It is like a puzzle how the Tölzer Krippenverein is currently reconstructing its history: piece by piece, new details come to light - including the established date of foundation.
Bad Tölz
- The Tölzer Nativity Scene Association was founded 100 years ago in the run-up to Christmas.
At that time there were numerous splendid nativity scenes in the city, both in churches and in private houses.
It is like a puzzle how the Tölzer Krippenverein is currently reconstructing its history: piece by piece, new details come to light.
The “year of birth” was previously 1977. But when the company celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2017, the members were already aware that at that time it was “just” a matter of a re-establishment.
"Tölzer Nativity" is in the Bavarian National Museum
The research was extensive.
Ultimately, it is thanks to digitization that board member Wolfgang Friedl and secretary Toni Reiserer can now substantiate the establishment in detail.
Some time ago Friedl came across an old, digitized edition of "Krippenfreund".
This is still the association's trade journal today.
“In a side note in 1921 it was stated that a crèche association would be founded in Tölz in winter.
More about this would be reported in the Tölzer Kurier ”, says Friedl.
Thereupon secretary Toni Reiserer searched through the newspaper editions of November and December 1921 in the city archive - and, to his great delight, found a lot.
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Women are involved in sewing and design: The picture from 2017 shows (from right) Dr.
Bärbel Wild, Silvia Schmidpeter, Maria Vosseler and Marianne Adler (†).
© Tölzer Krippenverein
"As early as the 18th and 19th centuries there were some splendid and rococo nativity scenes in Bad Tölz," reports Reiserer.
They were, for example, in the Mühlfeld and Franziskanerkirche, but also in some wealthy private households.
A look at the valuable nativity scene collection in the Bavarian National Museum underscores its importance.
There is the so-called "Tölzer Nativity", the figures of which were probably made by the Tölz master dyer Sonderer.
Sonderer also made a contribution to the nativity scene in the Mühlfeldkirche around 1850.
The historian Johann Nepomuk Sepp from Tölz also reported that self-made cribs were set up in almost all households on Marktstrasse.
“The figures usually had cast wax heads, simple bodies and beautiful sewn garments,” says Reiserer.
The crib symbolizes family and security
In Tölz at that time it was the custom to meet on Christmas days to “watch the nativity scene”: You not only visited the churches, but also relatives and acquaintances.
"During the visits, it was of course desirable that everyone showed each other's admiration," says Reiserer with a smile.
The Bavarian crib movement originated in Günzburg in 1917.
The founding of such associations was ultimately a reaction to the First World War, Reiserer analyzes.
The returning soldiers longed for home, family, security and frugality, but also for peace.
“All of this is condensed in the crib, for example.” It can also be observed that nationalist tones resonated at the time.
Tölzer Krippenverein was founded on December 15, 1921
In Bad Tölz, the ninth association was established in Bavaria in 1921.
From December 8th, it was reported in the courier almost every day.
In the texts, women in particular are wooed to get involved in sewing clothes for the figures.
A lecture on the importance of cribs in the Kolberbräusaal (December 13th) was followed by the constituent assembly on December 15th in the Weinhaus Höckh.
Quotation from the announcement: "Since the youth should also be won over, the participation of the teachers and the parents is particularly desirable."
After the lecture, 43 people signed up to join, and a few days later 55 members are reported.
The first chairman was the savings bank administrator Georg Meindl.
It is noticeable that there is a woman on the board: Headmistress Betty Wörner was elected secretary.
The crib association was no longer wanted during the Nazi era
The first aim was to take stock of the existing day nurseries.
You got 30 pieces straight away.
In addition, it was decided to preserve the cribs and "protect them from being dismembered and wasted".
The members were given tips on how to build cribs and where to buy the material.
"It was important that it shouldn't be cheap junk stuff," says Reiserer.
A further suggestion were nativity plays "to maintain the monthly noble sociability".
According to Reiserer, there has been at least one such performance in Tölz, and there may have been several.
"In Munich, such demonstrations were extremely popular, we're talking about 6000 visitors."
The decline of the association began with the emergence of National Socialism in the mid-1930s.
"There is no specific date, but in 1938 all associations were brought into line and Christian associations were no longer welcome," says Reiserer.
Siegfried Schmeller ensured that the Tölzer Crib Association was re-established
The fact that the association revived in 1977 is thanks to the honorary chairman Siegfried Schmeller, who died in 2020. In 2011, the well-known goldsmith and master watchmaker received the Medal of Honor from the Association of Bavarian Crib Friends for his diverse commitment. Among other things, the annual crib next to the Franciscan Church was created on Schmeller's initiative. The 38 members of the association now also look after the cribs in the Franciscan, parish and Mühlfeld churches, in the Holy Family Church and in the Josefistift. At the Christmas market they look after the crib pavilion on Marktstrasse. This will also be available this year, and as a kind of replacement for the market again a crib path with special specimens in many shop windows in the city center. There is no separate exhibition for the 100th anniversary.
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