Dragons of processions and processions

The dragons , as the giant were and are sometimes still essential components of the processions and processions in the world and more particularly in Europe. In Asia, they take part in many festivities but are regarded as beneficial.

General information

The processional dragons constitute one of the expressions of an omnipresent phenomenon in medieval civilization, so much in France - where forty at least these animals were listed - which in good of other European regions, of Belgium in Spain, Moravie in Poland. Malefic creature, symbolizing the Evil and the sin, but also paganism, the dragon is overcome, put at died or driven out by saints whom the tradition called “sauroctones”, killers of dragons. These saints are sometimes compared to local heroes or knights. All are related to the myth founder of a City.

Germany

Furth im Wald: the Drachenstich

Furth im Wald, in Bavaria, is a city - border located halfway between Nuremberg and Prague. Each year in August takes place the Festival of the Dragon or " Drachenstich" (literally the " dragon transpercé"). The origins of this one remain unknown. It is known only that the representations of the " Drachenstich" have been played for more than 500 years, without notable changes.

Previous centuries, the " Drachenstich" was held during the processions of the Corpus Christi because one made a certain analogy with the play of Georges Saint. But in 1878, it separated definitively from its clerical framework because the clergy did not appreciate that it became the essential event of the Corpus Christi and the withdrawal decided some. Since 1879, it takes place in August.

Starting from a simple popular habit where the procession ended in the combat of the knight and the Dragon, a stage performance developed whose culminating point is the " Drachenstich" , embanked by the lance of the knight.

Random links: