Christkindlanschießen: An old custom is maintained in Lenggries
Created: 12/24/2021, 6:26 PM
By: Andreas Steppan
The Christ Child is greeted loudly with firecrackers and muzzle-loaders on Christmas Eve in Lenggries.
(Symbol photo) © Matthäus Krinner
In a traditional way, some Lenggries people want to express their joy that Christmas has come this year.
Before that, the custom was long forgotten.
Lenggries
- The custom in the Isarwinkel had been forgotten for many years - until a group of private individuals revived it in 2018.
And this year they invite you to the “Christkindlanschießen” in Lenggries.
Both spectators and other shooters are welcome on Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 2:45 p.m.
Christkindlan shooting should be a sign of joy, especially in difficult times
The meeting point is the meadow between the school and the parish hall.
According to Wolfgang Morlang, one of the initiators, four shooters have taken part so far.
Anyone who is authorized to do so is welcome to join in and also fire a gunshot with the muzzle-loader.
According to Morlang, the shots are supposed to express the joy that it is Christmas.
It is precisely in these difficult times that he attaches particular importance to such a positive signal.
“It should simply show that it will continue,” says Morlang.
"Isarwinkler Histories" by curate Jakob Ostler as an important source
It starts after the festival bells have sounded at 2:45 p.m. at the church.
Then, according to Morlang, an Our Father is spoken first, followed by the shots of joy.
Spectators can follow the maintenance of tradition from a safe distance.
An important source for the custom of "Christkindlanschießen" in Lenggries are the "Isarwinkler stories" by curate Jakob Ostler from 1969. In his childhood memories he writes: "On oamal a black shot was fired and shot after shot was shot by the air Let Isarwinkel tremble.
Yes, the Christkindl is shot as if a Kini in Isarwinkel kemma taat.
(...) By the time the last shot down into the valley was knocked out, the whole Isarwinkel knew that it was Christkindl kemma. "
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