{"id":3280,"date":"2012-09-18T19:00:35","date_gmt":"2012-09-18T19:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=3280"},"modified":"2019-01-28T12:56:48","modified_gmt":"2019-01-28T12:56:48","slug":"the-viehscheid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/the-viehscheid\/","title":{"rendered":"The Viehscheid"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Viehscheid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Viehscheid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Viehscheid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few pictures featuring the objects in my last Sunday Photo being put to good use…\u00a0\u00a0 I took them on a quick trip across the border to Austria at the weekend whilst witnessing The Viehscheid – a festival that takes place at this time of year, both here and in parts of Germany and Switzerland too. Traditionally held to celebrate the cows coming back down to lower ground after spending the summer months high in alpine pastures, and before winter sets in.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s yet another excuse to dig out your Sunday Best (alpine style obviously), drink plenty of beer, and generally make merry by the looks of things…<\/p>\n

Touchingly, towns and villages will not hold a Viehscheid if something untoward happens to one of the cows out at pasture, but if they are all safe and well at the end of the season, then it’s full steam ahead!<\/p>\n

The cows are bedecked for their special day in beautiful floral decorations and huge ornamental bells, and are led down from the hills and through the streets by herders.\u00a0\u00a0 The best cow, the Kranzkuh sports a special headdress,\u00a0 complete with what looked like a bike mirror to deflect evil spirits.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Once the main procession has happened, they are then taken to an area where they are separated and handed back to their owners (viehschied literally means separating the cows)…<\/p>\n

And these things can be quite noisy affairs – those bells don’t half make a racket on even just a few cows, and some of the bigger festivals feature hundreds.\u00a0 This one was a small and sweet affair with around 50 animals, but it was still a sight to behold.\u00a0 It felt like a privilege to watch, especially as there weren’t many tourists at this particular celebration.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Some villages have taken to keeping their Viehscheid a secret to keep the crowds at bay, and I can’t say I blame them… But if you do see one advertised for all and sundry to enjoy, make sure you go – it’s something you won’t forget in a hurry I promise!…<\/p>\n

\"Viehschied<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Viehscheid\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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