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The Coloman's Day
from the "Allgäuer Zeitung", October 10^th, 1997 (abridged version)

is a holiday celebrated by the people of Schwangau. Every year, the village celebrates the St. Coloman, the patron saint of the pilgrimage church. Just as it has been for centuries, this religious feast is celebrated on the Sunday closest to October 13th, the name-day of the Irish saint. This feast also involves entertainment and is a most happy occasion. The famous church, pictured above, has been the destination of great pilgrimages since the 15th century.

The famous baroque church standing in a field in front of the village has been the destination of great pilgrimages since the 15^th century. According to the legend, Coloman would have been resting, preaching and even pasturing cattle in Schwanengau during a pilgrimage trip he made from Ireland, his country, to Jerusalem. Up to present days he has always been invoked by catholic believers when someone gets ill among people or animals as well, or in case of overflowings and storms.

The first chapel has probably been built between 1350 and 1400. An altar consecration is documented on August 8^th, 1495 but it’s not clear whether the chapel was rebuilt or just enlarged in that occasion. A civil document demonstrates the increasing importance of pilgrimages to the Coloman church: 1552 the Emperor Karl V officially granted to the Colomansfest in Schwangau the right to be a market day. So pilgrims had the possibility to combine their pilgrimage with further important events.

Markets were not only a pleasant break in the hard and monotone work life, but they also offered a rare occasion to buy wares. Local handicraftsmen planned an enlargement implemented by the plasterer Johann Schmutzer. The consequent Coloman church, consecrated in 1685, was the first great work of this builder and artist, who was going to win his fame above all as builder of the Wessobrunn cloister.

His work together with St. Coloman will be focused on Sunday, October 12^th, when more than 200 riders on their gorgeously harnessed horses will attract thousands of inhabitants and guests of Schwangau to celebrate there Mass at 10 am. According to the ancient custom, at the end of the celebration the riders will ride three times round the Church and will be blessed. Then, like in ancient times, the feast will be happily resounding all around the church.

last update 23-11-07

     
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