Prangstangen

The Prangstangen processions take place annually on June 24th in Zederhaus (Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist) and also on June 29th in Muhr (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul). 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 stands 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 parade into the church, where they remain until Assumption Day (August 15th) as symbols of life and can be admired. After the church service on August 15th, the Prangstangen are taken from the church to the local farms by the bearers, where the flowers are removed and used for smoking in winter.