Kaiserfest

The flags are flying all over the place, so the Germans must be full of national pride because of the World Cup, right? Oh, not so fast. Sore subject.

Here in our sleepy village, the jubilation abounds for the three-day Kaiserfest, during which our residents usher in a new reign of a new King. This King, selected at the last festival in May as a result of keen rifle skills, is, for the first time ever (I am gathering)...a WOMAN. She is still called a King, though.

We decided to celebrate some of Chris' first-ever Father's Day by attending Day Two of Kaiserfest. There was a parade with all the surrounding villages participating with their marching bands, local dignitaries, and princesses of some sort. All these princesses wore their finest ball gowns. Completing their lovely ensembles were very ill-suited back tattoos, which appear to be a big trend among young German ladies. As the parade marched by, and spectators got a glimpse of these examples of back art (apparently, Chinese symbols are popular no matter what your nationality), you could see the elderly men and women silently wondering what on Earth can save this generation from itself.

Once the parade wound through the village, it was time to take your station in the fest tent with traditional afternoon cake and coffee or beer, or outside the fest tent with beer. There were your typical fest candy and toy vendors, and we enjoyed a good amount of people watching.

All in all, it was a good fest. And, they already started advertising for our village Oktoberfest!

Below is a picture of our new "King". You can't completely tell from this picture, but there were lots of people wearing coats. And, it's June! And, cold!