The 300th Willibaldritt will be special - there will also be a cow

Created: 07/04/2022, 16:20

By: Helga Zagermann

Horses and teams are drawn to the pilgrimage church of St. Willibald near Jesenwang: 300 are said to be there this year.

(archive photo) © tb

The forthcoming 300th Willibaldritt should be a very special one.

In addition to 300 horses, there will also be a cow at the traditional event.

Jesenwang

- Although one does not know exactly how many rides have been canceled in the long history of the event, the 300th Willibaldritt will be celebrated on Sunday, July 10th.

And that's why the organizers, the Friends of St. Willibald, have set themselves the goal of having 300 horses (as well as carriages and wagons) take part in the ride around and through the pilgrimage church, which is unique in Europe.

Due to the corona virus, the Willibald pledge was only remembered to a very small extent in 2020 and 2021.

Therefore, the circle of friends, the participants of the ride and many people from Jesenwang are happy that this year the celebrations can be bigger and without restrictions - especially since the Willibaldritt, a tradition that has existed since 1712, has recently been part of Germany's intangible cultural heritage.

This makes it one of the most important and most worthy of protection traditional events in the Federal Republic.

Stand concert and brass band music as extras

The origin of the ride is the promise made by the Jesenwang farmers in 1712 to ride to St. Willibald every year if they were spared the cattle epidemic.

Today the animals come not only from Jesenwang and Pfaffenhofen, but from near and far.

The schedule is planned as follows: A pilgrimage service begins at 8 a.m., at 10 a.m. the patronal feast, a brass band with the Adelshofen brass band, which then also plays in the Kastanienhain for a morning pint.

In the chestnut grove in the center of town, a concert with the Althegnenberg music club is planned from 1:10 p.m.

The bands from Grafrath-Kottgeisering, Unterschweinbach and Einsbach/Sulzemoos will provide music for the parade.

The fact that there is brass band music in the service and at the morning pint, as well as a stand concert, are some of the special features of the anniversary ride.

Setup is from 1 p.m.

The riders gather in Römertshofener Straße, the teams are lined up in Eschenstraße.

During the line-up, the plaques (this year there are special ones) for the horses will be distributed.

A stand is set up in front of the Volksbank on Mammendorfer Straße, where the Willibald ID card is stamped, in which the participation is documented.

Anyone who is there ten, 20 or even 25 times will receive a plaque to wear.

The ride begins at 1:30 p.m. at the community center.

A cow is also registered

At around 2.15 p.m. there will be speeches near the Willibald Church.

At around 2.30 p.m. the passage through the church begins, preceded by a blessing of the horse and rider at the north portal.

Ponys, Haflingers, Friesians, Icelanders, southern German draft horses, donkeys and mules have already registered, reports the head of the Friends' Circle, Martin Schmid.

"And even a cow owner has announced her participation" - of course with an animal.

All of these contributors should be the focus, "because without them the ride would not be possible".

Each participant receives a souvenir ribbon for their animal, the rosette is specially made for the 300th Willibaldsritt and is based on the colors of the wooden ceiling of the church.

Spectators can buy a metal badge with an image of the votive image from the north portal of the church for five euros and thus support the ride financially.

Even the simple signs are colour-coordinated and cost two euros.

The members of the Mammendorf photo group ensure

In the chestnut grove near the Willibald church, we take care of your physical well-being with fish on a stick, snacks, drinks, coffee, cake and ice cream.

During the ride you can buy drinks in the village at the community center and in the Hotel St. Blasius.

Guided tours and Hoagar

"Consideration and understanding if everything doesn't work right away" are the wishes of the Friends of St. Willibald to viewers and participants after two years of the pandemic.

Two church tours are also offered as part of the supporting programme: from 11.15 a.m. and from 3 p.m.

The Willibaldhoagart on Friday, July 8th, from 7.30 p.m. on the forecourt of the Willibaldkirche is also something special.

There are performances by Jesenwanger musicians and artists.

There are the church choir, the Erlbacher Hausmusi, the Jesenwanger clarinet duo, the Jesenwanger kindergarten children, the Erlbachplattler, the men's singing club, D'Wuidn and Karl Lutz.

Rainer Schmid, Jesenwang's consultant for culture and associations, will guide you through the program.

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

The Jesenwang boys' club takes care of your physical well-being.

In the event of bad weather, the event will be held in the community building.

The organizers are the community, the circle of friends, the MGV and the boys.