds,
ingleside,
11 hours ago
Love Bavaria, would be one the places I would live given different circumstances. Colourful, historic and downright friendly place to be. And those people are one helluver modern day home guard, bolt action an’ all. Try chasing them in the German Alps.
LiliK,
NFLD, Canada,
11 hours ago
Terrific… learn a new thing every day. I’d like a small barrel full of Jack Daniels please…
saracen,
london, United Kingdom,
11 hours ago
I don’t like the fox fur stole but I like the celebration of the cultural traditions. It is a shame we in the UK, feel so embarrassed to celebrate our own regional traditions. We should do and before the homogeneous wave of the EU wipes it out for ever :o(
CranbrookPhil,
Cranbrook,
11 hours ago
They’re an odd bunch!
maaggy,
Lazio,
11 hours ago
Germans carrying guns on the street. Isn’t it familiar?
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Who is this week’s top commenter?
Find out now