In the earthly vale of tears, there is sometimes a need for consolation and distraction, which many people look for today, for example at FC Bayern home games. In the past, when football was not yet a religion, Mary, the Mother of God, was primarily responsible for consolation of all kinds. The outstanding tradition of Marian devotion in Bavaria is shown by the countless pilgrimage sites and churches that are under the patronage of the Blessed Mother, not to mention all the place names that bear her name (Maria Thalheim, Maria Steinbach, Mariaposching).
The highest Marian holiday in the course of the year is the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary celebrated on August 15th. Consequently, numerous churches celebrate their patron saint on this day. For example, the famous Cistercian church “Mariä Himmelfahrt” by the Asam brothers in Aldersbach, which is certainly one of the most beautiful Marienkirchen in Bavaria. Apart from that, baroque, beer and the art of brewing are perfectly combined in Aldersbach. Another curiosity is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Sammarei in Lower Bavaria. Where else is it that there are two churches in one? In Sammarei, the early Baroque Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, completed in 1631, was simply built over the original wooden church.
The former Cistercian monastery in Aldersbach with its famous church.
(Photo: Armin Weigel/dpa)
In Bavaria, the Feast of the Assumption is also known as the Great Women’s Day. The Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary on September 8th is considered a Little Women’s Day. On Great Women’s Day begins a cycle oddly named “Women’s Thirties.” But the riddle is easy to solve. The Women’s Thirty lasts 30 days and ends on the Feast of the Name of Mary (September 12). It is worth mentioning for those interested in the language: Women’s day and women’s thirties are not to be understood as a plural, but it is an old genitive (“of a woman”), as the dialectologist Ludwig Zehetner knows. This is exactly why the Munich Cathedral is called the Frauenkirche (“our dear women’s church”). Incidentally, the eggs laid by the hens during this period were in great demand. They were called women’s thirty eggs and had the reputation of being particularly durable.
Although we have had many weeks of high temperatures, the nights are now slowly getting cooler. Around the time of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the power of midsummer dwindles noticeably, late summer begins, which also heralds the time of the big folk festivals, the tents of which are lavishly decorated. This ornament, in turn, is reminiscent of the herb bushes and the consecration of herbs or bushes, which is celebrated on the feast of the Assumption of Mary. This has a long tradition. Blessing formulas for herbs are already known from the 10th century. In these days, a special blessing is said to be on roots and herbs.
Dealing with sacred tufts is a science in itself. A mullein often forms the center of the tuft. Most of the herbs that are draped around the center come from the classic cottage garden, which used to be often inspired by Italian monastery gardens. Medicinal herbs in particular were found in the bushes, such as wormwood, chamomile, yarrow, centaury, St. John’s wort, peppermint, elderberry and hazel twigs. Grain was also included, i.e. ears of oats, rye, barley and wheat.
After the consecration, the herb bush was and is hung up to dry; after all, it is supposed to last a whole year and protect people and cattle from harm. Brilliant colors and a strong smell characterize a herb bush in particular. If a cattle was sick, parts of the tuft used to be mixed into the feed. If there was a thunderstorm on the horizon, the farmer’s wife would throw a sacred herb into the hearth to protect the house and yard from lightning and hail. The goal was threefold: promote growth, ward off illness, drive away ghosts.
“Issa Maria!”
The plants were cultivated primarily for their usefulness. The Schmeckerl, i.e. the strongly scented southernwood, which was put into the bodice, received special attention. In times without doctors and pharmacies, knowledge of the healing powers of herbs was essential for survival. That’s why the houseleek was never missing, the miracle herb, as it was called in the Chiemgau. The juice was rubbed with pork fat and you had an ointment for all sorts of ailments.
However, Saint Mary was not only invoked in times of need, her name is still called out in moments of amazement or even misfortune. “Holy Mary”, the person concerned calls out in such cases, strongly emphasizing the adjective and lengthening it: “Holy Mary”. Even more popular is the connection with the name of her son Jesus: “Jessasmaria”. Here the speaker puts most of the emphasis on Jessa’s when he expresses his alarm: “Jessasmaria, it’s autumn again.”
From an emancipatory point of view, the position of Mary is also interesting. Her special position in the doctrine of the faith was first confirmed at the Council of Ephesus in 431, but it was not until the 20th century that the dogma of the Assumption of Mary received the Vatican blessing.