Tradition and modernity: winners of the culture prizes are committed to tradition

Created: 11/28/2022, 09:00

By: Uta Künkler

The maintenance of tradition is in many ways the merit of the Holzland Böllerschützen.

At the celebration, they and shot master Hans Ertl (back) were happy about the award.

© Uta Künkler

The presentation of the culture prizes to Franz Streibl and the Holzland Böllerschützen was a festive and entertaining evening.

Dorfen/Steinkirchen

– When the whole ballroom stands up and sings the Bavarian anthem with amazingly accurate lyrics, the fervent singing provides something like proof of the words that District Administrator Martin Bayertorfer said shortly before: Tradition is “by no means backward-looking”, but the basis for values in our living present.

Tradition and modernity - the big topic at the presentation of the 44th culture prize of the district of Erding.

In the ballroom of Gasthof Strasser in Oberbierbach, the 2022 prizewinners were honored, who had only been determined two weeks earlier: the Holzland firecrackers Kögning with their extraordinary costume and the local historian Franz Streibl from Dorfen.

In his welcome address, Bayerstorfer expressed his pride in the culture and environment award.

The district of Erding can look back on one of the longest traditions of this form of cultural promotion among the 71 districts in Bavaria.

Keynote speaker Ellen Trapp, head of the culture program at Bayerischer Rundfunk, also acknowledged that the Erdingers played a pioneering role in this regard.

It is remarkable how "socially rooted culture in this district" is.

Great joy: The Dorfen local historian Franz Streibl (centre) proudly received the certificate of honor from District Administrator Martin Bayerstorfer (right).

Wife Agnes Streibl was happy with the culture award winner.

© Uta Künkler

"We now know how it feels when there are no concerts, no theater performances, not even small gatherings anymore," said Trapp, referring to the pandemic.

It is impressive how well “small islands of culture” have kept their heads above water, especially in rural areas.

Trapp spoke of how important the role of culture is in creating community, closeness and intimacy.

An association that lives this connecting element of culture is the Holzlandböllerschützen Kögning.

The cohesion of the currently 48 members is unmistakable.

"When we are somewhere, almost everyone is always there," said shot master Hans Ertl in an interview with our newspaper.

So many people came that evening - including nine of the twelve founding members and the oldest member, Marianne Maier, who made all the coats for the shooters by hand.

Especially with this elaborate robe, which goes back to an original costume from the Wastlbauer z'Rechlfing from the year 1889, the Kögninger would celebrate old traditions, said District Administrator Bayerstorfer in his laudatory speech.

This commitment of the association to "keep culture and customs alive for future generations" is the reason for the recognition with the culture prize.

The other award winner keeps history alive in a completely different way.

The former Schwindkirchen headmaster Franz Streibl has brought history back to life in numerous writings, exhibitions, city tours and lectures, said Bayerstorfer.

Streibl's meticulous archive work enables "the retrospective, but also a look ahead, to the present and to the future".

Like no other, Streibl combines the two topics of the culture and environment prize in his person, praised the district administrator.

Because the heart of the Dorfener not only beats for history, but also for nature.

As a passionate hunter and long-time leader of the game reserve, the "care of nature and the environment, namely our cultural landscape" is just as important to him as the preservation of historical awareness.

Appropriately for the commitment of both award winners, the District Administrator quoted the words of the writer Jeremias Gotthelf: "For the sake of the future, people should uphold the past." a.

Then the Altbairische Blasmusik under the direction of district folk music supervisor Reinhard Loechle agreed on the Bavarian anthem - and the festive menu was served.