For the second year in a row, Leonhardi falls victim to the corona pandemic.
The two pilgrimages in Bad Tölz and Benediktbeuern have now been officially canceled.
Bad Tölz / Benediktbeuern
- The news is no longer surprising, but only now is it immovable: The city of Bad Tölz and the community of Benediktbeuern announced in a joint statement on Tuesday morning that the Leonhardi trips have been canceled in both places.
The respective Leonhardia committees, which met in Benediktbeuern on Friday and in Bad Tölz on Monday, had come to the conclusion that there was no legal possibility of carrying out horse pilgrimages this year either.
Bad Tölz: Leonhardiffahrt not allowed in typical form due to Corona
As the Tölzer town hall spokeswoman Birte Otterbach explains, the municipalities had obtained a legal assessment of the district office in advance as to whether the events would have been compatible with the 14th Infection Protection Measures Ordinance of September 1, 2021.
The district authority, in turn, has held consultation with the government of Upper Bavaria.
The result of the authorities: The Leonhardi rides are not allowed in the planned, typical form - according to Paragraph 15, Paragraph 1 of the ordinance.
It says: "Folk festivals and public festivities as well as celebrations in public places and facilities are prohibited."
3-G rules at Leonhardifahrt: practical implementation "difficult to imagine"
"But even if this explicit ban did not exist, it would have been difficult to imagine how the legally required 3G regulation would have been implemented in practice," adds Birte Otterbach.
This should have ensured that all participants and visitors - "around 15,000 guests are expected in Bad Tölz alone," says Otterbach - are vaccinated, recovered or tested.
"Checking the evidence is not realistic given the events that are not shielded from the outside and the high number of visitors to be expected," said the spokeswoman.
In this respect, there was no possibility for the city of Bad Tölz and the community of Benediktbeuern to make a different discretionary decision.
Cancellation due to Corona: Long-time Leonhardi driver had a little hope until the end
The two mayors express their regrets. "The renewed rejection hits us all hard," said Tölz town hall chief Ingo Mehner. “It is probably difficult for outsiders to understand what that means for the Leonhard drivers and for the Tölz people.” His Benediktbeur colleague Toni Ortlieb has a similar opinion: “That one of the most important events in the community has to be canceled for the second time in a row during the year , we are very sorry, especially on behalf of the numerous helpers, teams and horse riders. "
Anton Mayer from Ellbach had retained a little bit of confidence right up to the end.
For the farmer it is already the 50th participation as a Leonhardi driver.
He has to postpone this personal anniversary for the second time.
"We had already prepared the horses a little, it would have been clear which horses would run next to each other in a team of four - with the hope that it might still be possible to carry out the Leonhardi ride," he reports.
At the same time it was clear to him that the enforcement of the 3G rule would have been almost impossible.
"If enough people were vaccinated, then there would be a big problem out of the world," he regrets.
“But people would have to play along.” Under the given circumstances, “I can fully understand the decision,” says Mayer.
Benediktbeuern: Tradition of the Leonhardiffahrt too deeply rooted to tear down
The pastor from Benediktbeur, Heiner Heim, rates the rejection as responsible.
"We don't want to make the situation worse, on the contrary, we want to make a contribution so that we can return to normal," explains the clergyman.
Of course, he is not happy either: “Leonhardi is an important festival for the village and the community, something is already lost.” But the pastor is sure that the tradition will not end even after the second rejection in a row.
“It is too deeply rooted for that.
When the Leonhardi trip takes place again, everyone will be there again with enthusiasm. "
Mayer has no doubt about that either.
"We will pick up again seamlessly," he promises.
"The carters are all very careful to keep the tradition alive."
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