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Kronach Swedish Procession: A historic promise is celebrated!
Find out everything about the Swedish procession in Kronach, which takes place annually on the Sunday after Corpus Christi to commemorate the brave defense of the city during the Thirty Years' War.
Kronach Swedish Procession: A historic promise is celebrated!
On the Sunday after Corpus Christi, the Swedish Procession is celebrated in Kronach, a tradition that looks back on the city's eventful history. This festival commemorates the heroic defense of Kronach during the Thirty Years' War. In 1634, the city's women faced overwhelming numbers of attackers and bravely defended themselves with paving stones and boiling water. Their determination caused the attackers to flee. Since then, the people of Kronach have kept their vow and celebrate “Sweden Sunday” every year. This is reported by np-coburg.de.
Since the beginning of the Swedish procession in 1634, women in the city have marched at the head of the procession in front of the Blessed Sacrament. This year the celebrations, which are part of Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage, will take place again in all their splendour. The procession begins with a Eucharist celebration in the city parish church of St. John the Baptist. This year, numerous clubs, municipal institutions and historical groups are taking part, while the guilds and the citizen military played a central role in times past. Details about the procession can also be found on Wikipedia, where it is described that the procession in Kronach originally goes back to a vow made by the townspeople during a siege in 1632 Wikipedia.
The procession route and the celebrations
The procession's route stretches through the picturesque old town of Kronach, heading to four stations:
- Kriegerdenkmal am Fuß der Festung Rosenberg
- Bastion St. Lothar der Festung
- Bastion St. Heinrich der Festung
- Ehrensäule auf dem Melchior-Otto-Platz
At each stop, an altar decorated with lush floral carpets is erected, making the area appear even more festive. Until the 1960s, a carpet of grass was even spread over the entire path. Whether at High Mass or during the subsequent parade through the city, the solemn nature of the Swedish procession becomes particularly clear when one considers that the participation of representatives of the authorities was prohibited during National Socialism and that the procession was completely banned from 1941 onwards. It is all the more pleasing that this tradition is being maintained again today Wikipedia.
A look beyond the city limits
However, the Swedish procession is not just an event in Kronach. It is also kept alive in Überlingen and Weismain. Two processions take place every year in Überlingen, one of which carries the “Sweden Madonna” and other valuable pieces from the treasury of St. Nicholas Minster. In Weismain, the procession is reminiscent of a legend in which a band of farmers was able to repulse the Swedish besiegers. This impressively shows how deeply rooted this custom is in the region and how it connects different cities with each other Wikipedia.
In addition, various educational resources, such as the materials for teaching lessons on the subject of the Thirty Years' War from the University of Bayreuth, offer interesting insights and questions for a deeper examination of this historical period bildungsserver.de.
The Swedish procession is more than just a religious event. It is a living testimony to the history, the cohesion of the community and the strength of the women who once defended Kronach. If you're in Kronach these days, you shouldn't miss it!