As of: March 13, 2024, 5:48 p.m
By: Robert Langer
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Eerily beautiful: a Perchten figure.
© Stefan Rossmann
The Perchtenlauf in Kirchseeon is gaining in importance thanks to a nationwide award: the tradition is becoming an intangible cultural heritage.
She is in prominent company on the list.
Kirchseeon
- The Kirchseeon Perchten have been part of Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage since 2022. Now the Perchtenlauf in the market town has also been included in the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage.
This was decided by the conference of cultural ministers of the federal states and Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens) on Wednesday, as the German UNESCO Commission announced.
In Kirchseeon, the children don't wait for Santa Claus in late autumn, but rather for the Perchten.
At least that's how it's told.
The Perchten also have their own museum, the “Maskeum”, with a special concept.
With its inclusion in the Bavarian Intangible Cultural Heritage 2022, the people of Kirchseeon are on the same level as the Landshut Wedding or the Passion Play in Oberammergau.
In total, there were only 66 recipients of the award in the Free State at the time, which is linked to a UNESCO agreement.
The prize was not associated with a financial contribution.
It was said that the award was given to an organization in the Ebersberg district for the first time.
“Strong award for strong commitment,” was the official praise in May 2022.
Federal list: Berlin techno culture, mountaineering in Saxony and more
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.)
The Perchten are actually more associated with the Alpine region.
But they also fit the Ebersberger Forest and a modern ecological approach.
It's about the cycle of nature.
The Perchten dances in winter are intended to awaken the sleeping earth spirits and thus invoke fertility for the new year.
The club and the customs are rooted in the town with various activities throughout the year.
In addition to the Kirchseeoner Perchten, five other customs were included in the federal list, including Berlin techno culture, mountaineering in Saxony and whitework in Schwalm in Hesse.
In addition to the well-known World Heritage sites, UNESCO wants to protect special craft and customs traditions with the intangible cultural heritage.
The German cultural heritage list now includes 150 entries.
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