Prangstangen

The Prangstangen processions take place annually on June 29th in the parish community of Muhr (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul) and also on June 24th (Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist) in the parish community of Zederhaus. The Prangstangen are six to eight meter high wooden poles, wrapped with colorful garlands made of fresh alpine and meadow flowers. This centuries-old tradition is supposedly based on a vow: the villagers wanted to carry the flower-decorated standards around the village and across the fields every year, in exchange for protection from an impending locust plague. Up to 50,000 fresh flowers and about 300 hours of work are required for a single Prangstange. On the festival day, the Prangstangen are carried during the procession through the town and after the procession into the church, where they remain as symbols of life until Assumption Day (August 15th) and can be admired. The flowers are removed after August 15th and used for smoking in winter.