08/16/2023
Today is Mariä Himmelfahrt. The Feast of the Assumption.
Celebrated in the Catholic faith, in Saarland and 80 percent of Bavaria it's a public holiday, and these young girls are taking part in the traditional procession in Kochel am See, Upper Bavaria.
Wearing their local Trachten, the herbal bouquets they carry, 'Kräuterboschen', as they are known in the Allgäu, have been blessed at a church service. The belief was that they protected people and animals from illness and danger, and, depending on the region, each is made up from seven to ninety-nine herbs. Traditionally the seven main herbs are Wormwood, chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, mullein, ribwort and arnica.
It is said three days after the Blessed Mother died, the apostles who came to her grave found it empty, as her soul and body been taken to heaven, but the scent of roses, lilies and medicinal herbs flowed from the tomb.
For centuries medicinal herbs had been sacrificed to the gods, as thanks for their protection and healing powers, but when Christian missionaries began converting the population it was considered a work of witchcraft, and banned.
Of course the people took no notice of this.
So the church decided on a clever compromise, and August 15 was consecrated to Mary and her ascension to heaven.
In German speaking regions, Mariä Himmelfahrt is a national public holiday in Austria and Liechtenstein, as well as in eight cantons of Switzerland. And work free in some municipalities of seven more Swiss cantons.
Photo credit: Auch die Mädchen tragen Kräuterbuschen zur Kirche. Br.de
