Traditions

Old traditions can be found at all times of year in all the towns and villages of the Bavarian Forest National Park Region. The Waidler, as the locals are called, are very faithful to their traditions. Almost everywhere the maypole is raised or a church festival celebrated. In some villages there is a whitsun pilgrimage and in winter there are the „Wolfauslasser“ with their massive cow bells tied around their waists, and the „Rauhnachtsbräuche“ around 12th night with mythical figures. The Säumerfest  in Grafenau every August, celebrating the time of salt trade, is especially worth visiting as well as the Pandurenfest in Spiegelau. This reenacts every year in July the time when the wild Panduren troops terrorized the Bavarian Forest.

Amateur dramatics are an essential part of the culture of the Bavarian Forest. Numerous groups put on plays depicting domestic life.