The Leonhardiritt is a procession on horseback, Germany
The Leonhardifahrt or the Leonhardiritt is a procession on horseback, which is part of the customs in Old Bavaria and Western Austria. It takes place in honour of Saint Leonard of Limoges (6th century) on his feast day, 6 November, or a neighbouring weekend. Some villages in Bavaria also celebrate Leonhardi in summer. As the patron saint of agricultural animals, today especially horses, pilgrimages with animal blessing are undertaken to Leonhardi. The motive for the blessing (often erroneously called consecration) of animals, especially horses, is their role, which they played as pack and working animals for the rural population. As the largest and most important Leonhardifahrt, the Tölzer Leonhardifahrt was recognized as Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage in July 2016 and included in the nationwide register of intangible cultural heritage by the German UNESCO Commission in December 2016.The Leonhardiritt in Leonhardspfunzen is the largest in the district of Rosenheim and has a long tradition. Records of this event can be found as early as 1436. [1] The oldest documented ride, first mentioned in 1442, takes place in Kreuth am Tegernsee. In 1809, a state decree was issued prohibiting religious rides. When it was repealed in 1833 by King Ludwig I (Bavaria), many Leonhardi rides and rides had been so deviated that they usually had to be reintroduced many years later or omitted altogether. [2] As a secular supporting program, the Leonhardifest usually takes place with beer tent operation, fair and dance events. In Bavarian, there is no distinction between Leonhardifest and Leonhardifahrt. Both are referred to as Lehardi (in some places also Lehards or Leachats).
badtölz